Mental health services big issue for MidCentral voters, says DHB stalwart

Standing: Diane Anderson, left, of Eketahuna and Sharon Wards, Dannevirke are two of the 18 candidates vying for seven seats on the MidCentral District Health Board. Photo / Christine McKay

Despite being keen to serve a sixth term on the MidCentral District Health Board, Eketahuna's Diane Anderson is philosophical and realises her fate is now in the hands of voters.

Diane, along with Dannevirke's Sharon Wards, are two of the 18 candidates standing for the seven seats on the district health board in the "at large" election, with voting conducted using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.

"Overall, the campaign has been pretty good, but definitely mental health service access has come up as a major issue," Diane said. "There's a real need for equality and access to services."

And while in Horowhenua there has been real concern about access to general practitioners, Diane said in Tararua we are better off than in some city practices.

Voters have wanted to know more about integrated health care, but the district health board's debt hasn't come up at all.

"We live in challenging times, but MidCentral's debt is less than a lot of other DHBs and we're managing it well," Diane said.

With the election campaign going well, Diane said both she and Sharon have had plenty of time to speak in front of voters.

"But, at the end of the day democracy will rule," she said. "I am still passionate about health issues and would love to have another term on the DHB, but I'm philosophical.

"Fortunately, Sharon and I have been very collegial during the campaign and if we can get two people from Tararua on the health board, that would be a real thrill.

"But whatever the outcome, I feel privileged to have been part of the decision-making at the DHB and I've enjoyed it."

Sharon is the chief executive of the Tararua Health Group and is standing for the DHB for the first time.

"This campaign has been a real eye-opener," she said. "One thing I've really appreciated has been listening to the views of our community and I've found a lot of value in that. I've had to think strategically and not operationally and while there have been a lot of issues, mental health services have really raised a flag.

"I've also had a sense we're actually okay and pretty well off in Tararua compared with other rural areas.

"If I get on the DHB, great. But if I don't I've learnt a lot and have been overwhelmed with support."

Sharon said she hasn't lost her passion and commitment for health services in our region and said it had been humbling and enlightening to have feedback from the community.

"If Tararua get one, or hopefully two people on the DHB it would mean we would have a really loud voice."

But the hectic campaign has been tiring she admitted.

"I'm knackered. The meet-the-candidates events have come on top of a hectic daily workload," she said.

"But I feel the calibre of potential leaders across all areas of our community is very high and that's been encouraging."