Your views: Readers' letters

WAM facts

After reading the published comments on this issue ["WAM's place in health care debated," Chronicle, August 15], there are some facts not yet mentioned that should be taken into consideration in a fair debate on this:

- WAM correctly is not directly funded for under-13 visits by the Ministry of Health, General Practice is. However, when a child visits WAM, the following month the child's registered practice has to pay WAM a portion of the funding it received for the child from the ministry. For 0 to 6 years $35.78 including GST, 7 to 17 years $20.45 including GST (if a dependant of a community service or high-user health card) and $15.33 including GST (if not a dependant of a community service or high user health card). Ultimately WAM does indirectly share in some of the Ministry child funding. After 5pm weekdays, on weekends and public holidays WAM gets an extra $50 including GST on top of the practice funding for the child visit from the WDHB.

- In 2016 WAM signed an agreement with WRHN GPs/clinics who work on the WAM after-hours roster that "GPs contractors have access to WAM during working hours for access to primary care services should the practice team not be able to provide same-day access due to workload overflow/shortage of staff due to sudden leave e.g. sickness or bereavement." Meaning those practices may use WAM for overflow patients that cannot be accommodated in the practices for any primary care service, not just urgent care.

- WAM has posted a profit of $779,483 for the last 2 years (Charities Commission website).

- Radius The Palms Accident and Medical and White Cross City Doctors Accident and Medical, both in Palmerston North, do not charge under-13s.

So it seems that this should not be an issue of funding for WAM or affordability for our community, and nor is it an issue of only seeing urgent care cases for the majority of general practice in Whanganui. What really is going on?

TANYA BROWN
Whanganui

WAM charges

When I finished my time of nine years on the Whanganui District Health Board, I resolved to distance myself from its politics.

But the front page headline in Saturday's Chronicle regarding services at Whanganui Accident and Medical has moved me to make comment.

It is not the hospital that has scrapped "free service for under-13s". The hospital (district health board) does not run WAM, a private business which just happens to be situated on hospital premises.

Of course, a certain candidate weighs in with an emotive vote-catching comment which is given prominence. A reading of the full story gives the true picture but, as we approach the election, could I suggest that the Chron be more accurate and balanced with the messages it conveys on its front page?

ALLAN ANDERSON
Brunswick

Misleading

Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB) was disappointed to read the misleading front-page story in Saturday's Chronicle (August 12) and board member Philippa Baker-Hogan's letter to the editor.

While WAM (Whanganui Accident and Medical) is situated adjacent to the emergency department within Whanganui Hospital, it is not a Whanganui Hospital or WDHB service.

The headline "Hospital scraps free service for under-13s" and the first sentence which states "Whanganui Hospital's accident and medical centre" were therefore incorrect and unfair.

WAM is completely independent of the DHB, except in so far as the DHB funds the Whanganui Regional Health Network (WRHN -- a local Primary Health Organisation) of which WAM is a subsidiary.

All patient fees, including the $10 fee recently introduced by WAM, are the business of WAM and the Whanganui Regional Health Network -- not the WDHB or Whanganui Hospital.

DOT MCKINNON
Chairwoman, Whanganui District Health Board

Cable bridge

As a ratepayer I strongly object to forking out $670,000 for a bridge I will never use at present, along with three-quarters of the older population.

Will scooters be allowed, or only cyclists?

Didn't the ratepayers just fork out $1 million for a cover so the little darlings won't get wet?

We have a $53 million wastewater project to pay for and another debt to pay for years and years down the track, yet we can kindly donate more for one sector of the community.

Who will pay for the upkeep? Silly me. Of course it will be us suckers, the ratepayers.

MARGARET HADDON
Castlecliff