Bowel screening participation below national average

DESPITE being the first district health board to implement a national bowel screening programme, participation levels in Gore sit just below the national average.

The Southern District Health Board held its first commissioners’ meeting to discuss the board’s progress and changes to its systems yesterday.

During the meeting, commissioner Kathy Grant noted the participation rate was 61% — the average is 62%.

About 30 people listened to commissioner Grant, deputy commissioners Graham Crombie and Richard Thomson and chief executive Chris Fleming at St John Gore.

‘‘The average is 62% at the moment which means Gore sits just below that.

‘‘It’s a reminder that if you do get a bowel screening test given to you, to complete it and send it away — it’s about saving lives here.’’ Mrs Grant said.

After surveying about 3000 people, the SDHB was told people wanted healthcare which was closer to their homes and required less travelling.

There had since been an increase in the use of virtual healthcare.

More than 20 services could be provided through virtual health, and Mrs Grant said a Gore resident used it for speech therapy.

Mr Fleming said the board had also set up community health hubs called ‘‘Health Care Homes’’ to bring healthcare clo ser to people’s homes.

Mr Fleming paid tribute to Gore Health Limited chief executive officer Karl Metzler for his healthcare work in the Gore community.

‘‘Karl has got things working quicker in this community through these projects.

‘‘The Gore Hospital is actively working with the healthcare in homes systems.’’

There were two practices in Gore which were members of the healthcare homes programme.

Members of the public raised their concerns about the implementation of new community health hubs in the region after the recent closure of the Lumsden Maternity Centre.

Mr Fleming said he was confident the new system provided better balance as a whole for the region’s healthcare.

Mr Crombie said the SDHB was the largest health board in New Zealand and was ‘‘about the size of Sri Lanka.’’

‘‘We have about 320,000 people in our community who require good healthcare.’’

The SDHB visited Oamaru, Alexandra and Queenstown on Tuesday and Balclutha yesterday afternoon on its tour. — The Ensign

❛ It’s a reminder that if you do get a bowel screening test given to you, to complete it and send it away —

it’s about saving lives here