Maniototo hospital

HOW could the residents, young children and elderly of the Waitaki electorate who rely on the Maniototo hospital have any faith in Jacqui Dean with regards to funding? Funding this hospital is desperately needed to enable it to continue supplying its very valuable service to the population of the Waitaki electorate. Ministers Jonathan Coleman and Steven Joyce have been contacted to verify this funding. Neither have replied. How can the public have any faith in these ministers? Our country has become almost Third World status and as an oldie it absolutely breaks my heart to see what our once very proud nation has become.

Eleanor D. Lawrence

Cromwell [Abridged. Jacqui Dean, Waitaki MP, replies: ‘‘I thank Mrs Lawrence for her letter. I understand her concerns and want to reassure her that I continue to work hard for the people of the Maniototo to ensure they get the best possible outcome for health services in their area. I have worked closely with Maniototo

Health Services chairman Stuart Paterson and I thoroughly understand the needs of the community. While no formal meetings regarding Maniototo Hospital have been held, I do meet informally with Health Minister Jonathan Coleman, on a weekly basis.

‘‘My role is to advocate on behalf of the people of the Maniototo and I believe that I am doing the best that I can because I genuinely understand that Maniototo Hospital is a significant project for the area. To date, I have not been successful in my endeavours, but that doesn’t mean that I have given up trying and it doesn’t mean that health services for the people of the Maniototo are not at the forefront of my mind. Local residents deserve access to appropriate health services and I will continue to work hard to ensure that they get the best possible outcome.’’]