GP service standard slipping

Just over a year ago a massive reorganisation of our medical services took place. All the local doctors were pushed up to the Tokoroa Hospital site. This was done to save money by Tony Ryall the Health Minister. Midlands Health is the architect of this reorganisation.

At a meeting at a new sports centre the community was assured it would be an improvement on the services we already had. The people were told you would still be able to see your own doctor. However if they were not available another doctor would see you. It does not work that way. If you make an appointment and ask to see your own doctor, the receptionist always tells you it will be up to 10 days for an appointment to see your doctor, but other doctors are available. This is not what the people of Tokoroa were promised.

I also have other concerns. Privacy is nonexistent. There must be 60 computers all connected in a loop, everybody that works in that medical centre has access to he records on that computer. Why do we have to wait 48 hours for a prescription at a cost of $10 a time? If you need it before that it is an extra $5. When I had my own doctor I could get a service by the next day for the same price.

Now I come to the most serious issue. Who are all these new doctors? When I had my own doctor in private practice, they had their qualifications displayed on the wall of their surgery. I have not seem any form of diploma stating the new doctors’ qualifications.

H Lodge