Building’s closure an opportunity

The earthquake-prone building at Hutt Hospital should be seen as an opportunity, basically to hasten the unpopular but necessary reforms that need to be taken in health.

Any services duplicated at Hutt Hospital should be relocated to Wellington Hospital. This will remove any unnecessary duplication while bolstering services at Wellington Hospital.

An opportunity was recently missed with prenatal care when the district health board refused to engage with the Wright Foundation. Access concerns can be addressed by reinstating the Flyer bus services between the Hutt and Wellington.

Napier closed its hospital and consolidated services at Hastings Hospital. The result has been less cost to the taxpayer and improved service.

We would need to have only an accident and emergency service in the Hutt Valley and other local hospital services if a case can be made for improved health outcomes.

I appreciate that this won’t go down well with the locals but I see no evidence that having a hospital in the Hutt results in better health outcomes.

Patrick Payne, Lower Hutt