Capital & Coast Health have reacted positively to a Wellington Regional Council suggestion that they work together on the standards to be met before the Kenepuru Hospital is closed.

Wellington Regional Councillor Robert Shaw said his council made useful progress on Tuesday when board chairperson Bob Henare reacted well to a suggestion that more work be done on the criteria to be satisfied before Kenepuru Hospital was closed.

Capital & Coast Health plan to close the hospital doors in 5 years time and are at present consulting with organizations and the public.

“They think that the backlog of heath problems in Porirua will be cleared within 5 years, and Newtown will be the only hospital needed” Councillor Shaw said.

A closed meeting of the Wellington Regional Council, attended by Mr Henare and board chief executive Margot Mains, produced an offer from councillors that they assist Capital & Coast Health with some key decision-making processes.

Cr Shaw said “this opens the way for Porirua and Kapiti people to be involved in vital decisions about a local hospital through their elected councillors”.

“Once Capital & Coast quits the Porirua site there will be no going back.”

“Health authorities developed the site to provide facilities for 1,000 hospital beds. Iwi donated the land. It is in an ideal position for a hospital, being adjacent to the Transmission Gully road exit and close to the places with population growth.”

“The main problem now is to get Capital & Coast Health to spend a reasonable proportion of their capital development money on the Porirua site. At present, they intend to spend 90% of the $290 million at Newtown” Cr Shaw added.

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More about Robert: http://robertshaw.freeyellow.com/index.html

From: Robert Shaw 43 Eskdale Road Papakowhai Porirua City NEW ZEALAND

Direct telephone / fax: +64 4 233 0252 Email: robert.shaw@xtra.co.nz

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