Q&As - Community Consultation

We know a lot of people support it but a lot of people don't know the details or may have some misconceptions and some can't see the need for change. A condition of the all parties' commitment to this project is the broad support of the Golden Bay community so we're going out to talk to people, give them information we have and seek their views.

They are draft visuals to give people an idea of what such a facility might look like. Nothing is fixed in stone, but it is much easier to understand what might be planned if people can see something.

Open Days will be held in both Takaka and Collingwood where you can talk with some of the people involved. We chose this forum, rather than a more formal public meeting, because we want to encourage you to come along, learn more and provide your input. You can pop in for half an hour and find out more in your own way. We will be keeping a log of questions asked and concerns raised and reflecting the outcome of the Open Days in follow-up communications. You can see where we've got to with the concept drawings of the planned community health facility to see how it would operate in practice. In addition to the Open Days and this website, we will be posting information, including questions and answers. As new queries are raised, we will add those. You can also email info@gbhealth.org.nz or phone Wendy at Heartlands on 525 6151.

Takaka Open Day - Fire Station rooms from 12 to 7 pm, Wednesday 2 December. Collingwood Open Day - Fire Station rooms from 12 to 7 pm, Thursday 3 December

Your input will help the integration project management group make some decisions. Once we have worked out the level of community support, we need to meet the requirements of the parties involved (e.g. Joan Whiting Trust, Medical Centre, Tasman District Council, the Minister, etc). Assuming the community supports what we are proposing, we can then choose the site, work out more exactly how much money we need and where that might come from. We'll keep you up to date as we proceed.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both forums. We believe open days provide an opportunity for individuals to discuss the matters that concern them one on one and they can ask whatever they want. The answers people receive to their questions at Open Days are those that represent the group. There is just the same risk of questioners misinterpreting responses at a formal meeting as there is at an Open Day and people are more likely to ask clarifying questions in a less formal environment. The feedback form specifically asks people's opinion on the proposed trust.

We have a draft trust deed and we will be showing it to people as part of the community consultation.

A trust deed has been drafted but is an integral part of the consultation process and will not be finalised until after we have heard from local people.

The information supplied to the GB Weekly of 20 November was designed to give people some background information so they could start to understand what the whole project is about. More detailed information can be provided to those that want it at the open days including information relating to PHO involvement, the trust deed, the building layout and the analysis undertaken. There are a lot of things that the integration project group has yet to make decisions on because it wants some community input. We know this project is taking time but it is complex and involves a lot of different people and groups and we need to get it right as it relates to health provision for a long time to come. We hope what results from this process will be worth the wait. Because we have done a lot of ground work, we expect the feedback from the public will help us make some quick decisions so that we can get on with making much more visible progress in 2010.

We are holding Open Days in both Takaka and Collingwood to give people the opportunity to learn more and have their say. We will also be circulating forms giving people the opportunity to put their views in writing. Forms will be available on the website, www.gbhealth.org.nz and additional copies will be available from the Medical Centre and Heartlands in Takaka and the Post Shop and Joan Whiting Rest Home in Collingwood.

We are very keen to hear from people at the Open Day meetings. We will have some forms available for people to write down their views or ask questions on key topics. The areas we are particularly want feedback on are:

• Integration - is it the best way of meeting future health needs in Golden Bay? If not how do we ensure the sustainability of health services in Golden Bay particularly rest home services given the difficulties Joan Whiting is facing?
• Site - is the hospital the best site despite it being less costly and, we believe, quicker to develop?
• What are your thoughts on the proposed trust deed?
• Is there anything else you want to know about how an integrated facility would operate?

Firstly we do not yet know how much the project will cost and only a part of that sum will need to be raised. Some of the money will come from the sale of assets and some will be covered by a mortgage with interest paid from revenues received. We expect the Open Days and other feedback from people will enable us to get a clearer view of public opinion.