Pahīatua Blood Services Need More Funding

“What we decided to do as well was allow the community to be aware of the situation and get involved and hopefully support it.”

The center circulated a petition calling for more funding, with residents asked to sign in support.

Ireland said that from a business point of view, they would have to consider reducing the service or, another option would be the possibility of charging a co-payment, something he did not want to do. He also didn’t want to cut the service.

“There’s no way in the world we would want to (do that).”

The petition was expected to help put pressure on MedLab to also come to the table and talk to the health group.

“It’s not that MedLab are bad people,” Ireland said. “This is just a business process and there is an impact to the community that the community needs to be aware of.”

He said this would create an inequity, especially if the reduction in service meant some patients had to go to Palmerston North.

“This is really symptomatic of what’s happening in the broader healthcare system right now.”

With the current economic situation, people were going through difficult times.

“That’s where you just have to be very careful to try to make sure that you’re not becoming unfair and that you’re trying to support the community in the best way possible.”

The petition has now been closed. Ireland said the next step would be to ensure people know the views of the community.

“We hope this gives us the opportunity to talk a little more with MedLab and Health NZ and try to ensure we can secure the service long-term.

“That’s the point of all this.”