Te Tiratū Iwi Māori Partnership Board Tumu Whakarae Brandi Hudson has told the Waikato Times that Ōtorohanga whānau need scanning services brought closer to home.
Speaking on the release of the Ōtorohanga Hauora Report, one of Te Tiratū’s 10 locality reports, Brandi said the town lost its local X-ray clinic in January. Since then, people have had to travel about an hour to Waikato Hospital, or to Te Awamutu or Te Kūiti if they can get an appointment.
For a 15 or 20 minute X-ray, that trip can take up almost half a day. Fuel costs hit hard, especially for older people, farming families and young parents. The report notes median income for Māori aged 30 to 64 in Ōtorohanga sits below the national figure, and a growing number of people are relying on food banks.
The report identifies gaps in access to scans, specialist care and follow-up treatment, along with mental health and alcohol and other drug services. It suggests mobile imaging with regular weekly visits.
Brandi warned that when travel becomes a barrier, people put off getting checked until they’re already unwell.
The Ōtorohanga Charitable Trust is working to bring X-ray services back permanently.