A growing commitment to rural health is reflected in Whanganui District Health Board’s decision to take its August board meeting to Taihape.

The meeting is on Friday, August 9, at Taihape Health Centre on Hospital Road, and the local community is invited to come along and meet board members.

“Whanganui District Health Board is committed to rural health, and meeting in the rural parts of our catchment area ensures the board are aware of issues facing our rural community,” DHB chief executive Russell Simpson said.

“The local context will provide an understanding that will enable improvements in planning and service delivery for those who reside outside of the urban boundary of Whanganui.”

Morning tea will be provided and the board will be available to discuss local issues with the public from 9.30am to 10am. This meeting, like all board meetings, will be open to the public.

It will be the first such meeting in Taihape for approximately 10 years, going back to the closure of the hospital there.

“Our region is made up of approximately 20,000 people who live in the rural outreaches, and it is important our board ensures the communities within these reaches have input into the health needs we provide to them,” Simpson said.