Proposals to cut elective surgery for a week and close an after-hours medical centre near Wellington has alarmed community leaders.
The Capital and Coast District Health Board is forecasting an almost $60 million deficit in the coming financial year which it wants to get on top of by 2014.
The DHB has sent an internal e-mail to staff which states that because it has met its activity targets, it is going to reduce services for a week in June and is encouraging staff to take annual leave to help with its deficit.
Labour Party health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says the move is extraordinary.
"Why should people have to wait for their hip operation or some other elective surgery because Capital and Coast Health are putting everyone off on annual leave? It's dreadful."
The DHB says a reduction in services will not compromise patient care.
Meanwhile, documents obtained by Radio New Zealand show the chief executive of Wellington's largest primary health organisation is also suggesting closing Kenepuru Hospital's accident and medical department between 11pm and 8am to help make savings.
Cathy O'Malley says the after-hours department in Porirua sees very few people overnight and they could be redirected to Wellington, 25km away.
But the MP for Ohariu and United Future leader Peter Dunne says that argument does not wash with him.
"You can make that same argument in respect of any emergency service. I've spent time at Wellington Hospital's emergency service overnight when the numbers have been slight as well. And I'm not suggesting anyone go out there and close that."
The MP for Mana, Labour's Winnie Laban, says the area has a huge population of high-needs people in the lower socio-economic group.
"Unless they have a car and head all the way to Wellington, it's going to be very difficult for people to get service if they are unwell at night."
Hiueni Nuku is the manager of the Porirua Union and Community Health Centre in Cannons Creek and fears people will wait until the next morning to come to his centre, rather than seek help when they need it.
DHB 'committed' to Kenepuru
The Capital and Coast DHB has said it needs to cut $27 million off hospital and community service expenses, but no decisions have been made.
In a written statement, the DHB says it is not considering the closure of Kenepuru at present, but Kapiti mayor Jenny Rowan would like to hear stronger reassurance.
"The cost savings - what does that look like for the wider community? I'd like them to engage with us as a community to see that adequate and appropriate overnight services continue to be supplied to us."
At present, some treatment at Kenepuru's accident and medical department is free and some is not. If the department treats a patient for something they could have seen their own doctor for, they will be asked to pay.
Winnie Laban says that does not happen in Wellington, which is not fair.
Capital and Coast DHB says it is committed to Kenepuru Hospital and has been actually been putting more resources into some part of the facility.
