Labour health spokeperson Ruth Dyson Monday 17 August 2009, 4:18PM
Media release from Labour health spokesperson Ruth
Dyson
A report released by Health Minister Tony Ryall that recommends
restructuring the health sector will strip regional DHBs of
frontline health services and decision making ability Labour's
Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.
"The report recommends that some services should only be delivered
nationally and that DHBs not delivering national services have
their funding reduced.
"The report also recommends the formation of a new national health
body that will have the power to make decisions on behalf of DHBs
effectively undermining any local or regional decision making
ability.
"The National Government seems to be more interested in $1500
chairs at their Wellington head office so as to look 'better'
rather than the staff at the Ministry of Health or getting valuable
resources to rural communities.
"This will result in regions losing frontline health services that
the Government deems are not cost effective to deliver
regionally.
"Since becoming Minister of Health Tony Ryall has allowed
Whanganui, South Canterbury, Canterbury, Southland, Otago,
Taranaki, and MidCentral DHBs to signal cuts to patient services
and this report will lead to further service cuts in regional
areas.
"These cuts in regional areas are in addition to those Tony Ryall
has himself made, to mental health funding, the nationally funded
'Let's Get Checked diabetes programme', tobacco control programmes
and cardiovascular programmes.
"National has been quietly cutting frontline health services since
coming to office eight months ago and there is much more to
come.
"Plans released by the Health Minister yesterday will not only make
recommendations about establishing a new national health body, they
dangerously point to a rationing of frontline health
services.
"Mothers, the elderly and others not in paid employment should be
extremely worried by any suggestion of rationing health care to
those in paid work.
"The National Government is attempting to soften the New Zealand
public up for rationed hospital level healthcare available only to
those able to travel to main centres.
"None of the recommendations such as rationing health care and
creating a new National Health Board are about improving health
care for New Zealanders," Dyson said.