Media release from Labour health spokesperson Ruth Dyson

A report from the Senior Medical Officers Workforce Commission confirms Finance Minister Bill English and Health Minister Tony Ryall are wrong to claim that future salary increases for health staff aren't needed, Labour Health Spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

"I welcome the report from the Commission that confirms doctor numbers in New Zealand's hospitals have been increasing, but that more work is needed to ensure increased rates of recruitment and retention," Ruth Dyson said.

"I am deeply concerned at comments from Health Minister Tony Ryall and now Finance Minister Bill English that effectively rule out future salary increases for medical staff, something that will simply drive medical professionals overseas.

"Bill English yesterday made it clear that senior doctors would only be receiving a pay increase this year, because National was legally bound to deliver one because of a contract negotiated last year, but that future increases were off the agenda.

"This is an act of bad faith that will create huge workforce shortages in New Zealand.
"It is unfortunate that while the union representing senior doctors said it looked forward to constructive negotiations with the Government on pay rates, in reality this has already been ruled out by Tony Ryall and Bill English.

"Even today in releasing the Commission's report, Tony Ryall avoided the issue of salaries and their impact on recruitment and retention.

"Tony Ryall and Bill English are living in a fool's paradise if they don't believe salaries and recruitment and retention are linked.

"New Zealand trained doctors can work anywhere in the world, by ruling out pay increases for doctors from next year and for the foreseeable future, the National Government is creating a situation that will see our medical professionals head overseas or into the private sector.

"Labour is well aware of the economic realities facing New Zealand, but creating a situation that fails to negotiate contracts with frontline medical professionals in good faith will be disastrous.

"It's clear that good sense has been thrown out the window and workforce shortages will get worse. The tragedy will be that Kiwis will have less access to medical professionals under National," Ruth Dyson said.