Media release from Labour Health spokesperson

Minister of Health Tony Ryall's determination to bulldoze ahead with a major restructure of the health system is creating divisions with his own colleagues, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

"I understand that Stephen Joyce has opposed plans to create a new bureaucracy in the form of a National Health Board," Ruth Dyson says.

"Tony Ryall's arrogance at pushing through a major restructure of the health system without adequate consultation with either the New Zealand public or health sector is doomed to fail.

"It is simply ridiculous to claim that introducing a new health board will actually reduce administration in the health sector, when clearly it will add to duplication and centralise health spending in Wellington rather than allowing individual DHBs and communities to make decisions in their best interests.

"The health board being proposed by Tony Ryall will make DHBs virtually powerless and will result in increasing amounts of frontline health services being delivered centrally.

"The National Party and Tony Ryall campaigned on more convenient health care. It's hardly more convenient for people living in regional areas to have to travel to main centres for more and more health services, which is what will happen if the Horn Reports recommendations are accepted.

"The fact the National Government have refused to openly discuss the Horn Report with the New Zealand public, the submissions made on it, or the huge impact this will have on patients is disgraceful.

"Patients should come before a Minister's vanity and arrogance. In this case Tony Ryall has prioritised his own desire to restructure the health system over what is best for New Zealanders," Ruth Dyson said.