Health Care AotearoaMonday 26 April 2010, 3:44PM
Media release from Health Care Aotearoa
A national gathering of community-driven and governed primary
health care services has raised concerns about the impact of
under-funding of those services.
"The main message from our members at our national hui this month
is that they are in danger of being stretched to breaking point,"
said Rowena Gotty, of national network Health Care Aotearoa.
"Primary healthcare services are being hit by a double whammy. In
addition to cuts to overall funding for national PHO contracts we
are also experiencing cost cuts under the local funding
arrangements administered by District Health Boards".
"Our biggest concern is that we support our members to remain
viable and to ensure they continue to deliver their much needed
services where they count," said Rowena Gotty.
"As things are now some of our members may have to lose frontline
Doctors and cut back services to communities such as the refugee
community and to people with long-term conditions. The
decision-makers don't seem to realise that every hour of service
provided by a GP or nurse or community health worker that is lost
runs the risk of adding to the Government's eventual health bill.
Cutting access to primary services and treatment runs counter to
the goal of decreasing avoidable hospitable and emergency
admissions".
Dr Kathy James , Health Care Aotearoa clinical advisor, said the
impact of any funding cuts will be worst in the coming winter
months when the elderly and the young are at their most
vulnerable.
"For our members there is no fat in the system to trim. It simply
isn't a case where they can cut costs in bureaucracy and back room
functions simply because they put almost all of our funding into
front line services".
"An organisation like Piki Te Ora in Lower Hutt for instance passes
on 96% of its funding through to front line services with only 4%
spent on administrative costs. This is much less than the national
average and much less than bigger health providers would
spend".
Health Care Aotearoa is working with its members to argue the case
for full support of innovative community-driven and governed
primary health care services.
For further information, please contact Rowena Gotty, HCA Co-Leader
027 207 5606