Labour health spokesperson Ruth Dyson Friday 17 December 2010, 2:05PM
Media release from Labour health spokesperson Ruth
Dyson
The newly announced Ministry of Health restructure is a massive
downgrade, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.
"Health Minister Tony Ryall is set to downgrade the Ministry of
Health to a small policy directorate, while creating a new level of
bureaucracy controlled by National Party insider Murray Horn," Ruth
Dyson said.
"This major restructure comes just weeks before a new Director
General of Health begins. Not only that but this move ignores the
election promise Tony Ryall and John Key made not to restructure
the health sector.
"So far the Minister has cut back frontlines health services,
breaking his promise to increase frontline health services and now
he is restructuring the Ministry of Health.
"Given the number half-truths Tony Ryall has told in relation to
health services, nothing he says should be believed at this
point.
"I am deeply troubled by this latest move given the other changes
the Minister has made.
"His other 'changes' include cutting back health services for
elderly, cutting funding for mental health and sacking board chairs
in an effort to merge DHBs by stealth," Ruth Dyson said.