Labour health spokesperson Ruth DysonFriday 26 February 2010, 9:51AM
Media release from Labour health spokesperson Ruth
Dyson
Elderly in the Southland and Otago DHB areas are not only having
their home support cut - the DHBs will also cut resthome care for
1000 people, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.
"Elderly should not be seen as easy targets for the Minister of
Health Tony Ryall and DHBs to inflict cost cutting exercises on,"
Ruth Dyson said.
"DHBs are not only cutting home support which reduces
the need for resthome level care, but that at the same time is
cutting resthome services is disgraceful. Older Kiwis are
being squeezed no matter what their choice of living arrangement
is.
"The level of stress being inflicted on elderly concerned about
home support and now resthome cuts is extremely concerning.
"My office has been told of a case where a 76 year old woman with
leukaemia is almost certain to lose her 1 and half hours of home
support a week, and when she rang the National Party offices
in Southland she was simply given the cold shoulder and was told it
was nothing to do with them.
"I will be taking the case of this lady up with the Minister of
Health personally. However, it is simply unacceptable that elderly
are having to go to the media or MPs to continue to receive a
health care services they need," Ruth Dyson said.