Labour health spokesperson Grant RobertsonWednesday 07 September 2011, 5:09PM
Media release from Labour health spokesperson Grant
Robertson
It is incomprehensible that the Minister of Health is refusing to
reintroduce targets to reduce the number of children being admitted
to hospital with avoidable conditions, Labour's Health spokesperson
Grant Robertson says.
"The recently released Children's Social Health Monitor
showed that 5,000 extra children had been admitted to hospital over
the last three years for conditions such as skin infections and
respiratory illnesses, a sign that access to primary health
services is not always available when it should be.
"I asked Tony Ryall in Parliament today what he was planning
to do to rectify that. Sadly the Minister ruled out making it a
priority for District Health Boards.
"It is something that could have serious consequences for the
long term health of New Zealanders," Grant Robertson said.
"The report also pointed out that the lack of early treatment
could lead to permanent health damage to these children.
"The Minister agreed this was happening, yet then confirmed
he wouldn't reinstate a target to reduce the number of avoidable
hospital admissions as a health priority, as it was under the last
Labour government.
"The increase in the rate is also a sign of the growing rates
of child poverty," Grant Robertson said.
"Respiratory illnesses and skin infections are diseases of
poverty. The Minister has boasted about his 'Saying Ahh' programme,
a $12 million spend on a throat swabbing campaign to reduce
rheumatic fever.
"That's all well and good, but the truth is we will not
eradicate rheumatic fever while children live in overcrowded, cold
damp homes, and while their parents do not have adequate incomes or
jobs."
"Labour will make the health of children a priority. All the
evidence points to enormous gains in both health and economic terms
if we focus on early intervention and the wider social causes of
ill-health.
"This means investing in children up front, rather than
sitting on the side-lines as the current government is doing,"
Grant Robertson said.