Nats primary health: worse, later, less convenient
new-zealand-labour-party
Wed Sep 02 2009 12:00:00 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)
Nats primary health: worse, later, less convenient
Wednesday, 2 September 2009, 4:30 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Labour Party
2 September 2009
Media Statement
National has plans for primary health – worse, later, less convenient
Health Minister Tony Ryall’s announcement that he will focus on primary health in 2010/2011 after his disastrous ten months focusing on hospital-based services, can only mean more bad news in the health sector, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.
“Last week Tony Ryall was today forced to admit in Parliament that elective surgery waiting times had increased under his watch. [http://www.electiveservices.govt.nz/espi/June%202009%20ESPI5.pdf](http://www.electiveservices.govt.nz/espi/June 2009 ESPI5.pdf)
“I tabled figures which showed that in November 2008 3,132 patients who had been given a commitment to treatment were still waiting after six months, and this had risen to 3,766 by June 2009.
“Now he is turning his attention to primary health such as the health care people receive in their communities about disease prevention and lifestyle, and advice they receive when they are first unwell.
“We have already seen bad news in primary care under Tony Ryall and so his 'special' attention in the next year is probably unwanted,” Ruth Dyson said.
The Primary Health Care Strategy launched in 2001 by Annette King was a move to help people get treatment earlier, pay less to seek that care and adopt healthy lifestyles.
“In the last month alone, I have seen reports of GP books being completely closed in Timaru while the local Emergency Department puts in place plans to reduce the number of people who can be seen in the ED by 5,000.
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“National campaigned on a Health Policy of “Better Sooner and More Convenient. People are now waiting longer for hospital-based treatment and this latest plan to turn his attention to Primary Health is alarming,” Ruth Dyson said.
Health Cuts since coming to office
February 2009
• Pies back on the menu in schools Sausage sizzles, pies and chocolate back at school
March 2009
• Taranaki DHB has publicly signalled that its hospital is preparing for cut backs. “Health Services get the knife” Taranaki Daily New 10 March 2009
April 2009
• Southland and Otago DHBs have confirmed they are cutting home support services to reduce costs. The Boards were looking to make savings of up to $10 million by reducing home support services for elderly. Home support faces razor
May 2009
• Cut anti obesity, oral health and mental health targets Health targets slimmed down
• National have taken $2.3 million out of cancer control. Budget 2009
• Slashed the diabetes ‘let’s get checked’ budget by $4.8 million each year. Budget 2009
• Cut $3 million from the cardiovascular disease budget. Budget 2009
• Mental Health services have also had their funding cut. Budget 2009
June 2009
• Whanganui DHB has said it will be closing hospital wards on weekends to save money on nursing overtime. “ Hospital looks to close wards at weekends” Wanganui Chronicle 26 June 2009
• Post budget Treasury documents show that primary health and health promotion services that target specific health conditions have had funding cuts of $37 million this year. http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/2009
• Tony Ryall this year signed off on a 6.5 percent increase in GP fees the largest increase since fees came in. GPs get approval to raise fees by 6.5pc
• The Fruit in Schools programme which currently provides 100,000 children with fresh fruit each day is under threat. Fruit picked to go from schools
• Mid Central DHB makes cuts $10 million cuts Manawatu Standard
July 2009
• South Canterbury DHB has said it will be reducing the amount of patients seen in its Emergency Department by up to 5000 people a year. Timaru Hospital to cut services
• SCDHB has also signalled that it is looking to reduce the number of patients using radiology services. Timaru Hospital to cut services
• The DHB also confirmed that it would be axing up to 200 elective operations per year because of a cut in Government funding. Timaru Hospital to cut services
August 2009
• Cuts to elderly care in South Canterbury Rest home care limits annoy GP and GP close their books
• Sport fit coordinator jobs at risk
• Senior Doctors question Ministerial Health Review Health Report: Fuddle, Muddle, Broken Election Promises and Privatisation
• Waikato DHB has frozen clinician jobs Waikato DHB Bosses Freeze Senior Doctors Positions Despite Serious Shortages
• Dunstan Hospital reduces community physiotherapists and disability home support
• Dannevirke outpatient clinics cuts
September 2009
• Mental health funding on chopping block $2million chopped in Nelson
ENDS
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