Patients go without under National’s health plans

new-zealand-labour-party

Tue Oct 13 2009 13:00:00 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)

Patients go without under National’s health plans

Tuesday, 13 October 2009, 4:10 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Labour Party

13 October 2009 Media Statement

Patients are suffering from cuts to frontline health services under National, with elderly missing out on home support and patients losing out on $60 million of elective surgery, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

“While Health Minister Tony Ryall plots his wholesale restructure of the health service and increasing bureaucracy, elderly are losing out on home support services that ensure they can remain independent and in their own homes,” Ruth Dyson said.

“Stories like that of 83 year old Jim Chalmers, who has given 30 years service to his community as a volunteer fireman, and is now having his two hours of home help cut - forcing him to clean his shower with his foot are a disgrace.

“Asked in Parliament today to guarantee that people like Jim Chalmers would not miss out on home help Tony Ryall responded, not by saying that he too was appalled by the cut backs, but by denying that cutbacks were taking place.

“The Minister of Health and the National Government are desperately trying to mislead New Zealanders into believing that they are getting better health services under their reign, while in reality the cuts to frontline health services are now numerous and are negatively impacting patients. Kiwis will believe their friends and neighbours and their elderly parents rather than this Government.

“Home support services for elderly around the country are being slashed, thousands of people will miss out on elective surgery under a plan to slash ACC funded surgery by $60 million and thousands of patients are being turned away at Emergency Departments to name just three of the cutbacks.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

“Meanwhile the Minister of Health Tony Ryall has been too busy vainly and arrogantly pumping out press statements full of hyperbole to tell New Zealanders the truth about what is happening to their health services.

“The National Party promised patients they would get better, sooner, more convenient health services. But National have cut services, are in the process of creating an entirely new level of bureaucracy and have allowed GP fees to increase,” Ruth Dyson said.

Health Cuts since coming to office

February 2009
• Pies back on the menu in schools Error! Reference source not found.
March 2009
• Taranaki DHB has publicly signalled that its hospital is preparing for cut backs. Taranaki Daily News 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. Error! Reference source not found.
May 2009
• Cut anti obesity, oral health and mental health targets
• 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. Error! Reference source not found.
• The Fruit in Schools programme which currently provides 100,000 children with fresh fruit each day is under threat. Error! Reference source not found.
• 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. Error! Reference source not found.
• SCDHB has also signalled that it is looking to reduce the number of patients using radiology services. Error! Reference source not found.
• The DHB also confirmed that it would be axing up to 200 elective operations per year because of a cut in Government funding. Error! Reference source not found.
August 2009
• Cuts to elderly care in South C’bury Error! Reference source not found.
• Sport fit coordinator jobs at risk
• Senior Doctors question Ministerial Health Review Error! Reference source not found.
• Waikato DHB has frozen clinician jobs Error! Reference source not found.
• Dunstan Hospital reduces community physio and disability home support
• Dannevirke outpatient cuts
September 2009
• Mental health funding on chopping block $2million chopped in Nelson.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

a.supporter:hover {background:#EC4438!important;} @media screen and (max-width: 480px) { #byline-block div.byline-block {padding-right:16px;}}

Using Scoop for work?

Scoop is free for personal use, but you’ll need a licence for work use. This is part of our Ethical Paywall and how we fund Scoop. Join today with plans starting from less than $3 per week, plus gain access to exclusive Pro features.

Join Pro Individual Find out more

Find more from New Zealand Labour Party on InfoPages.