29 May 2009
Media Statement

Another broken promise - health spending cut

Health Minister Tony Ryall has delivered a Budget with a pretty veneer, but a closer inspection of the detail reveals it will be a disaster for the long-term health of New Zealanders, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

“One hundred million dollars over four years has been transferred out of the health budget to pay for home insulation. While this is a worthy initiative it means health services will struggle with a cut in overall services funding of more than $100 million.

“There are no future funding increases guaranteed, which virtually ensures current health services will not be maintained.

“The long-term health of New Zealanders will be hurt by these cuts. While Tony Ryall did his best to deliver shiny new baubles he can’t hide the fact that overall funding for health is falling dramatically.

“I am concerned that a number of DHBs around the country have been discussing cuts to health services in order to make financial savings. The Budget does not provide any financial assistance that will prevent the reduction of services to Kiwis.

“Already DHBs are talking about cuts to home support services, reductions in school nurse services and cuts to electives, and there will be more.

Ms Dyson said it was good to see Tony Ryall continuing some of the work Labour started on increasing training numbers, but he had forgotten to provide funding for the salaries once they are trained.

“There is no money provided anywhere in this budget to pay for salaries for new staff or to even provide cost of living increases for existing health workers.

“This Budget has taken a short-term approach that will not result in the promised better, sooner or more convenient health services.

“I remember the ‘Health Cuts Hurt Campaign’ of the 1990s. Perhaps those protestors need to once again ready themselves for a fight,” Ruth Dyson said.

ENDS

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