Barbara Stewart MP

Spokesperson for Health
27 MAY 2016

Budget 2016: Only Delivers a Couple of Pills for Health

The National government’s ‘Get-Stuffed” Budget has only dished out a couple of pills to New Zealand’s stressed out health system and falls far short of what is urgently needed, New Zealand First says.

“The health sector has been chronically under-funded for years and required $700 million just to keep its head above water for the coming year, but instead it received $150 million less than this figure,” says Health Spokesperson Barbara Stewart.

“New Zealand has waiting lists for waiting lists with 170,000 people waiting desperately for surgery.

“Hospital staff are forced to forego taking leave because DHBs cannot afford to cover them while away and staff are unwilling to let patient care suffer in their absence.

“Just last month Primary Health Organisations were told to cut front line services in Māori health, diabetes and community mental health because keeping these services open is unsustainable.

“The health sector has been crying out for a significant injection of funding to relieve pressure but all the government can do is toss a couple of pills at the problems.

“This will be a great disappointment for many New Zealanders,” Mrs Stewart says.

ENDS

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