CDHB Privatisation Out of Line With Govt Policy

Sunday 10 January 2010
MEDIA RELEASE

CDHB Privatisation Out of Line With Government Policy

“The privatisation of the Work Assessment and Rehabilitation services by the Canterbury DHB is out of step with Government promises before the last election,” Paul Shennan, NUPE Convenor, stated today.

The Work Rehabilitation Service was part of the specialist mental health service providing specialist interventions, such as assessments, treatment, comprehensive discharge planning, consultation and liaison to the continuum of health care. Its contracting out was announced just before Christmas and meetings with staff occur tomorrow (11 January) to begin the disestablishment of twenty jobs.

“Staff and the community see that the contracting out of this service is similar to moves made under the 1990s National Governments. They now question whether John Key was serious when he stated that such moves would not occur in the first term of a National Government,” said Paul Shennan

“There are other problems with the process. This group are at the high risk and complex end of the mental health continuum and no one knows yet whether a private provider exists that will have the ability or will be funded sufficiently to deliver such a service,” said Paul Shennan. “Private providers are already facing funding cuts for services to less complex groups so it is unclear how this will occur.”

“There is likely to be extra costs on the community as the CDHB treats these same people arriving at the emergency department or Acute Inpatient Service acutely unwell, or other services such as police become involved,” said Paul Shennan. “The union intends raising the issue with National MPs to see if they support the CDHB move.”

ENDS

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