Media Release
22 March 2007
For immediate release

Plunket stands firm on providing access to services for New Zealand families

Plunket is standing firm on the need for all New Zealand families to have access to valuable and essential Well Child services.

Paul Baigent, CEO of Plunket comments:

"Plunket has been focusing for a number of years on improving the way it works in order to increase support for all families. We believe it is essential that all families have access to the information, support and advice they need. Also, we want to ensure that Plunket is reaching those who need us most.

"With this in mind, staff at all levels have been working over time to find the best ways to ensure that families gain the access to our services that they need. As a result, Plunket has increased its contact with families by at least 20% over the last 5 years. The majority of staff have viewed this very positively as it is an opportunity to focus our efforts and ensure that we increase levels of access for families.

"In fact, in many areas around New Zealand Plunket is over-achieving and more than effectively meeting the needs of families, but in some instances we are under-delivering and this means that we are not providing the ideal level of support to those who need it. Following our own best practise, Plunket has introduced strategies that aim to improve this situation.

"Plunket's focus as an organisation is to give children the best possible start in life. We work for and on behalf of New Zealand families and our staff play a vital role in providing support to families.

"We believe that this is the right and responsible way to operate and that providing access for families who need us most is definitely achievable."

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