Bill English

National Party Leader

11 March 2002

Hospital Chaplains are important

The Labour Government has forgotten that hospitals look after people who are suffering, says National Party Leader Bill English in response to news that hospital chaplains are facing layoffs.

"When I was Health Minister I learnt first hand the excellent work undertaken by hospital chaplains who play an incredibly important role for not only the patients but hospital staff as well.

"You are never more vulnerable than when you are sick and hospital chaplains do a really good job of meeting the emotional needs of all those involved at a very human level.

"Health and healing as everyone knows, is more than just drugs and operations, the human element is equally as important.

"Hospital chaplains are in a unique position in that they quite rightfully are seen as someone people can trust who are independent and will retain total confidentially.

"The Prime Minister needs to get her head out of international affairs and start sorting out what is going on in her own patch. When you have a Government starting to pick on people as harmless as hospital chaplains you know they are not doing the job they should.

"Health is a mess, I know it, the public knows it, so why doesn't Helen Clark and Annette King get it? It is a question that needs answering," says Mr English.

ENDS

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