Labour Govt fails to deliver on Asset Testing promise

The Labour Government has failed on its own two promises it has made to remove asset testing in aged care, says National Health Spokesperson Dr Lynda Scott.

Labour promised to remove asset testing in its first term. Before the election it had failed to make good the promise so it promised to remove asset testing by the end of 2002.

“No legislation has been introduced. It seems the Government is just stringing Grey Power along. For two elections they have used this carrot to buy votes, but they haven’t delivered.

“At the same time its price freeze on geriatric hospital care funding has contributed to the closure of 42 aged care facilities over the past two years.

“Rest homes, dementia units and geriatric hospitals are having to cut staff, cut care or close.

“The Wellington City Mission is calling for an immediate 10% increase in funding due to this funding crisis. The Private Hospitals Association has also been very vocal about the lack of funding to aged care facilities.

“Labour is simply treating older New Zealanders as if they don’t matter. Meanwhile the Government promises it will spend millions of dollars on asset testing removal.
“This is the Government that is meant to have a social conscience but it is treating older New Zealanders very poorly,” said Dr Scott.

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