Hospital Woes Continue

The seriousness of the financial situation facing District Health Boards has been confirmed by Statistics New Zealand March Quarter figures, ACT New Zealand Heath Spokesman Heather Roy said today.

"Despite hospitals cutting spending by 4.3 percent - in response to Health Minister Annette King's demands that they reduce this financial year's forecast $180 million deficit - 16 of the country's 21 DHBs ran deficits in March of more than $15 million," Mrs Roy said.

"This result is even worse when the District Annual Plans of these boards planned for a $12.3 million total sector deficit for March.

"Labour's rhetoric about providing an extra $400 million each year for four years is being exposed for the sham that it is.

"Papers released to me under the Official Information Act show that $120 million of the $400 million is `catch up' for Labour's underfunding - it is nothing more than a silent admission, by the Government, that this has occurred.

"The Minister should front up to this reality. The Labour Government should follow ACT's advice, of allowing the private sector to play a larger role in providing efficient health services," Mrs Roy said.

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