Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Govt culls waiting lists to paint rosier picture

Roger Sowry National Deputy Leader

18 September 2003

Govt culls waiting lists to paint rosier picture

The Health Minister yet again blaming National for current elective surgery waiting lists is cold comfort for the almost 2000 patients culled off waiting lists with no hope of an operation, says National Deputy Leader Roger Sowry.

"The Minister's promises in Parliament that more people will get surgery are no use to an elderly South Auckland war veteran who, after waiting two years for knee surgery, has been pushed off the waiting list even though the Minister herself suggested he should approach Middlemore Hospital for assessment.

"This patient is in extreme pain, he can't even walk to his own front gate or up a small set of stairs.

"The Minister claims Labour has reduced waiting lists, but what it's actually done is abolish large sections of the list to make it look shorter - at Counties Manukau alone 1853 have been cut from the list.

"The Minister blaming National for this man not getting surgery four years after it left Government is plain ridiculous, and doesn't solve his problems or those of the hundreds of other patients in his position.

"Both the Minister and the Ministry of Health promised they would address the inequality of access to elective surgery between Counties Manukau and the rest of the country. Clearly there's been no progress and the Minister has no answers for this," Mr Sowry says.

Ends

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.