Newtown Union Health Service announces impact of funding cut

On Thursday 31st May the Policy Board of the primary health care service, Newtown Union Health Service (NUHS), met to discuss the proposed management plan to accommodate a DHB funding reduction to frontline services of $274, 000.

The Board has made the decision to put on hold any decision until the community has been made aware of the front line services that are having to be reduced as a result of the DHB funding cut. However, prior to implementation of this proposal, the board is calling an open public meeting to consult with service members and other interested community representatives.

The meeting is Tuesday 12 June, from 4pm till 6pm, and to be held in the St Anne’s hall, accessed off Daniel St and Emmett St.

The DHB has indicated the 7.9% funding reduction to NUHS is required to help the DHB save $20 million this year. It has been indicated that the DHB needs to save an additional $20 million over the next two years which is likely to have an impact on primary health care.. The impending funding cut is already impacting on the services scope of delivery at NUHS. One example is that staff leaving the service are not being replaced. This currently involves three positions

On the first of May NUHS increased many of the fee’s for service to this high priority community. Among these increases is the charging for health care for children from the age of six. This is the first fee increase at the NUHS for over fifteen years. It is too early to identify if these increases will create barriers to accessing health care, however the service will evaluate this impact

NUHS is aware that a community protest is being organised by the new community group UCAN, United Community Action Newtown, on Friday 8 June prior to the DHB board meeting. Some will be making oral submissions at this DHB board meeting supporting the continuation of funding to NUHS, focusing on the impact to the wider community health should services be removed, and a petition of hundreds of community signatures will be presented.
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