PSA concerned about impact of health job cuts

PSA MEDIA RELEASE
October 21, 2009
For Immediate Use
PSA concerned about impact of health job cuts

The Public Service Association is alarmed the government is planning to cut up to 500 jobs in the health sector and is concerned about the impact this could have on the delivery of health services.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced this afternoon that the government is cutting up to 500 administrative jobs in the health system with 180 of these at the Ministry of Health.

“It’s alarming that government is cutting hundreds of jobs at a time when unemployment is rising,” says PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff.

“Unemployment rose by 20.6% in the June quarter to reach 138,000 and the government is planning to add more hard-working New Zealanders to the ranks of the unemployed.”
“As well as the human cost of cutting up to 500 jobs we’re concerned about the impact this will have on the delivery of health services.”

“The Minister seeks to denigrate workers doing administrative and policy work as ‘bureaucrats’ ignoring the fact that every organisation requires staff to do administrative and planning work.”

“Our concern is that cutting administrative and clerical workers in hospitals will mean doctors, nurses, radiotherapists and other clinical workers will have to pick up their work.”

“We must ensure that clinical staff don’t end up having to do the administrative work required to run our public hospitals instead of being free to focus on their patients.”

“Mr Ryall should also remember how much he and the country relied on staff at the Ministry of Health to combat the swine flu epidemic.”

“The success in combating the spread of swine flu was based on the planning done by Ministry of Health staff working in the sort of policy jobs the government is looking to cut,”
says Richard Wagstaff.

ENDS

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