Rt Hon Wyatt Creech
Opposition Health Spokesperson

Monday 28 February 2000

Leaked health papers reveal impossible work programme

Papers on the health reforms leaked to the Opposition reveal an impossible work programme, that’s already running behind schedule.

“The papers show squads of officials from all over the bureaucracy tied up in think tanks, grappling with huge issues to be resolved within deadlines that can’t be met.

“According to the papers the Government is already behind in their work programme,” Opposition Health spokesperson Wyatt Creech said today.

“The Primary Health Care strategy was due out last week – on 23 February – but it is nowhere to be seen.

“There was also supposed to be a range of hui for Maori providers on 18 February.

“And Cabinet was today supposed to consider the future role of the Crown Company Monitoring Unit in the health sector – that’s not happening either.

“The papers state that the workload on officials is so heavy, that costings are a low priority. This adds fuel to concerns amongst health professionals that the reforms are just ideologically driven.

“With all the focus on restructuring who is doing the basic health policy work that ensures the right health services are delivered to New Zealanders?

“There is no doubt that the reforms are being rushed. We can all learn lessons from the previous reforms to the health system. In hindsight one of the mistakes was the speed in which they were implemented.

“The Government’s already been presented with grave concerns about the speed and detail of the reforms and impact on services, particularly Maori services. The Government is setting all of us up for big problems in our health system at a time when it is working well.”

Copy of leaked health reform papers available from Anna Hughes 04 4719 819

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