Roger Sowry National Health Spokesperson

7 February 2001

Costs of restructuring becoming evident

The Minister must step in and rectify the financial strain her restructuring has put on Capital Coast Health, National's Health spokesperson Roger Sowry said today.

Chief Executive Margot Mains reported to the board yesterday that $402,000 of the estimated $1 million deficit was due to under-funding for the establishment of Labour's district health boards.

"The costs set aside by central government for restructuring are obviously insufficient and I suspect this will be the first of many examples of financial problems.

"This is the Minister's restructuring, not Capital Coast Health's. If the Minister doesn't front up with the resources required there will be fewer operations and less services provided for Wellingtonians. It's the region's health that will pay the price," Mr Sowry said.

Ends

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