Govt closes off disabled care for festive season

On December 31 Labour will cut off funding for young disabled people seeking respite care over the New Year, says National’s Disability spokesman, Dr Paul Hutchison.

“It means young disabled people may have to be sent to totally unsuitable old people’s rest homes if their parents are to be given a break.

“It’s shocking the Labour Government has failed to ensure financial support.

“The Health Minister has refused to meet with parents, Mayor Barry Curtis, councillors and MPs to discuss the situation at Eastgate Community Trust – the only suitable respite centre in the whole of South Auckland.

“The problem of access to respite care for the disabled is not just confined to South Auckland, there are also problems on the North Shore for children with autism, downs syndrome, Aspergers syndrome and cerebral palsy.

“I suspect the problem is nationwide and that the Labour Government is simply refusing to face up to the facts.

“Ministers Pete Hodgson and Ruth Dyson are full of rhetoric about care for the disabled but here they are at Christmas time closing off the funding on 31 December.

“It is essential that Pete Hodgson has the courage to meet parents and to ensure their disabled children are given appropriate care.”

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