Dr Wayne Mapp MP
National Party Auckland Issues Spokesman
&
Dr Jonathan Coleman MP
National Party Associate Health Spokesman

10 July 2007

North Shore Hospital needs help

Two North Shore-based National MPs are labelling the reported staff shortages and overcrowding at North Shore Hospital as a tragedy waiting to happen and they’re organising a public meeting to hear concerns.

“Patients have been left languishing in hospital corridors. Labour came to power on a promise they wouldn’t let that happen. Their health programme is falling down around their ears,” says National’s Associate Health spokesman Dr Jonathan Coleman.

National Party Auckland Issues spokesman Wayne Mapp says the reported treatment of patients at North Shore Hospital has generated more concern from locals than anything else in recent times.

“People are incredibly anxious about whether they will actually be looked after if they get admitted to hospital in an emergency situation. They’re that worried.”

The MPs believe the Government is at risk of allowing a crisis of confidence to develop at North Shore Hospital.

“The Health Minister is in denial about the situation. When I asked him in Parliament about the serious problems on the Shore the Minister told me that ‘not only are things getting better, they are getting measurably better’,” Dr Coleman says.

“If that is what the Minister truly believes then the people of North Shore are in deep trouble,” the MPs say.

Dr Mapp and Dr Coleman are meeting the Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer this week to discuss the situation and are planning a public meeting at 1.00pm on Friday, 20 July at Netball North Harbour.

ENDS

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