Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Labour offers 'handbook' to bullied GPs

Judith Collins MP National Party Welfare Spokeswoman

11 July 2008

Labour offers 'handbook' to bullied GPs

Instead of addressing the serious problem of doctor-bullying by sickness beneficiaries, Labour has produced a booklet for GPs about the Ministry of Social Development, 'its staff, processes, forms, benefits and entitlements', says National's Welfare spokeswoman, Judith Collins.

"This ridiculous gesture shows just how out of touch and in denial Labour continues to be. It's a slap in the face for GPs, the majority of whom have said in a just-published survey that they continue to be the victims of bullying by sickness beneficiaries.

"In May, Work and Income's chief health advisor, David Bratt, admitted the department was 'regularly' made aware that doctors up and down the country were being pressured to give able-bodied people the green light to collect the sickness benefit.

"Doctors said they believed Work and Income was turning a blind eye to the practice because the staff were more focused on pushing people onto sickness benefits to make unemployment benefit numbers look better."

Ms Collins says a survey just published in the New Zealand Doctor shows that 63% of doctors say the rate of bullying hasn't changed since September last year, and 5% say it's got worse.

Just over a third of GPs polled say bullying is a serious concern for them and that sickness beneficiaries are among the worst offenders.

"These results are alarming. The booklet, launched yesterday, won't do anything to stop the practice and Labour knows it.

"What's needed is for Social Development Minister Ruth Dyson to make it patently clear she does not condone staff directing able-bodied people from the unemployment benefit on to the sickness benefit.

"Until then, doctors will continue to be bullied."

ENDS


Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.