Hon Ruth Dyson

Health Spokesperson

17 November 2010 Media Statement

Labour hopes families affected by serious and sentinel events receive the support they need

The Labour Party today declined to politicise the deaths and injuries of patients that have occurred in the last 12 months, Labour health spokesperson Ruth Dyson said.

“While in Opposition now Minister of Health Minister Tony Ryall and Act health spokesperson Heather Roy routinely made political mileage out of the deaths and injuries suffered by patients while in hospital,” Ruth Dyson said.

“Labour instituted the sentinel and events reporting system in order to improve openness and transparency and to encourage hospitals to look closely at areas for improvement.

“During that time Tony Ryall regarded the death of patients as an area for political point scoring. I hope he has now learnt how inappropriate this is.

“Labour hopes that every incident is thoroughly investigated and that hospitals ensure that mistakes are not repeated.

“We also hope that every family who lost a loved one and every patient who suffered is receiving the support they need.

“What those families do not need are politicians wanting to use their cases for political purposes and Labour will not be using the sentential and serious events report to engage in that sort of unacceptable behaviour,” Ruth Dyson said.

ENDS

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