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Tick boxes fail patients and staff
Annette
KING
Health Spokesperson
3 February 2014
MEDIA STATEMENT
Tick boxes fail patients and
staff
Hygiene standards will continue to fall by the wayside until Health Minister Tony Ryall eases the pressure on hospitals to meet his political tick box targets, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says.
The Ministry of Health has ordered Capital and Coast Health Board to improve standards in several areas after poor hygiene practices and other shortcomings were found during an audit at Wellington Hospital.
“Health funding has been in a stranglehold since 2009, with annual allocations under Mr Ryall failing to keep up with costs.
“In the end something has to give.
“District health boards are doing their best, but they can only ration their funding in so many ways.
“Most are in fear of a controlling and bullying minister. If his priorities are not met Chairs, CEOs and even front line staff are bawled out personally.
“The result of that behaviour, combined with a shortage of cash and narrow targets, is boards looking for savings and short cuts to satisfy the minister.
“Right now lessons learned over decades are in danger of being side-lined, and that’s something the constant flow of 'more good news' from the government can’t bandage over.”
ENDS
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