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

 

Health in need of refreshment

Health in need of refreshment

Tony Ryall's budget mantra of ‘health being the winner’ is ringing ever more hollow as he drags it out for its fifth annual iteration, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says.

“Mr Ryall needs to refresh his lines.

“He’s being particularly cute with his ‘more funding than ever before' statements. Mr Ryall knows as well as anyone that Vote Health requires annual increases just to stand still.

“Unfortunately for him - and despite his protestations to the contrary - the chickens are now coming home to roost.

“Underfunding over the last five years has resulted in district health boards across the country facing huge financial pressures.

“That in turn has led to lengthy waiting times for surgery, delays in maintenance, staff shortages and rising rates of preventable illnesses.

“Mr Ryall has also selectively forgotten he tasked Health Benefits Limited and our DHBs with saving $700 million by 2015.

“$499 million extra funding is needed in tomorrow’s Budget for the sector just to stand still. However, if we want to tackle the growing crisis in public health, including diabetes, respiratory illness, cancer and cardiovascular disease/stroke, then extra funding is needed.

“The number of people being bumped off waiting lists must be addressed – too many are living in pain and with disability – while the capital budget needs to be sufficient to enable immediate maintenance of leaking hospital facilities and the building of vital new health amenities.

“John Key measures Mr Ryall's success as a Minister as keeping health off the front page. That is hardly something Kiwis missing out on health care would consider to be an achievement.

“What’s needed in health tomorrow is openness and transparency, not more bluster and bull dust from Mr Ryall.”

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 Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... 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.