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

 

Brutal health cuts confirmed, crucial services suffer

Brutal health cuts confirmed, crucial services suffer

Chronic underfunding by National has seen the health budget slashed by $1.7 billion since 2010, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says.

A report by Infometrics, commissioned by Labour, shows health funding has been cut in four of the last six budgets. A shortfall of $500 million this year means the sector’s funding has been slashed by $1.7 billion over six years.

“It comes as leaked documents reveal plans are also underway to centralise control of district health boards and move to contestable funding.

“The Government paints this as a ‘quest for efficiencies’. That is only one part of the picture. DHBs are facing a financial double whammy, confronted by rising costs – due to factors such as cost pressures, demographic changes and an ageing population – at the same time they are being told to make savings of millions of dollars.

“Put the two together and you no longer have a health sector with the ability to provide Kiwis with high quality safe patient care, where and when it is needed.

“Health Minister Jonathan Coleman may think he has mastered the art of double speak but he cannot argue this report is an exaggeration. It is glaringly obvious New Zealand’s health system has been systematically underfunded for the last few years.

“The Government is simply squeezing too hard and investing too little.

“That is not sustainable. When people are stretched, things go wrong. We already have examples of that, including warnings from resident doctors at North Shore hospital about staff shortages putting patients’ lives at risk and pressures on mental health services.

“Over half of the country’s district health boards are running deficits. Indications from Treasury are that cost pressures will only intensify over the next few years, requiring ever more significant changes to the health system.”

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.