Barbara Stewart MP
Spokesperson for Health
27 AUGUST 2015

Minister’s Rheumatic Fever Claims Undermined by Figures

The Minister of Health, Jonathan Coleman, is failing to meet his targets in reducing rheumatic fever hospital admissions and is instead fiddling with the figures, says New Zealand First.

“Official information released to New Zealand First shows that instead of ‘first episode’ rheumatic fever admissions falling 24 per cent since 2012 as claimed by the Minister it is only a 14 per cent drop,” says Health Spokesperson Barbara Stewart.

“Considering the Ministry of Health’s target for June 2015 was a 40 per cent reduction clearly the results highlight a significant failure.

“What’s more, over half the reductions were in the Counties Manukau District Health Board – in four other DHBs the numbers went up.

“This is great news for Counties Manukau DHB, but a lot more needs to be done in other parts of the country.

“Until all New Zealand children are safe from rheumatic fever the Minister should stop the pretence and focus on getting real results,” said Mrs Stewart.

ENDS

© Scoop Media