Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader

Member of Parliament for Northland
8 JULY 2016

Elderly Suffer as Hospitals Reach Breaking Point

New Zealand’s elderly are suffering because of the government’s open door immigration policy, says New Zealand First Leader and Northland Member of Parliament, Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“Ministry of Health figures state 12 out of 20 district health boards have not been fully funded this year to deal with the aging population. Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has admitted the boards are under more financial pressure than ever largely because of the population boom.

“The health budget must fund an extra 100,000 people which equates roughly to New Zealand’s present record levels of immigration - 124,000 people a year.

“Immigration is pouring in the equivalent of New Plymouth’s population each year placing hospitals under impossible pressure.

“Auckland District Health Board says it is under enormous pressure as many immigrants head to hospitals instead of GPs.

“Our elderly are being pushed further and further back in hospital queues.

“This is unacceptable.

“Treasury has already warned the government record levels of immigration could push Kiwis out of low-skilled jobs, hold down wages and increase pressure on housing.

“Now the evidence is there – immigration has also brought our hospitals to breaking point and some of our most vulnerable, our elderly, are the ones most directly affected,” says Mr Peters.

ENDS

© Scoop Media