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Minister of Health Dismisses Catheter Shortage


Barbara Stewart MP

Spokesperson for Health
25 AUGUST 2016

MINISTER OF HEALTH DISMISSES CATHETER SHORTAGE

Patients around New Zealand are being forced to wash and reuse catheters because they are being supplied with only half the number they need, says New Zealand First.

“It is completely unacceptable that DHBs are requiring patients to reuse catheters when the packaging instructions explicitly state they are for single use only – this practice is resulting in reoccurring infections for patients, putting many at risk,” says Health Spokesperson Barbara Stewart.

“When questioned in Parliament today the Minister of Health, Jonathan Coleman, dismissed the issue completely claiming the reusing of catheters to be ‘pretty operational’.

“Patients are at risk day-to-day because of this ‘operational practice’ but, sadly, Mr Coleman and the National Government would rather put cost-cutting before the health of New Zealanders.

“All this to save 30 cents per day – the cost of each catheter.

“New Zealand deserves a public health system where the needs of patients are put first, rather than DHB’s bottom-lines,” says Mrs Stewart.

ENDS

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