Sarah Dowie
National MP for Invercargill

Media statement

25 May 2017

Funding boost a welcome investment for Southern DHB

MP for Invercargill, Sarah Dowie is pleased that Southern DHB is to receive extra funding as part of the 2017 Budget.

Budget 2017 will invest an extra $3.9 billion over four years into Vote Health taking the total national health investment to a record $16.77 billion in 2017/18

“Southern DHB will benefit from extra funding to invest in services, improve access and to meet cost pressures and population growth,” Ms Dowie said.

“The bowel screening programme will also be rolled out in the Southern region in 2017/2018 as part of a $38.5 million investment in the continuation of this programme.

Once in place, the DHB will offer people aged 60 to 74 a bowel screening test every two years. More than 80 per cent of cancers found through the pilot were in those aged 60 to 74. Screening in this range will maximise the number of cancers found while minimising the number of cases where problems are not found.

An extra $224 million over four years will be invested in mental health services including $124 million in new innovative approaches.

“Mental health is a social investment priority for this Government. It’s one of our most complex social issues and it’s having significant impacts across the employment, housing, health and justice sectors. If we want New Zealanders to succeed then we need to tackle the issues which are getting in the way of achievement,” Ms Dowie said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media