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

 

Health $1 Billion on buildings and equipment over 3 years

Hon Tony Ryall

Minister of Health
16 March 2012 Media statement
Health $1 Billion on buildings and equipment over past 3 years

Health Minister Tony Ryall today assisted laying the foundation stone for construction of the new $65m Whakatane public hospital.

The new hospital is part of a significant $940 million of hospital building and equipment projects approved under the National led government since 2008.

"At a time when money has never been so tight, our government has worked hard to protect and grow the public health service.

"In addition to new building and equipment projects, the government has invested $1.5 billion of new money into the public health service over the past three years. No other part of the public sector has been so well-treated.

"This unprecedented level of funding has supported our clinical teams and managers to provide even more service for patients. More operations, faster treatment, and more effective prevention.

"In other countries, health staff have had their wages cut. In other countries, services have been scaled back significantly. Here in New Zealand, over the past three years our hospitals have employed over 800 extra doctors (senior and junior) and over 2000 extra nurses (excluding health care assistants). There has never ever been more staff in our hospitals than today.

"Because the health service has been so preferred for funding over the past three years...and the next three years... we have a responsibility as a service to keep to our budgets and to spend them wisely.

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.

"Every district health board (DHB) must continue looking for best value from every dollar. They must continue moving money around to improve services, as they have been.

"In this year's budget there will be even more money for health services. DHB budgets will never have been so high. But money is still tight in New Zealand, and everyone in health will have to play a part in making sure that extra funding is well used.

"It's an exciting day here in the Bay of Plenty with this event. And I congratulate all those involved."

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... 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.