Media release from Lyndy McIntyre,
Candidate for Paekakariki/Raumati Ward in 2007 KCDC elections

27 July 2007

DHB Should Come Clean on Privatisation Plans

“Capital and Coast District Health Board should come clean and explain to the community how many of our services it plans to privatise,” said Lyndy McIntyre today.

Lyndy McIntyre is a member of the We Care group, fighting privatisation of CCDHB’s district nursing services.

“These are our health services and the community should be fully in the loop,” she said. “Significant changes, such as privatisation of the service, should automatically require community consultation.

“First we discover the DHB is considering privatising our district nursing service, despite opposition from service users and the nurses themselves. Next on the block is our closest public Accident and Emergency service at Keneperu.”

Lyndy McIntyre said issues about the future of our health service should be openly debated in the community.

“If the service is too “expensive” as CCDHB says, how can the situation be improved by awarding the service to a profit-driven private company?” she said.

“It is very hard to see how the pressure to pass on a dividend to shareholders could possibly result in better services for the community.”

Lyndy McIntyre said Kapiti’s health services were under severe stress.

“Kapiti has a growing population and a rapidly growing ageing population. The new regional hospital will have 50 fewer beds and its Wellington location is a considerable distance to travel for Kapiti people,” she said.

“We need to be confident the DHB’s priority is to provide the people of Kapiti with decent, accessible health services, including an Accident and Emergency service.”

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