Health Select Committee Confirms Crisis

3 December 2004

Health Select Committee Confirms Crisis in Funding Of Elderly Care

Yesterday the Health Select Committee reported back to parliament on caregivers' wages. The report states, "We are concerned by evidence of chronic under-funding of the aged care and disability sectors"

"The report confirms what Residential Care NZ and others have been saying for a long time, that the sector is in crisis"

"This has been a sad week for the sector with the Salvation Army pulling out of residential care and the DHBs refusing to negotiate with provider representatives on their insulting 1% funding offer",

However, yesterday on morning report the Hon Ruth Dyson said the government was considering looking at the short and long term under funding of the sector.

"We welcome this move by the Minister and I hope that the group set up to address the funding issue includes the provider representatives who have been negotiating with the DHBs for some time", said Martin Taylor CEO of Residential Care NZ

ENDS

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