More health restructuring concerns PSA

PSA Media Release
August 14, 2009
For Immediate Use
More health restructuring concerns PSA

The Public Service Association is concerned that the government is to consider a major restructuring of the health system.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has received a report that proposes establishing a national Health Board to oversee and fund district health boards.

“The last thing our health service needs is the upheaval and expense of another major restructuring,” says PSA national secretary Brenda Pilott

“This week we heard that restructuring at the Environment Ministry has cost just under $1 million.”

“The bill for restructuring the health system will be much greater with no guarantee that the new system would deliver any benefits.”

“In fact adding another administrative layer to the health system is more likely to increase the cost of delivering health services.”

“Establishing a National Health Board looks like a re-cycling of the Health Funding Authorities that were introduced in the 1990s then scrapped because they failed to improve service delivery,” says Brenda Pilott.

In its health policy, issued before the election, National stated that our heath service can be improved “without the distraction of restructuring.”

“If the government goes ahead with the proposed restructuring it would be a reversal of its health policy,” says Brenda Pilott.

“Health workers have been through numerous restructurings and need stability if they’re to
improve service deliver not the disruption and expense of more restructuring,” says Brenda Pilott.

ENDS

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