Any health mergers require community support

CARE NOT CUTS


MEDIA RELEASE

Any health mergers require community support

The government and its appointees need to 'proceed with caution' and take local communities with them, rather than try to force through district health board (DHB) mergers, says Capital & Coast DHB member David Choat, who was elected under the banner of Care not Cuts.

"There has been mounting speculation that Health Minister Tony Ryall is about to appoint the same person to head both the Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley boards, in what appears to the first step towards a merger."

"I have an open mind on the issue of a merger, but I'm clear about one thing: such a plan would only work if its proponents take the time to consult genuinely with both communities and persuade them of the merits of the idea. If they try to force a merge against the wishes of one or both communities, that will only lead to resentment and tensions."
"If a merger were looked at, consideration would also need to be given to the implications for Capital & Coast's other sub-regional partner, Wairarapa DHB," David Choat said..
http://carenotcuts.org.nz/

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