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Bitter Pill To Swallow For Wellingtonians
Bitter Pill To Swallow For Wellingtonians
Heather Roy Wednesday, 14 June 2006 Press Releases - Health
Capital and Coast District Health Board's cull of 1,800 people from waiting lists makes Wellingtonians the latest casualties of a sick public health system, says ACT Health Spokesman and Wellington-based MP, Heather Roy.
"At least Capital and Coast DHB has been honest in saying it cannot meet Ministry of Health guidelines", Mrs Roy said.
"If DHBs are to follow the Ministry's guidelines, they have little option but to cut people from their waiting lists.
"But that will be little solace to any one of the 1,800 people whose GPs thought they required specialist assessment, but are now being sent back to their family doctors.
"Even if the DHB will pay the cost of that appointment, it's a bitter pill to swallow.
"District Health Boards have been given the task of nursing Labour's failing health policies and passing the bad news on to patients.
"Strike action by junior doctors on Thursday will make the situation even worse for those requiring assessment and treatment.
"We've been told that DHBs were set up so with some autonomy to treat their local population, but the ministry keeps them powerless in many cases to use their discretion.
"It's especially sad that orthopaedics are being hit, despite a huge funding injection targeted to treating hips and knees.
"Even Labour's favoured spending is failing to hit its target", Mrs Roy said.
ENDS
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