Tony Ryall MP
National Party Health Spokesman

8 June 2007

Cancer patients caught in bureaucratic bungle

"Less than 24 hours after Clayton Cosgrove was promising improved cancer treatment times, Wellington cancer patients have been warned of delays because of bureaucratic 'heel-dragging'," says National's Health spokesman, Tony Ryall.

"This is classic Labour. They say they'll fund it, pose for the cameras, then quietly attach as many strings as they can get away with." Mr Ryall is commenting after complaints from the Cancer Society that a funding wrangle is holding up the installation of a lifesaving linear accelerator at Wellington Hospital.

"Earlier this year, the Ministry of Health trumpeted the fact it was to purchase the machine, but now a row has erupted over who will pay for the increased patient numbers who will use it.

"This is outrageously shortsighted of the Ministry. How could they have overlooked the fact that a new state-of-the-art machine might actually improve patient outcomes?

"Surely, that's the whole reason for funding new equipment?"

Mr Ryall says the Cancer Society's warning that further delays are inevitable for cancer patients if an urgent decision is not reached soon must be taken seriously.

"This boils down to a dysfunctional relationship between the Ministry and the District Health Board. How else could the wires have got so crossed?"

Mr Ryall says every day wasted because of the bureaucratic bungling is another day that cancer patients could have been receiving treatment.

"At a time when the public health system desperately needs to improve efficiency, Pete Hodgson's army of bureaucrats can't work out that better equipment might mean better, quicker service for more patients.

"Sort it out Pete!"

ENDS

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