BARBARA STEWART MP
15TH FLOOR
BOWEN HOUSE
WELLINGTON

Media Release

22 May 2008

Budget Health Funding Equitable

New funding for workforce development in today’s Budget finally acknowledges that workforce development is critical if New Zealand is not to fall even further behind with training and retention of staff, says New Zealand First health spokesperson Barbara Stewart.

“The increase in the number of first year GP training positions, training positions for GPs in high health need areas and doubling the number of second year doctors offered rural practice training is a good start to tackling a very big problem.

“More funds for the restructuring of the child and adolescent oral health services should give a kick start to a process which seems to have become bogged down.

“The move to reduce prescription charges will be welcomed, especially by the elderly and those with children and primary mental health services can do with all the help they can get and will welcome the extra funding from the Budget.

“The extra funds for additional elective surgical services will go some way to keeping waiting lists down but the Government should not rest on its laurels as there is more to be done in this area.

“Disability services are another area where extra funding is always welcome and it is encouraging to see special mention of hearing and vision services for children.

“You can’t please all the people all the time but the Government has tried to spread the funds available as fairly as possible and deserves credit for being equitable when faced with many competing demands,” said Mrs Stewart.

ENDS

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