Tony Ryall MP
National Party Health Spokesman
12 September 2008
Labour ignores health system crisis

“Labour is ignoring the crisis facing the public health system and has no idea on how to fix it,” says National Party Health spokesman Tony Ryall.

“Today's speech by David Cunliffe is bereft of real action to fix the health crisis.

"The election in health will be fought over long hospital waiting lists, the explosion in bureaucracy, and the shortage of doctors and nurses.

"After spending an extra $6 billion a year on health, fewer New Zealanders are getting the care they deserve. Hospital waiting lists are growing, emergency departments are gridlocked, and bureaucracy is out of control.

"Labour's strategy in health is to steal National's policies, and hide Labour’s secret agenda to amalgamate the country's provincial DHBs.

"Today's speech by David Cunliffe offers no solutions to the real issues concerning New Zealanders.

"Instead it is an admission of failure on Labour's behalf, shrouded in gobbledegook.

“Who else would start a speech saying ‘I believe it is time to build on the organic, emergent nature of that pioneering change to more systematically leverage local strengths’ as Mr Cunliffe did today? He’s clearly a hostage to his own verbosity.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media