19 November 2009
Media Statement

Patients to go without under National

Thousands of patients will fail to get treatment under a massive regime of current and impending health sector cutbacks, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

“DHBs around the country are already preparing to turn thousands of patients away from Emergency Departments, diabetes programmes are being scrapped, and mental health funding is undergoing cutbacks.

“I agree entirely with the senior doctors who today warned that the National Government programme of cutbacks will not result in savings as more people will end up being admitted to hospital for untreated chronic conditions.

“The Government has already slashed funding and cut health promotion and prevention campaigns aimed at keeping people well and the further planned cutbacks will simply see more people going without having conditions like, the estimated 100,000 New Zealanders who do not know they have diabetes.

“Minister of Health Tony Ryall appears to have forgotten that keeping people well is meant to be the priority for the health sector, not just patching them up when they finally make it to hospital.

“It is absolutely ridiculous that programmes designed to keep people well are being dumped because of the whims of the Minister of Health.

“What is also troubling is that according the Ministry of Health chief Stephen McKernan no money will be put into frontline medical professionals salaries in New Zealand over the coming years.

“New Zealand already has a workforce crisis and cutting funding from important health programmes and failing to recognise the importance of frontline medical professionals will simply drive our doctors and nurses offshore.

“All New Zealanders should be worried by the impending slash and burn approach that the Minister of Health is taking to the health sector,” Ruth Dyson said.

Health Cuts since coming to office

February 2009

* Pies back on the menu in schools

March 2009

* Taranaki DHB has publicly signalled that its hospital is preparing for cut backs. Taranaki Daily News 10 March 2009

April 2009

* Southland and Otago DHBs have confirmed they are cutting home support services to reduce costs. The Boards were looking to make savings of up to $10 million by reducing home support services for elderly.

* May 2009

* Cut anti obesity, oral health and mental health targets
* National have taken $2.3 million out of cancer control. Budget 2009
* Slashed the diabetes ‘let’s get checked’ budget by $4.8 million each year. Budget 2009
* Cut $3 million from the cardiovascular disease budget. Budget 2009
* Mental Health services have also had their funding cut. Budget 2009

June 2009

* Whanganui DHB has said it will be closing hospital wards on weekends to save money on nursing overtime. “ Hospital looks to close wards at weekends” Wanganui Chronicle 26 June 2009
* Post budget Treasury documents show that primary health and health promotion services that target specific health conditions have had funding cuts of $37 million this year.
* Tony Ryall this year signed off on a 6.5 percent increase in GP fees the largest increase since fees came in.
* The Fruit in Schools programme which currently provides 100,000 children with fresh fruit each day is under threat.
* Mid Central DHB makes cuts $10 million cuts Manawatu Standard

July 2009

* South Canterbury DHB has said it will be reducing the amount of patients seen in its Emergency Department by up to 5000 people a year.
* SCDHB has also signalled that it is looking to reduce the number of patients using radiology services. Error! Reference source not found.
* The DHB also confirmed that it would be axing up to 200 elective operations per year because of a cut in Government funding.

August 2009

* Cuts to elderly care in South Canterbury
* Sport fit coordinator jobs at risk
* Waikato DHB has frozen clinician jobs.
* Dunstan Hospital reduces community physio and disability home support
* Dannevirke outpatient cuts

September 2009

* Mental health funding on chopping block $2million chopped in Nelson.

ENDS

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