Hon Ruth Dyson
Health Spokesperson

7 December 2009 Media Statement
Minister of Health fails patients by failing to plan

New Zealand patients will bear the brunt of looming industrial action in the health sector because of a failure by the Minister of Health to become involved in planning for disruptions, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

“It is ridiculous for the Minister of Health to effectively issue a wage freeze for frontline health workers and then wash his hands of planning for industrial action,” Ruth Dyson says.

“My concern is that with Senior Doctors yesterday signalling that industrial action may result if pay negotiation break-down that the Government has done nothing to prepare.

“The Minister says he expects DHBs to plan for industrial action, but given that it is his Government’s decision to put aside no funding for wage settlements for frontline health workers, he needs to be involved in the planning.

“Written Parliamentary Questions released on Friday show that the Minister of Health Tony Ryall has washed his hands of the situation he has created and has refused to involve himself in planning for the industrial action that will likely result from his policy of wage freezes.

“It seems ironic that the National-Government would call on doctors and nurses to play a role in making cost savings in the health sector, ask them to undertake to greater work-loads and say they were trying to close the wage gap with Australia, but then put in place a wage freeze in the health sector.

“Tony Ryall arrogantly boasted in the lead-up to the election that he would move resources from the backroom to the frontline. The statement is simply empty rhetoric.

“The Government is cutting patient services and now patients will bear the brunt of the Health Ministers arrogant decision to wash his hands of his own policy decision,” Ruth Dyson said.

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Question: What is the total dollar amount the Minister of Health has put aside in the 2009/2010 financial year for settling wage negotations in the health sector?Portfolio: Health

Minister: Hon Tony Ryall

Date Lodged:26/11/2009

Answer Text: District Health Boards are responsible for settling their own wage negotiations, and will determine the amount they allocate from available funding in 2009/2010.

Attachment: None

Date Received:04/12/2009

ENDS

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