National Government fails elderly Taihape residents
Ruth Dyson
Health spokesperson
08 December 2010
Media Statement
National Government fails elderly Taihape residents
Health Minister Tony Ryall today confirmed that neither he nor any of his National Party colleagues has any intention of stepping in to save Taihape health services, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.
“Tony Ryall was today asked in Parliament four times whether he would step in to help prevent elderly people from having to leave Taihape in order to receive residential care,” Ruth Dyson said.
“Mr Ryall and Rangitïkei MP Simon Power have clearly failed to listen to the people of Taihape, and have no intention of helping people in that region.
“When responding to questions about health cuts in Taihape Tony Ryall told Parliament that he would rather discuss health services being provided than those that were being cut.
“Clearly Tony Ryall and Simon Power have buried their heads in the sand and simply don’t care about the loss of health services in that region.
“To insult in injury when asked about cases where elderly people were having to move out of Taihape the Minister attempted to claim that these people were moving closer to family.
“Clearly the National Government do not believe rehousing people in their 80s and 90s is a problem.
“I am disgusted and appalled by the totalling uncaring attitude of a Minister of Health, whose arrogance has blinded him to his responsibility to help the people of Taihape,” Ruth Dyson said.
ENDS