Hon Ruth Dyson
Health Spokesperson

17 December 2010
Media Statement

Ministry of Health restructure – a broken election promise

The newly announced Ministry of Health restructure is a massive downgrade, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

“Health Minister Tony Ryall is set to downgrade the Ministry of Health to a small policy directorate, while creating a new level of bureaucracy controlled by National Party insider Murray Horn,” Ruth Dyson said.

“This major restructure comes just weeks before a new Director General of Health begins. Not only that but this move ignores the election promise Tony Ryall and John Key made not to restructure the health sector.

“So far the Minister has cut back frontlines health services, breaking his promise to increase frontline health services and now he is restructuring the Ministry of Health.

“Given the number half-truths Tony Ryall has told in relation to health services, nothing he says should be believed at this point.

“I am deeply troubled by this latest move given the other changes the Minister has made.

“His other ‘changes’ include cutting back health services for elderly, cutting funding for mental health and sacking board chairs in an effort to merge DHBs by stealth,” Ruth Dyson said.

ENDS

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