Minister visits Healthline and Plunketline

Health Minister Tony Ryall says Healthline and Plunketline have geared up their resources to help keep parents and the public updated about recent infant formula recalls.

Visiting both health call centres in Wellington today, Mr Ryall said the safety of infants and reassurance for their families was paramount.

“Healthline and Plunketline have done a very good job advising parents and caregivers, and I appreciate the extra hours and effort the nurses are putting in,” Mr Ryall says.

“Both health call centres report receiving increased call numbers since Saturday. For example, Plunketline received four times the average number of calls on Sunday and five times the average number of calls on Monday.

“Healthline tells me they have also received an increase in calls, including requests for updates from extended family in China and New York.”

Mr Ryall says if people are on a low income or receiving benefits, Work and Income may be able to help with costs they are facing because of the Karicare infant formula recall.

Mr Ryall says the Ministry reports that to date, no notifications of cases of infant botulism have been received. The Ministry has sent a further advisory to General Practices today updating the current situation.

“Information on infant formula recalls are widely available on the websites of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Primary Industry and Plunketline,” Mr Ryall says.

www.health.govt.nz/news-media/news-items/whey-protein-contamination-information-parents-and-health-advice

www.mpi.govt.nz/food/food-safety/whey-protein-contamination

www.plunket.org.nz/news-and-research/media-releases/infant-formula-recall/

or www.facebook.com/PlunketNZ

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