20 August 2015

Cash strapped DHBs struggling to find cuts

An unprecedented number of DHBs do not have financial plans for the year in place as they struggle to identify the $141 million in cuts required this year, Labour Health Spokesperson Annette King says.

“Just one District Health Board out of 20 has their 2015/2016 Annual Plan signed off by the Minister of Health, and it’s nearly September. They should have been done by the end of June.

“DHBs have to make cuts of $141 million this year because they didn’t receive the funding needed to keep up with inflation and demographic pressures. What they are finding is that there is nothing left to cut.

“National has already slashed $1.7 billion out of the health budget over six years. Kiwis are missing out on the care they need and now DHBs are being asked to cut even deeper.

“The health system simply cannot keep up and now we are seeing things start to fall apart.

“National needs to give the health system the funding it needs so health professionals can get on with the business of looking after their patients,” says Annette King.

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