Barbara Stewart MP Spokesperson for Health 27 AUGUST
2015
Minister’s Rheumatic Fever Claims
Undermined by Figures
The Minister of Health,
Jonathan Coleman, is failing to meet his targets in reducing
rheumatic fever hospital admissions and is instead fiddling
with the figures, says New Zealand First.
“Official information released to New Zealand First
shows that instead of ‘first episode’ rheumatic fever
admissions falling 24 per cent since 2012 as claimed by the
Minister it is only a 14 per cent drop,” says Health
Spokesperson Barbara Stewart.
“Considering the
Ministry of Health’s target for June 2015 was a 40 per
cent reduction clearly the results highlight a significant
failure.
“What’s more, over half the reductions
were in the Counties Manukau District Health Board – in
four other DHBs the numbers went up.
“This is
great news for Counties Manukau DHB, but a lot more needs to
be done in other parts of the country.
“Until all
New Zealand children are safe from rheumatic fever the
Minister should stop the pretence and focus on getting real
results,” said Mrs Stewart.
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