Annette King
MP for Rongotai
Health Spokesperson

MEDIA STATEMENT

9 November 2016

Blatant bullying by DHBs unacceptable

A heavy handed bid to silence junior doctors by the country’s district health boards is anti-democratic says Labour’s Health Spokesperson Annette King.

“Reports that the DHBs threatened doctors with disciplinary action if they speak to the media and identify individual boards, is an insult to free speech. They should pull their heads in.

“This arrogance is simply not credible when the doctors are talking about issues of public safety to themselves and their patients.

“The pressure on junior doctors is symptomatic of the stresses that have been created by the $1.7 billion dollar gap in health funding by this Government.

“Regardless of the dispute the Minister is responsible for this mess and the culture it has created in the health system,” says Annette King.

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