Health Cuts Hurt

MEDIA RELEASE  - SUNDAY 30 July 2006

 ”Health Cuts Hurt says that if the Government and Christchurch City Council have a spare $20m for Jade Stadium to be upgraded for the 2011 World Rugby Cup, they should use it to properly fund the Canterbury District Health Board,” Chairperson of Health Cuts Hurt, Eleanor Carter said today.

She was commenting on Christchurch’s Mayor Garry Moore’s support for the $60m plan to upgrade Jade Stadium, while 5,300 Cantabrians are waiting anxiously to see if they have been cut off the waiting list for elective surgery.

“The Mayor has been silent on the cuts of a further 5,300 Cantabrians off waiting lists and the long term cuts to funding in the CDHB,” said Eleanor Carter. “In addition, many Kiwis were appalled at the Labour Government putting in $30m to the America’s Cup when many of the associated yachties feature on the rich list and there were so many other deserving uses of that money.”

“Health Cuts Hurt calls on the Christchurch Mayor and local Labour MPs to state categorically that they will fight for fair funding for the CDHB to correct the Ministry of Health’s flawed population based funding model,” said Eleanor Carter.

“Our group is not opposed to rugby. Canterbury is known as the rugby capital of the world with the Crusaders,” said Eleanor Carter. “But currently Canterbury people have to be sicker than in the rest of New Zealand to get an operation. Let’s have a crusade to return it to being the health capital of the country.”

Eleanor Carter, Spokesperson Health Cuts Hurt Inc

MEDIA RELEASE  Saturday 23 July 2006

MEDIA RELEASE : SUNDAY 9 July 2006

“Health Cuts Hurt believes most Kiwis will be amazed that the Ministry of Health is claiming evidence that Boards are managing well given the latest financial deficit figures,” Chairperson of Health Cuts Hurt, Eleanor Carter said today.

She was commenting on a statement from the MOH’s John Hazeldine that the year to date combined results (third quarter) for the year to June 2006 show that DHBs actual deficits are better than planned by $20.5 million.

“Against a criteria of a well funded health system that everyone can access regardless of their ability to pay, even the Minister of Health is only giving it 5.5 out of 10,” said Eleanor Carter. “The inability to treat the number of people on waiting lists is becoming a national disgrace.”

“The Ministry of Health wishes its population based funding model would satisfy Kiwis that they are being treated fairly health-wise and wishes that if the local Board could only keep within its bulk funded spending limits then all would be well,” said Eleanor Carter. “But the MOH model is unfair and arbitrary and is currently delivering cuts to some regions like Canterbury where $10 to $15m has to be chopped form current services to meet the Ministry’s budget.”

Eleanor Carter said that it is the health deficits of New Zealanders that should be focussed on, not the financial ones. “Boards are openly admitting that people have to be sicker now to get an operation that previously. That is the real health deficit that the Minister needs to address. And yes, it will require more funding.”

Eleanor Carter, Spokesperson Health Cuts Hurt Inc