23 July 2002
Govt Won't Commit Funding To Solve Northland Health Crisis
The Government must assure Northlanders that it will back up its claim to have solved the Northland Health crisis with
cold hard cash, National Health Spokesperson Roger Sowry said today.
"Annette King can't claim to have solved the problems until she puts pen to paper and guarantees this board is funded
for the two anaesthetists and the paediatric doctor it needs.
"These problems are in no way solved when the board can't afford to pay staff, and there is no permanent solution for
the people of Northland.
"Annette King is claiming her intervention has solved problems at Northland, but there are still restrictions to
maternity services, and the short-term reinstatement of surgery at Kaitaia and a midwife at Dargeville have no
permanency.
"Northland Health is facing an operating deficit of $5 million. It cannot afford to pay an extra $400,000 for the staff
required to get over its current health crisis," Mr Sowry said.
Ends