Jo Goodhew MP National Party Associate Health Spokeswoman

22 February 2006

Questions remain unanswered over aged-care funding

There is widespread concern that DHBs are still not passing on funding increases to providers of aged residential care, says National's Associate Health spokeswoman, Jo Goodhew.

Mrs Goodhew told Ministry of Health officials in Parliament's health select committee today that their figures show that some DHBs are passing funding on very quickly, but others have yet to do so.

"I am concerned that I did not receive a satisfactory explanation as to why this is happening.

"I also received a promise of more information about the $71 million promised to the sector in Budget 2005.

"Questions have been asked about why this increased funding hasn't flowed through to providers, but they are yet to be adequately answered by the Ministry of Health.

"It does seem the $71 million is, in fact, only to allow the sector to tread water, not meet increased costs," says Mrs Goodhew.

ENDS

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