Jo Goodhew MP
National Party Associate Health Spokeswoman (Aged Care)
8 September 2006
National begins forums on aged care
The first of National’s stakeholder forums on aged care was held in Christchurch this week.
National’s Associate Health spokeswoman responsible for aged care, Jo Goodhew, says that over the next several months,
National will be holding a series of forums with the aged-care sector and other stakeholders to further develop policies
to encourage and advance aged care into the future.
“The sector is suffering huge uncertainty and financial pressure, despite Labour promising for the past seven years to
address these problems.
“Residential-care providers and organisations that provide home-based support services find it difficult to retain and
recruit staff, and DHBs have been slow in passing on funding increases to providers.
“They are concerned about a lack of transparency and long-term planning.
“Their concerns have been ignored by a Government more focused on shutting down bad publicity than improving health
services.”
National MPs Gerry Brownlee, David Carter, Jo Goodhew, Kate Wilkinson and Nicky Wagner attended the Christchurch forum.
Further forums are planned for Auckland, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Otaki and Wellington. Further consultation is also
planned in Helensville, Northland and Hawke’s Bay.
ENDS