Media statement
For immediate release
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Dunne: Ryall missing the point
Ohariu-Belmont MP and UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne says National’s health spokesperson Tony Ryall is right to be
concerned about the growing waiting list for heart surgery at Wellington Hospital, but simply bagging the Minister is
not the answer.
“Wellington’s beleaguered heart surgery patients are looking for practical policies and solutions to their dilemma.
“When people’s lives are at risk because critical surgery is not being performed, point-scoring abuse of Health
Minister, David Cunliffe, is a pretty empty and cynical response,” he said.
“UnitedFuture has consistently argued for a far greater involvement of the private sector in reducing our waiting lists
and it would be great to see both Labour and National focus on similar plans that would actually help people who
urgently need it, rather than either ignoring the problem, or seeing personal abuse as the solution,” said Mr Dunne.
ENDS