Greypower joins growing campaign seeking urgent DHB funding injection for elderly facilities
Greypower today joined the growing campaign seeking urgent funding support for elderly care facilities from district
health boards.
Residential Care New Zealand and the New Zealand Private Hospital Association have been worried that the DHBs’ under
funding of residential care facilities is forcing charities to quit caring for the elderly.
Most district health boards (DHBs) have recommended a 1 percent increase to the nations’ struggling private care
givers.
Greypower chairman Graham Stairmand said the offer was not fair or equitable and it demonstrated the government did not
value elderly people.
``It shows a lack of understanding by the government about providing care for the elderly, and disregard for the
caregivers and nurses who work within the sector.
Inflation is running about three percent and this offer is unlikely to cover the increase most rest homes and hospitals
have had in power, food and transport.
``This lack of funding is consistent with the last five years where the government has never compensated fully for
inflation. We can not keep going on like this,’’ he said.
South Island staff of the Mary Potter Hospital were shocked last week to learn their 90-year-old hospital for the
elderly in Christchurch was closing.
Managers at the 68-bed hospital, set up by a Catholic order of nuns in 1913, stunned staff and patients' families last
week by announcing it was closing. News of the closure follows long-standing warnings from the Residential Care NZ and
the Private Hospitals' Association (PHA) that many providers were considering closing. Residential Care New Zealand
chief executive Martin Taylor said in real terms an offer of one percent meant an increase of about 88 cents each day to
look after elderly in residential care. ``Taking into account inflation over the last year, it cost about $2.50 more
person to provide the same level of care in 2004, despite this the government only offered 88cents per person. This is
unsustainable.’’ Many religious and welfare groups have exited or plan to exit from residential care. Presbyterian
Support have sold their facilities in Nelson / Marlborough, Canterbury, Hamilton, Tauranga, Thames, Whakatane, Kerikeri
and Auckland.
The Salvation Army have signalled the enormous difficulty they have in surviving.
``The whole sector is in a state of shock at the offer and we are urgently considering our options,’’ Mr Taylor said.
The district health boards’ offer affected over 800 aged care providers who employ more than 25,000 staff in resthomes
and hospitals.
Copyright 2004 Word Of Mouth Media NZ