MEDIA RELEASE MONDAY 4 JUNE 2007 Eleanor Carter, Spokesperson Health Cuts Hurt Inc

Summit Required To Sort Out Industrial Quagmire

“Health Cuts Hurt is calling for an urgent summit of representatives of the four main groups involved in, or affected by, the ongoing industrial disputes in our public hospitals to find a higher level and lasting solution,” Chairperson of Health Cuts Hurt, Eleanor Carter said today.

She was commenting on the ongoing industrial disruption due to lockouts, suspensions and strikes which has bedevilled the public hospital sector for two years, including this evening’s lockout of 2,000 service workers.

“The four groups who need to get together are the District Health Boards, the relevant health Unions, patient or health sector NGOs and the relevant politicians, including the Minister and Ministry of Health and Opposition health spokespersons” said Eleanor Carter.

“This disruption to surgery waiting lists has gone on long enough without anyone getting out the microscope and working out why this malaise continues and is in fact spreading,” said Eleanor Carter. “In the absence of leadership from the Minister and the Ministry of Health, our group is organising a summit to seek a widespread and lasting solution.”

Eleanor Carter said that it was unacceptable that the four groups in health could not work together to find a solution, as they would if a pandemic was affecting the health of thousands of New Zealanders. “Letters have gone out today to the four groups calling for a summit as soon as practicable.”

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