MEDIA RELEASE
5 September 2007

Aged Care Providers Welcome National Party Initiative

Providers of aged care in New Zealand have welcomed the National Party discussion paper "Choice not Change for Older New Zealanders" unveiled by John Key at the HealthCare Providers NZ annual conference in Rotorua today.

"This paper presents an excellent start in discussing how we as a nation provide a sustainable environment for caring for our elderly and we welcome the initiative," Martin Taylor, the CEO of HealthCare Providers NZ, said today. "It is important that people in New Zealand are given choice and that the continuum of care is widely improved two aspects of current government policy that exists largely in name only."

Mr Taylor said the aged care sector applauds proposals for improved funding agreements that will incorporate agreed increases for more than one year. "It is obvious the National Party understands what is needed to run a business, especially one within the aged care sector."

He added that HealthCare Providers, which represents 80 percent of aged care providers in the country, has often expressed concern over the lack of co-ordinated training for caregivers working in the sector. Discussions over forming an aged care Industry Training Organisation are welcomed.

The National Party paper proposes that DHBs contract for dedicated respite residential care beds, which would mean that respite care was always available and could be planned for in advance.

"The National Party is heading in the right direction and this paper shows that they have listened to the sector. It is extremely important for elderly Kiwis and their families to have certainty in the services provided as it is important for those providing the services and this discussion document proposes solutions that will end the current ad hoc approach pushed onto the sector by District Health Boards," Mr Taylor said.

More than 300 providers of aged care in New Zealand have attended the three day conference. Mr Taylor said the New Zealand population was aging which will soon put extra pressure on existing providers through increased demand. "New Zealand can only meet the demands of an aging population and provide world-class care through the government working with aged care providers, and these proposals by the National Party represent a good way forward."

ENDS

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