PSA Media Release
Nov 9th, 2011
Labour’s preventative health policy hits target

The public sector union, the PSA, says the Labour party’s health policy is right on target with its emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

“Public health has been neglected over the last three years, but a preventative, co-ordinated approach to health is key to saving money as well as people’s health in the long-run,” says PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff.

The PSA has around 19,000 members working in district health boards and community organisations delivering health and disability services.

“Our committee of health professionals has long been concerned about the lack of priority given to the mental health sector and the impact of this on people’s wellbeing. They will welcome Labour’s promise to improve services, focus on early intervention and reinstate guaranteed funding for mental health services,” says Richard Wagstaff.

“The PSA also supports the policy’s commitment to support elderly people living in their own homes for as long as possible through a qualified, well paid workforce. The need for qualified, well paid staff is echoed in the policy’s commitment for home support workers to achieve pay parity over time with their public sector counterparts,” says Richard Wagstaff.

“The PSA would like to see this commitment extended to support workers in disability residential care whose levels of responsibility are comparable with allied health support workers in DHBs and prison officers, both of whom earn more.

“The Wanless Report in the UK some years ago, highlighted that public health needs to be a priority if a long term difference is to be made to health expenditure. Labour’s health policy recognises this priority and puts resources where they are most needed and will be most beneficial,” says Richard Wagstaff.

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www.keepNZworking.co.nz
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