News
Media Statement
20 May 2010
Budget expected to lead to cuts in Health Services
“The Budget’s health funding is expected to lead to cuts in health services,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.
“Funding for district health boards is short by at least $100 million of what is needed to maintain existing services at their existing level, let alone improving services.”
“It also appears that DHB deficits will be tightly managed placing even more pressure on the health system and health professionals to maintain good standards of patient of care.”
“Senior doctors are committed to working with DHBs and government in improving the clinical and financial effectiveness of health services. But drastically reducing the rate of increased funding will put the system under immense pressure with the increased risk of DHBs adopting short-sighted decisions without sufficient regard to longer-term patient outcomes.”
“It is going to be a tough year for patients and for senior doctors struggling to provide them with accessible quality health care” concluded Mr Powell.
Ian Powell
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
