Health Minister Chris Hipkins says The Canterbury District Health Board hasn’t been living within its means but says the Government needed to step in to “keep the lights on.”
Hipkins has signed off on a 180 million dollar cash injection to plug the CDHB’s deficit, which is the highest in the country.
Chris Hipkins told Chris Lynch there still needs to be discussions with the Canterbury DHB to get it operating within its budget.
He says Government gave them an extra 100 million in funding this year – but the DHB kept upping its spending.
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists responds
Sarah Dalton, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists
The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists is welcoming a government bailout but says it’s a shame it has taken an unprecedented leadership crisis and protest action by staff to force action.
Executive Director Sarah Dalton says it’s a relief to finally see the Health Minister Chris Hipkins acknowledging the financial difficulties the DHB has been facing.
She says investment in health must be determined by need not number crunching, and DHBs should not have to push austerity to reduce debt.
“Many services at CDHB are struggling with a lack of specialists and rising demand, such as oncology and mental health.”
“While the bailout is a significant step, the DHB is struggling to cope with the number of patients in Canterbury needing treatment. We also remain concerned about whether the Hagley Building will be fully staffed and operational when it opens,” says Sarah Dalton.
“The scars of the past few months run deep. What Canterbury needs now is a new governance team which is people-focussed and will listen to the community and the voice of clinical leaders”.
ASMS is also warning the crisis at Canterbury DHB is in many ways a cautionary tale and there is a risk without more overall bottom-line funding, other DHBs could go down the same path.
