Wellington women are the latest to feel the brunt of health cost-cutting with the loss of cancer services and maternity beds.
“First, they tried to cancel toast and milo for new mums on maternity wards, now they’re taking away their beds,” Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said.
“Maternity beds will be cut to make room for patients from the overstretched emergency department at Wellington hospital, risking women leaving hospital too soon after the birth of a child or having treatment.
“It means women and babies are going to be pushed out of hospital too early as result of the Government’s targets,” Ayesha Verrall said.
Health New Zealand has also today conceded that at least 130 women with cancer will have to leave Wellington each year for surgeries in Christchurch because there is no specialist in Wellington to treat them.
“This means these women will have to be away from home for surgery at a very difficult time of their lives. Wellington women deserve better,” Ayesha Verrall said.
“This decision puts pressure on services elsewhere in the country, increasing wait times, competition for theatre space and increased stress and cost for women and their whānau.
“Everyone should be able to get care when they need it—close to home, without the cost or the wait.
“Christopher Luxon’s Government doesn’t care about women’s health and is letting essential women’s health services collapse,” Ayesha Verrall said.