Simeon Brown hid Dunedin Hospital downgrade – Labour

The Otago Daily Times today revealed then-Health Minister Dr Shane Reti was told on January 23 this year that the number of ICU beds would be reduced on opening from 30 to 20.

“Simeon Brown then took over as Health Minister and swooped into Dunedin a week later trying to act the hero on the hospital. But he failed to share this important information about downgrading the number of ICU beds,” Labour acting health spokesperson Peeni Henare said.

“While attempting to patch up the mess National had made of Dunedin Hospital he hid the fact a third of its planned intensive care beds had been cut.

“That is hugely disingenuous. I can see why locals, including the former head of the emergency department, are angry,” Peeni Henare said.

This follows reporting by Stuff at the weekend that New Zealand is nationally 500 hospital beds short.

“Simeon Brown continues to claim everything is going to be okay despite announcing a health infrastructure plan without a cent of actual funding attached, and stopping hospitals from hiring the workforce they need under the guise of saving money,” Peeni Henare said.

“National’s track record is to scale back and delay hospital builds as it has done with Nelson and Dunedin hospitals, which will cost New Zealanders more in the long run. Simeon Brown is content kicking the can down the road while people’s health suffers,” Peeni Henare said.