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25 February 2010
MEDIA RELEASE
MICHAEL LAWS
MAYOR
WANGANUI DISTRICT COUNCIL |
Mayor says ‘Chronicle’ out of touch on health
Mayor Michael Laws today said that the ‘Wanganui Chronicle’ was serving the community poorly on health and hospital related issues “by ignoring the documentary evidence put before the council this week, and trying to get the council to pretend that there was no problem regards a potential DHB merger.”
In an editorial published today, the ‘Chronicle’ stated that “election fever” had gripped the district council ….
“Why else would the Wanganui District [sic] councillors be involving
themselves in a debate over the fate of the Whanganui District Health
Board – a fate being predicted by one man on the basis of perception
rather than hard evidence?”
The editorial then instructed the council that it should “soothe their fever, and focus on the priorities for their own customers.”
Mayor Laws today said that it was “the dumbest and most ill-informed editorial” he had yet read in the local newspaper “and that is saying something given the past competition.”
“This council has been involved on three previous occasions in assisting the DHB to retain health services and directly in lobbying for and funding the appointment of medical specialists. We are the only body in the community – democratically elected – with a clear loyalty to our community.
“The DHB is funded from Wellington, has its policy priorities set by Wellington, and has its chairperson and three other board members chosen by Wellington. In addition, hospital and health services are a vital part of our community’s fabric and financial and social wellbeing.”
Mayor Laws said that the council had unanimously affirmed its intention to take an ongoing interest “and some of that sentiment was based upon hard documentation provided to us. The November 2009 letter from the DHB chairperson and chief executive to the Minister of Health – which states that a merger will occur - tends to refute the public assurances provided.”
“The council is not expressing an interest in the bureaucratic structures. It is expressing a genuine and ongoing desire about the level of Wanganui-provided services that will exist – both now and in the future. Any merger will significantly impact upon Wanganui services.”
Mayor Laws said that it was “entirely typical that this important local issue was reported a day after the ‘Dominion-Post’ had reported it, and was deemed of much lesser importance than micro-chipping a dog!”
ENDS |
