According to Labour Party’s Health Spokesperson Grant Robertson, the Government will once again be breaking its promise not to cut frontline health services in New Zealand by doing exactly that at Hawera Hospital in South Taranaki.

It was recently reported that a discussion document from the Taranaki District Health Board has recommended that Hawera Hosptial save over (NZ) $1 million by cutting the hospital’s 20 beds to just 10 beds, reducing Emergency Department Services, closing in-patient services, and also taking other health care services off site in the coming months.

According to the discussion document, six of the remaining ten beds could be moved to a rest home and extra patients or people staying in the hospital for more than 36 hours could be transferred to New Plymouth, which is about a 130 kilometer journey from South Taranaki.

Mr. Robertson has accused Health Minister Tony Ryall of breaking his promise to the resident of South Taranaki.

Mr. Robertson stated: “Tony Ryall talks a lot about increasing frontline services, but once again he is not walking the walk. These cuts have been described by local kiwi as ‘drastic and unacceptable’, and they will have a real impact on the health and well-being of South Taranaki residents”.