by Kevin Hague
NZ Doctor is a specialist but broad-ranging magazine aimed principally at people working in and concerend about primary health care. In their 27th January issue they carried a column highlighting Tony Ryall’s major announcements through 2009. They also gave Ruth Dyson and I, as Opposition spokespeople, the opportunity to list up to six announcements he should have made.
I enjoyed thinking about it. Here were the six I thought he should have made:
- In retrospect I have to confess that our decision to fund 12 months’ treatment with Herceptin was sheer irrational populism, and today I’m announcing that we will never do it again. In the same spirit, our repeal of the healthy school food guidelines and cutting funding to Healthy Eating Healthy Action projects were entirely about ideology rather than health, so we’re reintroducing them because we are quite concerned about chronic illness.
- Rather than making the grand gesture of a massive programme to build new operating theatres and contracting out surgery to the private sector, Government has today announced a programme of regionally (rather than locally) planning the best and most efficient use of our existing theatres, specialists and resources.
- I think we’ve had enough of committees, reports and endless restructuring, so rather than commission yet more I am going to require DHBs to work together and help each other whenever this is in the interests of most New Zealanders.
- It is inadequate and unacceptable for us to set lower health targets for Maori and to continue to tolerate health inequalities. The performance measures I am setting for DHBs will focus on raising Maori health status to the same level other New Zealanders enjoy, and DHBs will perform to this standard (or they’re all fired!)
- In order to improve the position of those people with the poorest health, Government will be requiring all Government departments and crown entities to work together at a local level to identify people in need and to proactively offer services to improve their lives, and will be funding PHOs to take a lead role in this process.
- There is not enough money now to provide all of the health services that New Zealanders expect, and this will be worse in the future. Consequently Government is reorienting our health sector spending to focus resources in the areas proven to have the greatest impact on population health status, public health programmes and primary care, and as Minister I will also personally lead a national conversation with New Zealanders about how we best make decisions about how we should allocate limited resources in secondary and tertiary care.
Published in Environment & Resource Management by Kevin Hague on Thu, February 18th, 2010
Tags: Kevin Hague
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on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
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Sooo…Ummm… Just casually they give Green and Labour a voice but not any other party *cough* *cough*
I think The Greens aren’t going to have a minister for a long time..and they clearly want that
oh and why are you putting words into the mouth of the person who is arguably the best Health Minister we in NZ have had since the introduction of ACC, Tony Ryall Made his decisions based on more knowledge than I’m sure was available to anyone else as he is the Minister of the Crown in Charge of our Nations Health Service.
We do have Health Services at a local level they are called DHBs and the local GP, Per Question no.4 you say the DHB will be fired, an elected body being fired by the government , sounds pretty undemocratic…replacing a democratically elected body with an appointed commissioner who will enforce govt. Policy…
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“All Ministers of the Crown will now be required to use the public health service rather than any private health system.”
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That would be a breach of personal civil liberties to decide where they source treatment. Many MPs already utilize the Public Health Service but to force Ministers to use only Public services is also a kick to private Health enterprise
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Okay then. Just National MPs.
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Stephensmikm – Obviously I don’t speak for NZ Doctor, but Labour and the Greens are the second and third largest parties in Parliament, and the only two besides national who have decided to put members on the Health Select Committee, or regularly comment on health issues, for example. Sounds a reasonable decision to me.
“Putting words in the mouth of” Tony Ryall was exactly what the exercise was about. The fact that he hasn’t said any of these things suggests pretty strongly to me that he is clearly not the best Minister of Health we’ve had since the introduction of ACC (though that seems an odd comparator to me).
The reference to firing boards is an ironic reference to Ryall’s own penchant for threatening them with the sack if they don’t do things his way. Sorry if that was too obscure – believe me the health sector readership of NZ Doctor got it!
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Dakta Green is speaking now on Radio Live.
He’s impressive and leaving prohibitionist John Tamihere for dead.
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Shamelessly copy the French health system which year after year gets rated number 1 in the world, last time NZ was rated (admittedly 2000 before big funding increases) we ranked 42 below Costa Rica…
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Thank you for clearing that up Mr Hague MP, would it be possible for you to provide a link to this article at all if it has a webbase?
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Sorry Stephensmikm, looked for a link on the NZ Doctor website but couldn’t find one.
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What a shame I’ll have to look viz the University
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Now I don’t have a lot of time for Kiwiblog. It has always struck me that David Farrar must be pretty embarrassed by what passes for the debate on the site. Normally, however, my observation is that the posts (though I don’t usually agree with the opinions expressed) are worthy of better.
Today, however, Mr. Farrar should be embarrassed by the post itself. He (or the author – not sure it was him) has presented the six statements (I wish Tony Ryall had made) as if they were the six top health priorities, in order, of the Green Party, and accompanied by snide remarks.
The Kiwiblog post misrepresents both the nature of the list, and the Green Party’s position in respect of the individual items. If there is an ethics of blogging, I’m pretty sure this crossed the line.
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To be fair this is a Party MP/Member blog and his is an “independant” one, The whole Commenting thing on his blog though is pretty bad and 33% of the time will descend into a debate over Climate change , abortion, or something that has nothing to do with the topic
He’s Being no worse than WOBH or any other high profile blogger but his actions are still a bit iffy though I have agree with some of his comments on point 4 based on my previous observation. The statements would have been by him as he does seem to make an effort if another person is guest blogging.
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Yeah, that post was unusually bad. So bad that a few of his commenter’s called him on the worst of it. Quite unusual, normally they rabidly lap up whatever is served
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stephensmikm wrote: “He’s [David Farrar] Being no worse than WOBH”
high praise indeed
Rimu wrote: “Yeah, that post was unusually bad. So bad that a few of his commenter’s called him on the worst of it.”
I’m surprised they don’t call him out when he gets too un-rabid
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Sigh. As the person who posted this – http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2010/02/the_greens_health_priorities.html#comment-663464 – I feel a need to point out how amazingly ironic it is when people on one blog start overly attacking people on another for being too partisan. “Quite unusual, normally they rabidly lap up whatever is served”. Hypocrite much? If people are wrong, call them on it. It doesn’t help for each side to just partisanly slag each other off.
Well done to Kevin Hague for a fairly classy reply that showed respect as well as refutation.
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David Farrar is the swolled bladder of the New Zealand body politic.
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John Key, ‘save the whales’
Yeah, right!
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2010/02/australia-does-something-about-whaling.html
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The attack on e-can is blatantly anti-democratic!
Where is Mojo Mathers on this issue?
Come in Mojo! Talk to us!
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I need advice greenfly, the Christians are attacking me on Kiwiblog!
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Frog! The Canterbury situation – elected officials of the Canterbury Regional Council, threatened with being fired (by the National Government) and replaced by ‘appointees’ (by the National Government) ???
This is a Dictatorship and nasty with it!
What are you doing?
Where is the noise?
Where is the action?
Boards of Trustees of our schools, threatened with being fired by the National Government!
Where is the action?
This is blatently dictatorial, authoritarian and anti-democratic!
Come on Frog!
Why aren’t you spitting pond water?
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This is encouraging news Shunda.
Which thread?
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“This is encouraging news Shunda.
Which thread?”
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2010/02/ali_mau_vs_womans_day.html#comment-663540
Apparently I need to repent because I won’t condemn Alison Mau to hell for being a lesbian.
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That’s it.
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Feeling kinda proud.
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Then perhaps he would go to church to be declared a false prophet and “wine bibber” for hanging about with such sinful riff raff and those evil Gaia worshipping greenies.
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That’s a good question Shunda.
If he knocked on your door, how would you greet him?
Seriously.
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Would you invite him in for a cider?
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Shunda
The two points that can be made in the debate you were involved in are
1. The only witness in the entire bible against two women lying with each other is the apostle Paul (no such comment occured in the OT because of the polygamy – many hubbies were aware their wives were friendly and who would judge them for getting along).
The Pauline position was of course associated with the Church’s monogamy standard, and based on the presumption that because of the OT line against men that it should now apply against women as well.
Leviticus can however be subverted – a man should not know a man the way he knows a woman for that would result in the consequence of death – Godlaw or karma. This is a truism – all the ways which are the same are not procreative and thus the mortal man will have no descendants to inherit his estate that way – thus the fate of death (of the male line) will be the consequence.
This realtes to the second point. Ultimate consequences as expressed in the NT.
2. The point about lust for a woman being adultery, was to imply the guilt of all not just some (no man is an eunuch). This to highlight that no Jew was perfect enough to be worthy to judge another Jew. This was a principle teaching to the Church – in so far as Christians were not to judge others (whether the others were fellow Christians or not).
Paul in Romans (Chapter 1) referred to those who knew the law and it’s consequences of death line, but who were merciful towards others who were lesbian women or homosexual men. They were not exalted for it, but threatened with judgement for this. In this Paul was very judgmental. He did however note in Chapter 8 that another better than him was a champion in the defence of people whom others might judge (for not judging others?). It takes those of courage to win a city, despite threats of persecution by those who betray those they claim to serve.
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Shunda -
there’s a very amusing little song by Lily Allen on the topic of God and hypocrisy, which starts with just those kind of sentiments –
“Would you please take me away from this place,
I cannot bear to see the look upon their faces…
If there really is a God, do you think He’s pleased?
When He looks down on us I wonder what He sees? …
Ever since He can remember people have died in his good name,
long before last September, long before hijacking planes,
He’s lost the will, he can’t decide,
He doesn’t know who’s right or wrong,
but there’s one thing that He’s sure of,
this has been going on too long!
Do you think He’s ever taken crack or cocaine?
Do you think He’s ever been done for tax evasion?
Do you think He’d drive a car without insurance? ….”
I rather rate the young lady, especially since this song was on her first CD, and must have been written around 2002. I haven’t quoted all the lyrics, and those are probably out of order, I just threw in what came up on top of my head, but you get the gist of it.
Does give quite a good insight into the minds of those under 25, who are very jaded by what their elders are up to in politics.
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“Would you invite him in for a cider? ”
Of Course
It would be rude not to.
By the way, why to so many people think it is a sin to drink alcohol? Obviously getting rotten drunk isn’t healthy, but don’t people realise how much water Jesus turned into wine? Put it this way, there was more wine than cheese!
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Katie, my wife and I have always liked lilly Allen, she’s a bright wee cookie, and I hear what you’re saying re under 25s.
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Ah Shunda – here’s one to stretch your increasingly elastic boundaries -
Why do so many people think it’s a sin to smoke cannabis?
Looking foward to your response, but for now,
kei te haere au ki taku moenga mo te moemoea tino reka.
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Katie-
Just so you know actually this was track no.11 on her second album, rather good aye? It’s Called Him
“his favourite band is credence clearwater revival” lol!
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“Why do so many people think it’s a sin to smoke cannabis?”
Good question greenfly, the apostle Paul said “everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial” I guess that is what it really comes down to.
The other issue is that inhaling burning plant material seems to always have a negative effect on health, perhaps the “sin” is in people deliberately doing something that harms their body, but obviously this is not limited to just smoking.
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Here’s Lily’s song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEiKpVcp3zg
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Shunda, has anyone explained why the word for wrongdoing “sin” derives from the name “given to/used for” some moon god of Sumer (at Ur) – a name later known at a moon god cult centre at Haran. Note both are cities where some biblical character is said to have lived (and been married).
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Sinbad , coincidence, or what!!!
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Shunda – inhaling the smoke from burning plant material can have a very positive effect on your health, especially if you suffer chronic or acute pain and the inhalation eases that to the point where your body can take a break from the fight and relax, revive and replenish.
Do you think is ‘sinful’ to imbibe alcohol, with its solvent action,
My cells, my cells, they burn!
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It would be interesting to see the historical use of cannabis, and how people used to view it. I admit greenfly there is a valid argument there, personally I don’t like the stuff and have seen first hand what it can do to people, but the same is true for alcohol.
P.s. the debate on kiwi blog is becoming increasingly nasty, quite frankly I prefer to debate with the atheists any day!!
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There are athiests here !!!??
When you say you have seen ‘what it can do to you’ do you mean the look of contentment and delight, satisfaction and entrancement, as with alcohol?
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btw Shunda – your opponent in the gay debate (you know, the one who says that you are ‘of the devil’, despite your warning to mind his ‘P’s & Q’s', brother) is unsafe to be around. You’ll not clear that blockage.
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High praise indeed! You’ll be saying nice things about Dawkins next, Shunda. Coming to see him speak next month in Welly? He sold out the Town Hall, so they shifted his talk to the Michael Fowler Centre and now that’s sold out too.
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Shunda (flavour of the moment) this is for you, my friend -
” Ignorance is the soil in which belief in miracles grows”.
Robert Green Ingersoll
Looking foward to your response.
Btw – dlr – isn’t Christianity, ‘Son-worship”
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“” Ignorance is the soil in which belief in miracles grows”.”
beliefinmiracles, is that a new type of silver beet?
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‘Silver bullet’ you mean, Shunda.
Give us your real reaction. Don’t be glib (like me).
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“High praise indeed! You’ll be saying nice things about Dawkins next, Shunda.”
heh, not likely, but I am starting to understand what motivates him.
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Greenfly, The simpsons is running it’s rapture episode “left below”
The funniest line so far was when Homer got caught eating doughnuts out of a dumpster
He said “oh big surprise, the fat guy’s eating garbage”
I wonder if a certain mining minister is a dumpster dweller?
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Shunda – I was watching, natch!
Funny as.
The End is Near.
Near?
Nigh! (sheesh!)
The ‘Safety Dance’ – Men Without Hats – is on 4.
What a night!
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I consider that progress worthy of celebration!
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Don’t get me wrong Valis I still have my beliefs, but I have realised that I can not be an apologist for the bad behaviour of “the faithful”.
Like I said to Kris K, people don’t usually reject Christianity because of Jesus, they reject it because of Christians.
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greenfly – now you are onto it, the original Hebrew word now translated as sin was “hat”. Men without hat’s – perfik Christians.
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… a soft doffing sound and there he stood, cap in hand.
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Shunda, Stephenm,
I get flippant once, and they’re all over it, lol.
Thanks for posting the viddy; and Stephen, to my shame I actually have a copy of the album, I just didn’t realise it was her 2nd, not her first. (the CD sleeve is owned by my former flatmate, who is genuinely 25!)
I can’t believe how far this thread hasdiverged from the topic of DHB management, lol, altho’ I s’pose spiritual issues might have some place in modern health parlance (as in, dear God, what the hell is happening to our hospitals?)
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