Health

Labour has invested hugely in health and will continue to do so. The Labour party website has extensive information on the government’s achievements. Our ongoing work on improving pay and opportunities for front-line healthworkers such as nurses as well as our extensive hospital rebuilding programme, is I think only a few of many indications of Labours commitment to health in the long term.

The challenge of addressing the changing health needs of an aging society will be as huge for NZ as for other developed economies. The area of need that I feel will be most acute in the health sector is the need to move resources from tertiary health (hospitals) into primary health care. This sector lacks the flashy appeal of new hospitals or expensive medical procedures but I think that it is vital we consider all possible preventative measures. By viewing health in terms of wellness instead of illness we may be able to save billions of dollars and dramatically improve the quality of many NZer’s lives.

I am an advocate for increased spending in the areas of our health system designed to reduce the need for people to use the formal medical system later. There are a vast number of organisations out there involved in this field and while there is existing support I would like to see far more support for programmes such as Tai Chi to improve balance in older adults, or nutrition and activity programmes to combat obesity amongst the young.

I also acknowledge the importance of reducing inequalities in health status, and to take an approach that recognises that poverty, poor housing, unemployment and the environment all have a considerable impact on health. In this sense I believe that it can be said that many of Labours policies encouraging employment and economic growth as well as supporting working families represent not just good economic policy but excellent health policy.

Disclaimer

The Labour party has a rigorous policy process whereby we debate ideas and establish the eventual party manifesto. It is the party manifesto that represents the official party policy. While unsurprisingly as a participant in this process I support the manifesto, on this site I have endeavoured to give my own personal views and thoughts so you will know where I stand on issues. In the majority of cases these will be in line with party policy, if however you want official Labour party policy please visit http://www.labour.org.nz