[ACT] Kiwi Battler Plunket Line Finally Loses Its Battle --

[a...@parliament.govt.nz]

Kiwi Battler Plunket Line Finally Loses Its Battle

Monday 26 Jul 2004
Heather Roy
Press Releases -- Health
(view HTML version at: http://www.act.org.nz/item.jsp?id=25902 )

No matter how Health Minister Annette King tries to spin it, Plunket
Line's absorption into the Health Ministry's Healthline will see the
end of this invaluable and hugely popular service, ACT New Zealand
Health Spokesman Heather Roy said today.

"This popular and respected service has been invaluable - despite
being plagued by financial woes - to hundreds of thousands of Kiwi
parents, who have relied heavily on its advice while general Plunket
services have been progressively down-graded," Mrs Roy said.

"Today, the Minister has tried to claim everything would be business
as usual for Plunket Line - perhaps even better. This is rubbish.
The fact is that Plunket Line will die. Answers to my written
Parliamentary Questions show that, while Plunket Line will keep its
0800 number at first, the Government's intention is to incorporate it
totally into its own Healthline and the 0800 number - along with
Plunket Line's identity - will go.

"Direct access for worried parents to qualified child health
professionals will be gone. They will have to join the queues of
those worried about heart attacks, mental illness and any number of
medical problems. In dealing with this vast number of calls, time
will be of the essence to Healthline.

"Many calls to Plunket Line are complex, and the true problem often
does not manifest itself until late in the consultation - or may not
at all if parents aren't given the time they need to properly explain
the issue.

"No matter which way you look at it, this move will kill Plunket
Line. Ms King knows for a fact that Plunket Line is the best option
for parents - after all, she and Prime Minister Helen Clark campaigned
hard to save it when they wanted the votes of young families.

"Now it is too late. Parents and children will suffer, and all so
that Labour can indulge its craving for State control. Another Kiwi
battler bites the dust," Mrs Roy said.

ENDS

Heather Roy MP
heath...@parliament.govt.nz
Phone: 04 470 6631 / 021 887 727
Fax: 04 473 3532

Chas Te Runa, Press Secretary
chas.t...@parliament.govt.nz
Phone: 04 470 6648 / 027 289 4080

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or
contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at a...@parliament.govt.nz.