IDEALISM came head-to-head with funding constraint issues at the Capital and Coast District Health Board candidate meetings.
About 100 voters packed a hall at the Cathedral of Saint Paul last week to listen to and question the 23 candidates vying for seven spots on the health board.
“Turnout at this meeting shows a revitalisation of democracy” said the chair, Eileen Brown, while candidate and long-time caregiver Marianne Bishop said it was great to see that so many people cared.
Among the crowd were nurses, disability researchers, midwives, pacific representatives, GP’s, advocates for children, dentists and locals against fluoridation and more.
Grant Brookes, representing Health First, said health had been damaged by staff cuts and a “tick-box mentality.”
Sue Kedgley, also Green, said she was interested in bringing back public health initiatives scrapped by the National party.
“I’m passionately interested in keeping people well, not just functioning,” she said.
“I’m running a campaign against the austerity agenda,” said David Choat, running for the Labour Party.
Helen Ritchie, who is standing as an independent, said it was “necessary to challenge the Minister”.
Megan Williams, a mother-of-two from Haitaitai, kept a strong focus on family issues including Plunket funding and alternative birth facilities.
Advocating for re-allocation of funds to community services, GP Russell Franklin, had concerns for the growing amount of bad publicity for the hospital.
“I’m keen to see patients reach optimal health,” said Allie Crombie, who has been a nurse for more than 35 years. “I want to see greater access to healthcare in the community.”
“The government set six goals for healthcare – three in the hospital and three out,” said sport and exercise practitioner Ian Murphy.
Tony Simpson, retired policy advisor to the associate minister of health, pushed for greater focus on preventative health services.
“The great days of public health are in danger,” said 66-year-old broadcaster John Hayes, “the amount of elderly needing care is going to increase by 130%.”
Keith Johnson, an economist, said it was important to try to economise. “I think I’m a more cuddly version of Gareth Morgan,” he said.
Accountant Camilia Chin spoke of the need for greater sharing of facilities between regional hospitals, and the need for diversity in Health Board representation.
“I’d like to get Maori into healthy lifestyles,” said Kiri Rikihana, the only Maori candidate.
“We will not have health without participation with the Greater Wellington Regional Council” said Judith Aitken, in defense of running for both.
The current chair of the health board, Virginia Hope, supported economising . “The board has a $6m deficit,” she said, “but is still doing a lot for little.”
Although candidates sounded similar on the surface, big differences emerged whenever funding was touched on.
Find out more at vote.co.nz
