Vining: Health overhaul must boost resources
A Southland woman who lost her husband to bowel cancer, and who campaigned for years for better care for Kiwis suffering from the disease, has welcomed the announcement of a centralised healthcare system.
Melissa Vining said she was pleased the Government was working to address healthcare inequality, which had been ‘‘horrific’’ in the southern region and was ‘‘costing people their lives’’.
Yesterday, Health Minister Andrew Little announced that all 20 district health boards and all 30 public health organisations would be abolished as part of a health system shakeup. They would be replaced by a national health agency and a Māori health authority scheduled to be in place by July 1 next year.
Vining knew firsthand what it felt like when the person she loved was unable to access treatment.
Her late husband, Blair Vining, 39, had campaigned relentlessly while dealing with his own bowel cancer. His petition to create a national cancer agency was signed by more than 140,000 people.
After his death in October 2019, Melissa Vining continued the call by raising funds to build the Southland Charity Hospital in Invercargill.
Vining said that while she welcomed the announcement, it was concerning that the minister planned to set up more bureaucratic positions while making no commitments for extra resources.
‘‘The waiting lists for cancer care, surgery and other treatment are long . . . A national health [agency] is the right approach, but it needs to be adequately funded. Many of the district health boards are in a critical situation, and the problems such as the lack of resources still need to be addressed.’’
Vining said she was also worried about how the transition would be implemented, and whether this would lead to even more patients falling through the cracks.
In the meantime, work on the charity hospital build was well under way, she said. ‘‘We are hoping to get all the consents finalised and that building will be able to officially commence on May 13, which would have been Blair’s 41st birthday.’’
About $2 million had already been raised for the $4.5m project. Vining said she was overwhelmed by the wonderful support the project had received.