Boost sought from Budget

Health and aged care providers in South Canterbury have set out their hopes for extra funding ahead of the announcement of Thursday’s Government Budget.

Aged care received a funding boost in April when the Government announced a $2 billion package to address the longstanding gender pay gap.

More than 55,000 workers, mostly female, were set to receive a minimum pay rise of $4 an hour, going up to as much as $7 an hour in some cases through the deal.

Presbyterian Support South Canterbury (PSSC) chief executive Michael Parker said as the sector continued ‘‘to operate in a very tight funding environment, we would like to see additional funding to help address pay relativity and other areas’’.

‘‘We are very supportive of the outcome for caregivers around pay equity, with the settlement date of July 1, and also have some concerns around relativity for other roles in the sector’’, Parker said.

‘‘Additional funding to support these areas would be helpful.’’

He said said the contract for aged care was negotiated on a national basis between the government and the DHBs.

‘‘PSSC supports the submissions made to government by the New Zealand Aged Care Association on behalf of aged care providers.

‘‘Areas prioritised for funding included equal pay, special equipment costs and ensuring that the rise in the CPI is better reflected in funding targeted for meeting the needs of older people.’’

Parker said PSSC was yet to be advised by the DHB of any budget related increases

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman this month said the South Canterbury District Health Board (SCDHB) would have an extra $5 million in ‘‘new money this year’’.

That would take the DHB’s total funding to $181 million for 2016/17.

Coleman said government spending on home support across the region had also increased 27 per cent, from $4.8 million in 2008/2009 to $6.12 million this year.

Ahead of this year’s budget announcement, SCDHB chairman Ron Luxton said the board would continue to try and achieve the targets set by the government.

‘‘This year our annual plan will focus on delivering against the Minister’s health priorities including ensuring equity for all in our community.’’ Despite the government’s announcements on extra funding for the SCDHB, the health board has encountered a number of spending issues in recent months.

At last month’s board meeting, SCDHB chief executive Nigel Trainor said it was going to spend up-to $350,000 to outsource operations to ensure it met its Ministry of Health target for elective surgery.

Trainor said the DHB was contracting Timaru’s Bidwill Hospital to carry out up to 60 orthopaedic cases, 30 ENT cases and 20 general surgical cases.

A report to the same board meeting from financial manager Grant Keene predicted a surplus of $440,000, $882,000 less than had initially been budgeted. The report showed the greater expenditure was being driven by the elective surgery outsourcing, spending of $166,000 on ophthalmology and $390,000 on radiology.

The closure of the hospital wing of Talbot Park and the loss of Ministry funding for those beds would cost the DHB $47,000 in revenue.