Tony Ryall

Wellington, March 16 NZPA - Any cuts to individual health services are not due to funding cuts, the Government said today.

Labour's health spokeswoman Ruth Dyson told Parliament of a number of cuts in regional areas which seemed to contradict Health Minister Tony Ryall's recent statements that there had been no cuts to health services.

Ms Dyson pointed to vacant nursing positions not being filled in Nelson/Marlborough as cuts, but Jonathan Coleman, answering on behalf of Mr Ryall, said that the district health board (DHB) had received a $13.6 million funding boost and also said Labour had left behind $155m of unfunded health promises.

Asked if MidCentral District Health Board plans to cut 24 patient beds from the Horowhenua Health Centre were a cut or a change, Dr Coleman replied: "It is a change, actually, and the fact is that MidCentral District Health Board... has had another $26m increase in funding over the last year. Once again, I say district health boards face a difficult situation, and they have to redirect funding to where it has the greatest effect for the public."

Dr Coleman said Mr Ryall was taking a close interest in the flagged closure of the 198 Youth Health Centre in Christchurch as the DHB still had $410,000 earmarked to assist with this service, and discussions were continuing.