Jacinda Ardern refuted questioning by the leader of the Opposition asking if a possible delay in GP fee reductions was down to prioritising "a whole host of other things", instead the PM put it down to the government not realising issues such as Middlemore Hospital "would be as bad as what we have found".
National Party leader Simon Bridges asked PM Jacinda Ardern in Question Time today: "Is one of the reasons for the doubt about the $10 reduction [in GP visits] because the government has chosen to prioritise a whole host of other things, including $2.8 billion in student free-fees, that don't deliver anymore students?"
"No," replied Ms Ardern. "What we have had to do is make sure that we can address the fact that District Health Boards have had a six-fold increase in their deficit from September to date. Over $190 million deficit. We've got hospitals that are not fit for purpose and we've got health workers working in unsafe environments."
"This is a government that has a plan to address all of it, and we are committed to doing it over three years."
The government has come under scrutiny after it was revealed Labour’s promise to decrease the price of doctor visits will have to wait. (Source: Other)
This came after Labour's election promise of a GP price drop from July 1, 2018 , may instead be "phased" in, with no guarantee of when the move is set to be implemented.
Mr Bridges said, "Can the Prime Minister confirm, over the last couple of months, government coffers [money available to spend] are half a billion up, and why doesn't she use that to do the $10 [GP] cheaper fees reduction?"
Ms Ardern reiterated the six-fold increase in DHB deficit. She said: "Creative accounting from the National Party has demonstrated that while things were bad when we came in, we didn't realise it would be as bad as what we have found".
"Middlemore was just the tip of the iceberg."
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