Issue 390 April 15, 2018
Former Minister’s arrogance astounding
Former Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman will soon be forgotten, for the four-term Member of Parliament has quit politics, opting for a private sector job.
There is nothing wrong in a politician’s move to call it day (although Dr Coleman’s exit just over six months after the general election would cost taxpayers another $1 million to elect a new MP at Northcote in Auckland), but the refusal of the man to accept responsibility for the dangerously unhealthy state of the buildings of Middlemore and other hospitals in South Auckland was unfathomable.
More, it demonstrated the arrogance of the former politician.
No excuse
That he was not aware of the pathetic condition of Middlemore Hospital is no excuse. Even though he denied that he was not informed of the rot, it is untenable that a Health Minister did not think it important to know of the conditions of a major hospital under his watch. Despite the deplorable conditions of the hospitals, Counties Manukau District Health Board deficits and government claims of a health fiscal hole, Dr Coleman believes that he did a good job.
“As Minister of Health you receive money in each Budget, and that is decided collectively by the Cabinet; so, you cannot hold one individual responsible for the funding of the health system; but whatever you put into health, there will be always people who say it is not enough,” he said.
Ropey Figure
But Labour is launching a full-court press against the record of the former National government, with health a main target. Health Minister Dr David Clark said that he had a ropey figure of about $14 billion for extra capital spending needed over the next decade.
“What is clear from the stories that I have been hearing from all the DHBs is that many of them have claims to buildings that need replacing, these buildings and situations didn’t occur overnight … they won’t be solved in one Budget,” Dr Clark said.
There is no dispute that the problems confronting Middlemore and other South Auckland hospitals should be fixed. Some people, as can be read on the front page of this issue, want to go a little further. They want an inquiry.
We will wait, see and report.
