NZ - Child oral health services suffer $18 million funding cut

Child oral health services suffer $18 million funding cut
Labour health spokesperson Ruth Dyson
Thursday 15 July 2010, 3:36pm
Media release from Labour health spokesperson Ruth Dyson
The National Government has cut nearly $18 million from the adolescent oral health budget over the next four years, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.
"The Budget documents which have shown wide ranging cuts to public health services, show that $17.7 million has been taken out of the oral health budget for young people under the age of 18 over the next four years," Ruth Dyson said.
"New Zealand children suffer relatively high levels of dental decay, which is why in 2006 the Labour Government committed $100 million of capital investment in oral health services.
"I find it concerning that the National Government is continuing to cut back on funding that should be used to help improve the health of New Zealand children.
"What is even more short-sighted about the nearly $18 million cut is that Budget documents show that it is likely that money will need to be taken out of future risk reserves to pay for oral health services.
"Given the poor state of child oral health in New Zealand it's ridiculous to cut back oral health services to the point where we become reliant on dipping into emergency funding, these services should have certainty.
"I am concerned that cutting millions of dollars out of the oral health budget will potentially undermine these services in the long-term.
"During the 1990's when the National Government was last in Government they scrapped dental nurse training and failed to invest in oral health services. This meant Labour inherited a completely out-dated and run down service which it spent years rebuilding.
"Oral health is too important for the National Government to cut funds from," Ruth Dyson said.

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