At 9.30am, Stuff will speak to National Party health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti live, to ask him how he would solve the health workforce shortages, overloaded emergency departments and long waits for GPs.
Stuff had intended to host a debate on Friday between Reti and Health Minister Andrew Little as a finale to the Life Support health investigation which has been running this week.
Stuff will question National Party health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti about what more could be done to relieve pressure on the health system.
Little was in the Wellington Stuff office two weeks ago where he spent 30 minutes responding to reader questions about the health system. After that interview, reporter Rachel Thomas asked him if he was interested in coming back for a debate on the morning of July 29.
He initially said yes, he was interested – though it would have to be the morning as he was out of town in the evening. But he has since turned down the offer.
On Thursday, a final request was made to Little to be in a debate, and his response was this: “We had no agreement on a date …
“I have commitments out of town tomorrow meeting hospital staff around the country. Addressing the current problems in the health system must be my priority rather than, with all due respect, having a further conversation with you about [sic]…
STUFF
Health Minister Andrew Little talks to Stuff health reporter Rachel Thomas about pressures on the health system, nurses’ pay and how he intends to fix workforce shortages.
“Shane Reti and the National Party have not provided any alternative plan for health and stand for more of the same of the old system. We stand for change because doing more of the same demonstrably does not improve things. In that respect our positions are clear.”
Stuff will be asking Dr Reti his response to this, how he would approach things if he were health minister and what more could be done to relieve the pressure on the health system.
Stuff also invited Te Whatu Ora chief executive Margie Apa to take part in a live interview in the Auckland newsroom, but she declined.
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