Todd Muller: Improving our health

Delivering better public health services to New Zealand families is a priority under National, and we are committing a record $15.9 billion in this year's health budget to do just that.

A major win for the Bay was an announcement of an extra $720,000 for the Waipuna. Many of our local Bay families have had some connection with Waipuna Hospice and they know its value in ensuring terminally ill people are as free from pain and suffering as possible.

They know its value in our midst and will welcome this further investment which capitalises on the extraordinary support it gets from locals.

We also have a record number of doctors and nurses working in the Bay of Plenty District Health Board. Currently the BoP DHB employs 312 doctor and 1006 nurse full-time equivalents, an increase of 74 and 155 respectively compared to 2008.

Another way that Bay residents will see improvements in the health system is in a funding boot to the tune of $98 million for elective surgery and improves prevention and treatment of orthopaedic conditions. This funding will help deliver an average extra 4000 elective operations per year over the next four years, nationwide.

That's more hip and knee operations for those who need them most. Latest figures show a record 161,000 elective operations were performed last year - 44,000 more than in 2008/09. That's what careful management of our finances delivers for Kiwis.

As of July 1 our children will be entitled to free doctor's visits which will benefit 400,000 children and their families. I think you all agree that cost should not stop parents from taking their kids to the doctor.

This is what Kiwis expect from the Government: to deliver better public health services that really make a difference to our families.