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Revision as of 01:23, 8 January 2025 by Andykatib (talk | contribs) (Added Reefton and categories)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Buller Declaration is a petition calling upon the New Zealand Government to address the quality of the country's health system and services. It was launched on 28 September 2024 by Malcolm Mulholland, the chairperson of Patient Voice Aotearoa, who subsequently travelled around the South Island to gather signatures. Notable signatories have included the Mayor of Buller and representatives from several medical professional bodies including the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, the Rural Health Network, and the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. The campaign began with a silent march in the Buller District town of Westport on 28 September to oppose proposed cuts to regional health services. By mid October 2024, the Buller Declaration had attracted about 4,000 signatures following a roadshow tour in other South Island centres including Dunedin, Oamaru, Timaru, Ashburton and Christchurch.
Text
The Buller Declaration on the State of the New Zealand health system consists of the following text:
As signatories to this declaration, we assert:
- Aotearoa New Zealand's health system is in a state of crisis.
- The Government must act urgently to address that crisis.
- Rural, Māori, and low-income populations are disproportionately impacted by the crisis.
- The Government must act urgently to meet its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and protect Māori health, in consultation with iwi (tribes) and hapū (sub-groups).
- The Government must allocate additional resources to train, recruit and retain more nurses, doctors and specialists.
History
Launch
On 28 September 2024, Patient Voice Aotearoa And Buller Health Action Group organised a march in Westport to protest the poor quality of health services in the West Coast Region. Key grievances included the closure of Buller Hospital for almost a month after a new facility opened in May 2023; ambulance service Hato Hone St John having only one ambulance in the region; the region only having one air rescue helicopter based in Greymouth which cannot fly in adverse weather conditions; and the closure of all urgent and after-hours clinics in the West Coast from 28 September in favour of telehealth services.
During the protest march, the Buller Declaration was signed at the Westport Clock Tower by Patience Voice Aotearoa chair Malcolm Mulholland, Anita Halsall-Quinlan, Buller Health Action Group spokesperson Anita Halsall Quinlan, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Kaiwhakahaere (leader) Kerri Nuku, Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners representative Andrew Laurenson, Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director Sarah Dalton and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network representative Jeremy Webber. The protest march in Wesport was attended by 2,000 people including Mayor of Buller Jamie Cleine, who said the community was protesting against the closure of after-hours general practitioner services in the region. It coincided with a similar protest in Dunedin against the Sixth National Government's planned cuts to the rebuilding of Dunedin Hospital.
Other centers
On 5 October, the Buller Declaration was circulated in Reefton where hundreds of residents gathered to protest the closure of the town's aged residential care facility, which closed in 2023. Patient advocate Anita Halsall-Quinlan also confirmed plans to present the petition to the New Zealand Parliament.
References
- ^ "Buller Declaration on the State". My Life Matters. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ Patient Voice Aotearoa (28 September 2024). "Historic Declaration On The State Of The New Zealand Health System". Scoop. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- McMahon, Brendon (13 October 2024). "Buller Declaration warmly received". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 1 January 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- Wilkie, Freddie (11 October 2024). "Healthcare action declaration stops off in Blenheim". Marlborough Express. The Press. Archived from the original on 1 January 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- Naish, Joanne (28 September 2024). "South Islanders protest for better health services". Sunday Star Times. The Press. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- "'Biggest protest in Dunedin in decades' as up to 35,000 rally against hospital cuts". RNZ. 28 September 2024. Archived from the original on 22 December 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- "Reefton residents brave rain to rally against health cuts". 1News. 5 October 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2025.