PRESS
RELEASE
13
May 2005
For
immediate release
Rural
Women New Zealand welcomes new $36m health travel
policy
Rural
Women New Zealand welcomes today's Government announcement
of a national travel and accommodation scheme to
assist people journeying long distances to access
specialist health services.
The
new policy, which is backed by an extra $36million
of funding, was announced by Associate Health and
Rural Affairs Minister Damien O'Connor at the Rural
General Practice Network Conference in Auckland
today. The scheme is expected to help thousands
of rural people who need to travel to main centres
for treatment.
Rural
Women New Zealand President Sherrill Dackers said
previous travel and accommodation schemes have been
very limited and varied between the different regions.
The administration of the new scheme through one
toll free number will improve consistency for all
rural people, regardless of where they live.
Lack
of knowledge about the previous schemes was also
a problem and Rural Women welcomes the publicity
surrounding the new scheme.
“Ensuring
the general public and rural GPs are aware of the
scheme is a key to its success,” says Sherrill Dackers.
For
further information contact: Sherrill Dackers
President
- Rural Women New Zealand
(09)
437 0572
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