Disabilities Issues Minister Ruth Dyson has stopped controversial changes to the Health Ministry contract for home-care services in the lower North Island.
Instead, existing contracts are to continue on March 31, and the ministry will urgently seek ways to address outstanding concerns, especially consultation with all involved.
Warren de la Haye, the
vice-president of the Palmerston North Assembly for People with Disabilities (DPA), was initially speechless when told that the new contract arrangements, which were to start on March 31, had been halted.
"I can't believe it," he said. "They actually listened to us.
"I never thought we'd win this one. I thought they wouldn't budge a bit."
He said it was an amazing advance for the ministry.
"The cynical part of me wonders if they've found something wrong in their process, so they're back-pedalling.
"This is great news. Maybe they'll listen to us about other things which matter as well."
Under the ministry's original plan, only two of Palmerston North's seven care agencies would have had contracts from March 31.
The five agencies which missed out had been expected to hand over clients and care workers to the successful agencies.
About 5500 people in the lower North Island would have been affected by the proposed changes.
When the changes were made public late last month, affected people were outraged, mostly because of the ministry's lack of consultation.
DPA Palmerston North members accused the ministry of making decisions which affected the most intimate parts of their lives without consulting them.
At a large, angry public meeting in Palmerston North last Monday, more than 400 people told ministry officials that people wanted to have their say about their care. They did not think two care agencies would be enough choice and they were angry at anything that would upset existing arrangements.
After the meeting, the ministry promised to incorporate these concerns into an internal, independent audit on the process leading to making contract decisions.
The audit results are due this week.
- NZPA
