PM pledge on hip surgery

Prime Minister Helen Clark is set to unveil Labour's next pledge today which will focus on health, particularly hip and knee operations.

It will be the sixth in Labour's seven pledge-card election promises.

The Government has said it will double the number of major knee and hip operations within four years and Prime Minister Helen Clark has mentioned this promise in recent speeches - including at the Grey Power annual conference in Rotorua.

She told Grey Power that Labour would address waiting times for hip and knee operations.

"I've been sitting next to Violet and hearing about her bad knee so, over four years, we are going to double the number of hip and knee operations."

She unveils the pledge in Motueka.

- NZPA