Whaingaroa Environmental Defence Incorporated recently checked out the views on candidates in the District Health Board election on adding fluoride to drinking water. WED’s secretary, John Lawson wrote to the candidates saying:
Dear DHB candidates
As you’re probably aware, the government is planning that DHBs will consult about adding fluoride to water supplies, and then you, the DHB members, will decide the issue. WED is planning to provide information to help voters in Whaingaroa decide how to vote at the coming election for all the candidates standing in this area. Only one of you has mentioned your views on fluoride in your election addresses, as set out on the DHB website. Could you let me know what statement, if any, you’d like WED to include in the information on this subject please?
For those who want to read your complete addresses, WED plans to refer to the statements at http://www.waikatodhb.health.nz/assets/about-us/board/Waikato-DHB-2016-election-candidate-profiles.pdf. However, for those wanting shorter summaries WED has tried to pick out a key point from each of your statements, and would like to add anything you’d like to say about the new fluoride responsibility. Has WED been fair in picking these out, or what one or two lines do you think would better sum up your case for being elected?
- Barker, Norm (Independent) – I see the ability to collaborate with transport stakeholders to get equitable public transport and health shuttle options for all rural towns
- Beavis, Crystal (Independent) – I’m a senior communications adviser for the Waikato District Council.
- Bennett, Rangipipi (Huakina Development Trust) – Deputy Chair for Huakina Development Trust, Tangata Whenua Corrections Committee Wiri, Te Karaka Land Trust Board, Nga Karu Atua o Te Waka Committee and Future Proof Implement Committee
- Buckley, Andrew – Our alternative and complementary health workforce are registered health professionals with valuable clinical skills to offer – we deserve choice
- Chaudhry, Javed – Training and retaining the welfare of all staff
- Christie, Sally – The staff deserve our support to do the best job possible by providing them with a climate of respect, excellence in teaching and training alongside innovation and research opportunities
- Curtis, Robert (Independent) – I am interested in developing the children’s wards at Waikato Hospital into a specialist children’s hospital
- Doube, Bernadette – I believe that respect for the people who work in the health and disability sector is imperative to ensure high-quality service delivery
- Gallagher, Martin (Independent) – He is standing again because he is passionate about the right of people in the region to be able to access good health care when they need it
- Gill, Mary Anne – Mary Anne will provide a community voice for the 392,000 people in the DHB region and represent the 19,000 hardworking health care and social assistance professionals, who make up 11 per cent of the Waikato DHB region’s workforce
- Holland, Cathy (Independent) – My focus is on keeping children healthy
- Macpherson, Dave (Independent) – When my son Nicky Stevens died in the DHB’s care, our family got no support, no answers, and a series of brick walls – thousands of patients and families face similar problems
- Mahood, Pippa (Independent) – With the health dollar having to be stretched further, and the increasing difficulty of people who are unable to access many specialist services, it needs an experienced voice to advocate for improvement of our health service
- Mahuta, Tipa – I would like to see a DHB that values the health of children and young people while providing high quality services across the health spectrum
- Quayle, Barry (Independent) – Recently I completed almost 4 years as a Manager in Braemar Hospital where I was responsible for managing several departments and 43 contractors providing services to the hospital
- Rielly-Obiakor, Macushla (STOP Trashing Our Planet) – 287 foreign chemicals have been detected in babies placentas while rates of cancers, immune disorders, mental health conditions & learning disabilities are rising. Why risk unnecessary chemicals like 1080 poison, fluoride and glyphosate
- Sebastian, Danny – strive for a fiscally responsible and transparent DHB
- Sleigh, Sally (Independent) – I am more than happy, if elected, to advocate for equitable access to health and disability services for all our Waikato community with better outcomes for everyone within the resources available
- Vernon, Jenni (Independent) – I am an ardent supporter of having experienced local representation on the District Health Board
- Wade, Clyde (Independent) – Unleashing innovation in health care will be critical and I am keen to see the DHB meet this challenge