5 Jul 2015

Health funding cut protest in Oamaru

3:02 pm on 5 July 2015

More than 1000 people have joined a community march through Oamaru to fight against proposed health funding cuts that will affect the local hospital.

Mayor Gary Kircher is leading the march which he said was in response to ongoing underfunding by the Southern District Health Board.

He said the board plans to knock back funding by five percent or $500,000 over the next year.

Mr Kircher said rural hospitals such as Oamaru needed more funding, not less.

He said Oamaru hospital had already done its bit in belt tightening and a funding cut would be detrimental to the community.