National’s funding cuts have forced the closure of mental health facility Segar House – cutting jobs and leaving those with complex needs without care they need.

“Segar House provides very specialised care and there currently isn’t an alternative in New Zealand,” Labour mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary said.

“Everyone, especially those people with very high needs, should be able to get the care they need in the community. It isn’t clear what happens now to those patients.

“Christopher Luxon clearly cares more about penny pinching than the people affected. It’s painfully shortsighted to close this facility for patients, staff and whānau.

“Health New Zealand has had to cut the service because of a lack of funding and it’s a decision that seems to have been decided from the outset.

“The Government should have piloted an alternative suggested by specialists and consulted with the affected community before closing it with no alternative,” Ingrid Leary said.