Hospitals are crumbling, maintenance has been cut and patients and staff are paying the price after three years of National’s neglect.

“Up and down the country, our hospitals are in disrepair and unsafe for patients and staff. In multiple sites, rain even leaks into maternity wards where newborn babies and their parents should be safe and dry,” Labour health spokesperson Dr Ayesha Verrall said.

“At Hutt Hospital, a ceiling collapsed during a storm this winter. Water came through electrical sockets and nurses were left dealing with it with mops and buckets.

“At Auckland Hospital, cockroaches have been seen in wards.

“Simeon Brown put patients and staff at risk, and neglected to plan for our growing, ageing population.

“His rapid build wards are on the go slow and some of our hospitals are in a desperate state.

“National promised to fix the health system but instead they’ve made it worse for both patients and the staff who care for them.

“Labour’s Start Work Now plan will invest in repairing hospitals, fixing schools and building more homes. This will create jobs and ensure we have the hospitals our communities need,” Ayesha Verrall said.