MND NZ meets with Minister of Health to advocate for change

MND NZ CE Mark Leggett and MND NZ Research Advisor Dr Natalie Gauld met with the Minister of Health Simeon Brown at the end of January. The focus of the meeting was ‘Making time count in healthcare for people with MND’. Discussion was centred around changes our MND community tells us are needed to make a meaningful difference for people living with MND.

The recent MND Insight Research shows what our support advisors and people impacted by MND see every day – motor neurone disease moves too fast for bureaucracy.

MND NZ is advocating for important changes to

• Streamline and fast track the health and disability systems so equipment, services, and funded care hours are provided for people living with MND when they need it most
• Uphold the mana of people with MND and reduce family burden
• Reduce unnecessary burden on the health system.

The Minister was very responsive to the challenges of MND. He particularly noted the case studies we provided that delivered the voice of the MND community directly into the discussion.  We look forward to next steps arising out of the meeting and will keep you informed about progress.

This important mahi is made possible through the generosity of our supporters, donors, and fundraisers – together we can make time count for people impacted by MND through advocacy.