Health Professional Lead needed for Waiting Lists

“health professional led strategy urgently needed for patients being dumped off hospital waiting lists”

“New Zealand urgently needs a health professional led strategy for patients who are being dumped off public hospital waiting lists,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today. Mr Powell was commenting on the latest announcement of a district health board, Hawkes Bay in this instance, about patients being taken off their waiting lists.

“No matter how much politicians and bureaucrats might try to fudge the issue, we should call a spade a spade. Patients with important clinical needs requiring public hospital treatment are being shredded from waiting lists because of financial reasons.”

“The good news is that if these patients suffer more pain and distress and if their conditions further deteriorate, they might be lucky enough to get back on the waiting list again. And there is even better news to come—because their conditions have deteriorated and become more complex it will cost public hospitals more. What could be better economics than this?”

“The government needs to actively engage with health professionals to develop a robust strategy to resolve both how we can best use our resources and also establish what further resources might be necessary to end this unfair and cruel stupidity,” concluded Mr Powell.

Ian Powell

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ENDS

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