Public Services for Public Hospitals – Say Nurses

Media Release:

Public Services for Public Hospitals – Say Nurses

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) does not support the suggestion made by the Otago Southland DHB that patients should be able to pay for treatments in public hospitals that are not government funded, as released in a consultation document ‘Bridging the Gap’.

The principle of having a dual system of publicly and privately funded care being provided in the public sector is fraught and runs the risk of public patients being disadvantaged. It will also create dilemmas for health professionals who are asked to offer different treatment options, depending on ability to pay. NZNO supports equity and universal access to quality health care.

“Our public hospital system is presently under resourced to meet the needs of the community. Further stretching the current resourcing to meet the needs of fee paying patients, will only result in those who can afford it, getting the treatment they need,” said NZNO Organising Services Manager, Cee Payne.

NZNO is committed to accessible and equitable public health services. “Our members believe the workloads of public hospital staff are high and there is no additional capacity to deliver additional services. If there was capacity, then it would be better used ensuring our hospitals are delivering better, sooner, more convenient healthcare for all patients,” Payne said.

“This proposal appears to be revenue gathering, not about ensuring people get their health needs met,” said Payne.

ENDS

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