Acute Surgery Delay Highlights Hospital Specialist Shortage

ATTENTION: HEALTH REPORTER

MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,
WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2011

“Acute Surgery Delay Highlights Hospital Specialist Shortage Crisis”

“The delay in the expansion of acute surgery at Dunedin Hospital is another example of New Zealand’s continuing specialist workforce crisis,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.

“The planned expansion of acute operating by 35 hours per week has had to be delayed to at least March. One of the major reasons is the shortage of anaesthetists.”

“This regrettable situation will keep repeating itself in different forms, with different types of hospital specialists and in different parts of the country, until our health bosses take responsibility for New Zealand’s vulnerability in recruiting and retaining senior doctors.”

“We need action around competitive employment conditions, not ostrich-like behaviour,” concluded Mr Powell.

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