Media Statement For Immediate Release,
Sunday 17 june 2007

Political Campaign Against Senior Doctors Threatens Wanganui Hospital

"A political motivated campaign against senior doctors is threatening the safety and future of Wanganui Hospital," said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.

"Hardworking, dedicated and high quality senior doctors are part of the glue that is holding Wanganui Hospital together. But they are being undermined by false accusations that the hospital is unsafe. Further, some individuals are being targeted by letters and emails to the DHB, and to them personally, challenging for no good reason their qualifications and questioning why they are in New Zealand. This campaign of intimidation is motivated by a political agenda."

"Wanganui Hospital is a safe hospital whose services are provided by excellent senior doctors and other health professionals. Its problems are overwhelmingly due to New Zealand's vulnerable position in being able to recruit and retain doctors competing with other countries such as Australia which offer far superior terms and conditions of employment. This vulnerability impacts most severely on smaller provincial hospitals, like Wanganui, which face serious doctor shortages. Other provincial hospitals, and in fact some larger ones, are in a similar position to Wanganui. Some are in a worse position."

"Wanganui Hospital will become unsafe if the doctor shortages get worse. This campaign of intimidation and victimisation does nothing to sort out the problem of shortages and can only make worse. It risks driving away senior doctors already here and risks discouraging potential recruits from coming."

"These attacks are being justified by the misuse of the noble term 'whistle blowing'. Contrary to the claims made publicly, there is open discussion at Wanganui by senior doctors, other health professionals and managers over the risks to safety caused by shortages and how to overcome them. The attacks on Wanganui Hospital risk undermining the open discussion that is happening and is so important to providing safe care for patients."

"Those people involved in this political campaign are behaving like a gang that has lost its patch. They should come to their senses and realise that what they are doing is placing a good hospital at serious risk," concluded Mr Powell.

Ian Powell
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ENDS

© Scoop Media