NZ Herald investigation details parlous state of hospital Emergency Departments after years of primary health care under-funding, poorer health among poorest & fast population growth
Frustratingly the Herald frames the article as a hospital performance matter, like its the fault of incompetent public servants. There is a passing reference to understaffing and overcrowding but not the underlying political decisions on funding, investment and migration.
Dumb and dumber, isn't it?! Surely, it's obvious that increases in population = increase in demand for healthcare, houses, water, etc. Plus, if you lose high earners and replace them with low earners, you lose tax take. Well, I can understand that, and I have only the basics of economics education. Governments are supposed to have experts advising (and to take good advice, not the story they want to hear). This lot just doesn't seem to give a damn.
Yes .. I thought the headlines ,which the clickbait news readers will see, was somewhat skewered to unpleasant performance scoring ! They could have headlined it so differently . I feel sad and cross for the demoralized staff in the ED .😞🤬
While in Nepal, October 2024, I developed a Urinary Tract Infection. I was in Namche Bazaar. Returning to Kathmandu our Nepalese friend took me to the ED of a Nepali hospital. I was seen straight away by an excellent doctor, who after blood tests and urine screen confirmed the UTI diagnosis. I was prescribed medication which I received with no difficulty and I was advised to return to the Urology Dept in a couple of days to assess progress. I only needed to call the Department for an appointment. I responded well to the medication and did not return as I recovered . I thought at the time that the Nepali hospital system was better than NZ. I did pay a fee, and it was not excessive. We had another Nepali friend who worked in the hospital system to ensure that people without financial resources could receive treatment. If Nepal can do it, why is our NZ health infrastructure so bad? It is not the hospital staff, who are excellent.
If 200 people a day can see it, a good proportion of the NZ population can see it, the Economists can see it, the Medical Proffession can see it, the charities can see it then why can't the Government?
I don't know how Luxon and Willis can sleep at night. I honestly don't know how they can put their head on a pillow and just not see starving kids faces when they close their eyes.
It's the same old playbook over and over with National. Increase migration, create a housing crisis and wham you have growth. We can't keep doing this. We can't invite people in when we have no housing and no infrastructure.
FFS, last year we had poo running down the streets of Wellington.
Everyone can see it. Actually, Luxon and Willis can see it too. Having tanked the economy trying to rescue us from a non-existent crisis, they are now flailing around trying to find the magic three-key "undo" buttons. These idiots, the delayed or lost infrastructure, and the loss of skilled population will cause a long tail of cascading damage for years to come.
To be fair to them (begrudgingly), the health system debacle has been 30-40 years in the making. But the NACTs are standing on its throat now to finish it off so they can privatise it.
Meanwhile, in Te Atatu, those heroes from the Sturm-Abteilung of our own branch of neo-Nazism (yeah, I said it) stormed the fortress - err - I mean the PUBLIC LIBRARY for goodness' sake - to frighten some little children listening to stories.
There is no doubt that it is a nasty old world at the moment. I really wish our Labour Party (are you listening guys?) would stand up and articulate in a very clear, direct fashion, the choices and stakes for continuing to live in a decent liberal democratic society - especially if we are to have any hope of dealing with the climate change coming down the road towards us. It is not good enough to be silent and simply let this omni-shambles of a government cock it up to electoral oblivion. You have to have a plan.
Labour have to listen to people. They need to start getting the message right. While we are hearing from them more (thanks media, finally!) it still isn't the right message. Stop the idiocy. Talk about how we can actually do it differently, give people some bloody hope. Listen Labour!!!
Well done Bernard. As a baby boomer who grew up with the privileges noted in Rebecca Macfie’s article I am still astonished by my rich privileged friends
Who are “sorted” complaining about Maori getting too much at their expense. What Bullshit! The rich only want to hold on to their neoliberal power and privilege and have “pulled up the ladder “on everyone else in NZ.
The healthcare problem is a symptom of this attitude also from a truly cruel government on the wrong track busily feathering their own nests.
I was shocked about this too Patrick visiting my own very much sorted extended family from overseas last Xmas - you wouldn’t think they’d have so much to complain about
For me, it’s impossible not to be triggered by all of this. I mean where do you start? New Zealand is reaching tipping points to systemic failure in so many areas the nation is slowly, but surely being overwhelmed. Systems across Health, infrastructure, inequality, poverty, housing, education, environment, productivity, and living standards to name a few are currently collapsing. Yes, frankly, collapsing is the correct verb here. The government’s response - and its profoundly flawed ideology - is embedded in trying to defend the indefensible. New Zealand is loaded with promise, rich in talented people, bejewelled with beautiful landscapes and abundant natural resources. What it doesn’t have is leadership or a political system that functions effectively in service of its people. At what point is a state-of-emergency declared? Seriously, how much worse do things have to get?
F**king leagues tables ! Rather than meaningful investment in health facilities and services.
RNZ had an article yesterday about the Herald article and mentioned ED in Christchurch telling patients to go elsewhere "Christchurch wait times ranked the 10th worst in the country"
No in depth analysis, not even a comment that real funding in per capita terms is falling behind. If the MSM will not call a spade, a spade, then we're screwed.
The voting public largely believe public spending is like household spending, and must be managed in that limited framework; they also believe that inflation results from government overspending, but refuse to acknowledge that government under-taxing is the same thing; even as they see the price of everything increase, it doesn't occur to them that public services must also be getting more expensive to deliver; and, they believe that there simply must be waste in public services without a profit incentive to discourage waste, so savings can be found without any drop in service delivery.
These government members - ideologically, and perhaps selfishly - want to shift the economy further into the private sector, so their priority is simply to ensure each of those misunderstandings remain unexamined.
Another great article Bernhard. But I cant escape the conclusion that the New Zealand Herald and their Atlas agenda are complicit in the underfunding of the hospitals and the persistent destruction of public service. Bit rich for them to actually write about it as if they were not involved.
When is this government going to be brave enough to say, 'we got it wrong'? And do the right thing, invest where it's needed so the economy can recover and stop cutting things only to make a point. That's the grown-up thing to do.
The irony is that understaffing is not saving any money as doctors have the right to claim extra duties if they are covering for a lack of staff. All it does is burn people out and worsen the issue, as the teams are not able to train and or supervise the doctors who are still in training. Most hospitals are also training the next generation of doctors, and they only can teach when there is the capacity to. Primary health is another issue and an example of the failure of privatisation ( in my opinion).
Thanks Bernard, keep shining that light! I was struck yesterday by your reference to the treasury 's CE and it got me thinking of this "back to the future" solutions in a different light. How much of a contributing factor to outdated solutions to the problems we face is simply leadership applying their experience and set opinions? Leadership needs experience but it also needs a self awareness and an understanding of the environment past lessons were learnt. Fresh thinking is needed.
While I am on the topic, any plans for the next Kaka Project 2050 piece?
Thanks Bernard. I wobble from fury at what’s being destroyed to despair over the extent of the destruction. So obvious to everyone. Yes, many of our systems were crumbling after years of neoliberal neglect but the fire sale initiated by this government is beyond belief. When is someone going to stand up with a megaphone and roar ‘Stop!’?
The cynical in me is rising again to the surface and I can't stop thinking that this population exchange is deliberately done.
Push away the home grown talent that is well aware of its rights and entitlements (yes, we also have entitlements not just Luxon) and have a right to vote and bring in desperate temporary workers who will not ask questions and are not eligible to vote.
Finally we are starting to see these problems reported in MSM. It only took them 18 months.
Frustratingly the Herald frames the article as a hospital performance matter, like its the fault of incompetent public servants. There is a passing reference to understaffing and overcrowding but not the underlying political decisions on funding, investment and migration.
I'll have to read the article when I get home but that is sadly not surprising.
Dumb and dumber, isn't it?! Surely, it's obvious that increases in population = increase in demand for healthcare, houses, water, etc. Plus, if you lose high earners and replace them with low earners, you lose tax take. Well, I can understand that, and I have only the basics of economics education. Governments are supposed to have experts advising (and to take good advice, not the story they want to hear). This lot just doesn't seem to give a damn.
Yes .. I thought the headlines ,which the clickbait news readers will see, was somewhat skewered to unpleasant performance scoring ! They could have headlined it so differently . I feel sad and cross for the demoralized staff in the ED .😞🤬
I've read, watched & listened to the article.
You are correct, the article focusses on "performance" but does not at all, address funding.
As usual They report "what" is happening but crickets when it comes to "how" & "why".
Clearly the fact that having a healthy population helps growth has escaped the “everything must go” coalition
Of course the first thing that "must go" Is the inept Government we are saddled with!
While in Nepal, October 2024, I developed a Urinary Tract Infection. I was in Namche Bazaar. Returning to Kathmandu our Nepalese friend took me to the ED of a Nepali hospital. I was seen straight away by an excellent doctor, who after blood tests and urine screen confirmed the UTI diagnosis. I was prescribed medication which I received with no difficulty and I was advised to return to the Urology Dept in a couple of days to assess progress. I only needed to call the Department for an appointment. I responded well to the medication and did not return as I recovered . I thought at the time that the Nepali hospital system was better than NZ. I did pay a fee, and it was not excessive. We had another Nepali friend who worked in the hospital system to ensure that people without financial resources could receive treatment. If Nepal can do it, why is our NZ health infrastructure so bad? It is not the hospital staff, who are excellent.
This makes me weep. NZ which is a country blessed with so much does not supply simple health care to prevent major health issues.
If 200 people a day can see it, a good proportion of the NZ population can see it, the Economists can see it, the Medical Proffession can see it, the charities can see it then why can't the Government?
I don't know how Luxon and Willis can sleep at night. I honestly don't know how they can put their head on a pillow and just not see starving kids faces when they close their eyes.
It's the same old playbook over and over with National. Increase migration, create a housing crisis and wham you have growth. We can't keep doing this. We can't invite people in when we have no housing and no infrastructure.
FFS, last year we had poo running down the streets of Wellington.
That's nothing compared to the sh*t we see coming out of the Beehive.
Everyone can see it. Actually, Luxon and Willis can see it too. Having tanked the economy trying to rescue us from a non-existent crisis, they are now flailing around trying to find the magic three-key "undo" buttons. These idiots, the delayed or lost infrastructure, and the loss of skilled population will cause a long tail of cascading damage for years to come.
To be fair to them (begrudgingly), the health system debacle has been 30-40 years in the making. But the NACTs are standing on its throat now to finish it off so they can privatise it.
Meanwhile, in Te Atatu, those heroes from the Sturm-Abteilung of our own branch of neo-Nazism (yeah, I said it) stormed the fortress - err - I mean the PUBLIC LIBRARY for goodness' sake - to frighten some little children listening to stories.
There is no doubt that it is a nasty old world at the moment. I really wish our Labour Party (are you listening guys?) would stand up and articulate in a very clear, direct fashion, the choices and stakes for continuing to live in a decent liberal democratic society - especially if we are to have any hope of dealing with the climate change coming down the road towards us. It is not good enough to be silent and simply let this omni-shambles of a government cock it up to electoral oblivion. You have to have a plan.
Labour have to listen to people. They need to start getting the message right. While we are hearing from them more (thanks media, finally!) it still isn't the right message. Stop the idiocy. Talk about how we can actually do it differently, give people some bloody hope. Listen Labour!!!
Poo also ran down the walls in the Whangārei hospital
The Overton window still remains fairly closed it seems
tightly superglued shut for the next 18 months at least, but you never know, those pesky poll results might just force some surprises
Well done Bernard. As a baby boomer who grew up with the privileges noted in Rebecca Macfie’s article I am still astonished by my rich privileged friends
Who are “sorted” complaining about Maori getting too much at their expense. What Bullshit! The rich only want to hold on to their neoliberal power and privilege and have “pulled up the ladder “on everyone else in NZ.
The healthcare problem is a symptom of this attitude also from a truly cruel government on the wrong track busily feathering their own nests.
Release please.
Patrick Medlicott
I’ve released it immediately. Thanks Patrick.
I was shocked about this too Patrick visiting my own very much sorted extended family from overseas last Xmas - you wouldn’t think they’d have so much to complain about
I think it is a Freudian slip "Everything must go" employment, health care, housing, assets...Certainly a fire sale.
For me, it’s impossible not to be triggered by all of this. I mean where do you start? New Zealand is reaching tipping points to systemic failure in so many areas the nation is slowly, but surely being overwhelmed. Systems across Health, infrastructure, inequality, poverty, housing, education, environment, productivity, and living standards to name a few are currently collapsing. Yes, frankly, collapsing is the correct verb here. The government’s response - and its profoundly flawed ideology - is embedded in trying to defend the indefensible. New Zealand is loaded with promise, rich in talented people, bejewelled with beautiful landscapes and abundant natural resources. What it doesn’t have is leadership or a political system that functions effectively in service of its people. At what point is a state-of-emergency declared? Seriously, how much worse do things have to get?
Exactly!
F**king leagues tables ! Rather than meaningful investment in health facilities and services.
RNZ had an article yesterday about the Herald article and mentioned ED in Christchurch telling patients to go elsewhere "Christchurch wait times ranked the 10th worst in the country"
No in depth analysis, not even a comment that real funding in per capita terms is falling behind. If the MSM will not call a spade, a spade, then we're screwed.
The voting public largely believe public spending is like household spending, and must be managed in that limited framework; they also believe that inflation results from government overspending, but refuse to acknowledge that government under-taxing is the same thing; even as they see the price of everything increase, it doesn't occur to them that public services must also be getting more expensive to deliver; and, they believe that there simply must be waste in public services without a profit incentive to discourage waste, so savings can be found without any drop in service delivery.
These government members - ideologically, and perhaps selfishly - want to shift the economy further into the private sector, so their priority is simply to ensure each of those misunderstandings remain unexamined.
When the government tells the public these lies and the media simply parrot them, it’s difficult for the public to know otherwise.
Another great article Bernhard. But I cant escape the conclusion that the New Zealand Herald and their Atlas agenda are complicit in the underfunding of the hospitals and the persistent destruction of public service. Bit rich for them to actually write about it as if they were not involved.
Shared.
When is this government going to be brave enough to say, 'we got it wrong'? And do the right thing, invest where it's needed so the economy can recover and stop cutting things only to make a point. That's the grown-up thing to do.
I'll go with never
The irony is that understaffing is not saving any money as doctors have the right to claim extra duties if they are covering for a lack of staff. All it does is burn people out and worsen the issue, as the teams are not able to train and or supervise the doctors who are still in training. Most hospitals are also training the next generation of doctors, and they only can teach when there is the capacity to. Primary health is another issue and an example of the failure of privatisation ( in my opinion).
Thanks Bernard, keep shining that light! I was struck yesterday by your reference to the treasury 's CE and it got me thinking of this "back to the future" solutions in a different light. How much of a contributing factor to outdated solutions to the problems we face is simply leadership applying their experience and set opinions? Leadership needs experience but it also needs a self awareness and an understanding of the environment past lessons were learnt. Fresh thinking is needed.
While I am on the topic, any plans for the next Kaka Project 2050 piece?
Thanks Bernard. I wobble from fury at what’s being destroyed to despair over the extent of the destruction. So obvious to everyone. Yes, many of our systems were crumbling after years of neoliberal neglect but the fire sale initiated by this government is beyond belief. When is someone going to stand up with a megaphone and roar ‘Stop!’?
The cynical in me is rising again to the surface and I can't stop thinking that this population exchange is deliberately done.
Push away the home grown talent that is well aware of its rights and entitlements (yes, we also have entitlements not just Luxon) and have a right to vote and bring in desperate temporary workers who will not ask questions and are not eligible to vote.