Axing half our Health IT services? What could possibly go wrong?

Why firing half the IT department isn't a wise idea. And why government leaks have become the main way we're learning the truth about the austerity cutbacks' effect on essential public services.

Health NZ is planning to cut half of its positions nationwide. 47% actually, but who’s counting?

I remember in the ancient times of 2021, when Waikato Hospital was hacked so badly they went back to pen-and-paper records for a while. Couldn’t get chemotherapy records, couldn’t access imaging, couldn’t get labs. Problems lasted for the better part of a month or so, with the hospital literally held to ransom but refusing to pay, and patients’ and staffs’ personal information released on the dark web, and also forwarded to journalists to prove they meant business.

Imagine your sensitive health information, address, financial info, and test results being spread around the internet. Now imagine it occurring again.