(But between you and me, I think they'll get shut down within a month or two. Politicians don't like bad news being made public fodder for discussion.)
Unfortunately politicians and celebs are often quietly prioritised ahead of others whenever they engage with public healthcare services. I've not determined what motivates our staff to do this, but I don't think it's brown-nosing.
Most interesting. Unfortunately, waiting in the wings behind the data are all the people - like me - who haven't yet made to to a specialist appointment to get onto the surgery queue. After a year, I'm no nearer to seeing an orthopedic surgeon.
Thanks for writing about the publication of waitlist times; it's highly relevant to an enormous number of patients on those waitlists, who normally haven't the faintest idea how long they'll be waiting.
It's also very relevant to combat (or reinforce, depending on the waitlist length!) the common public perception that waitlist times in public health are always longer than those of private healthcare providers. Often not true, but highly variable.
The district I work for has been considering publishing accurate wait times (at clinic level, and calculated daily) in our waitlist notification letters to patients. The idea was to coordinate this with two other neighbouring districts to present a regionally standardised approach, but the decision was never made to actually do it, though we're ready to press the GO button as soon as we get the green light.
Adding this information to our letters is absolutely the right thing to do, but as you say, there will potentially be political pushback if we do this.
My heart goes out to the readers above who are living in pain and on opioids. I feel sad, scared and mad for/with you.
The current waitlists under the public system are appalling, and how will privatising health make this terrible situation better? It will not. Research shows privatising health leads to worse outcomes. Profit over people.
We, the NZ taxpayer will be funding private hospitals - owned by medical insurance companies, medical specialists and the sorted and wealthy, and we will continue to sit on waitlists.
Under privatisation, who will own the significant infrastructure that are our hospitals, will this government flog off these buildings at fire sale prices to the sorted and wealthy, saving them a significant penny in building?
We have to protest this oncoming train wreck.
Thanks Dr Gary for your energy to work in the broken system and show us the significant issues present and future.
Severe osteoarthritis keeps me awake and makes any walking painful. Worried my increasing use of tramadol will lead to addiction. No orthopaedic specialist appointment for 12-14 months
In Dunedin, I've been trying to get a tonsillectomy since January or February 2023.
I had a consult with a specialist in May 2024 and was added to the surgical list.
On December 20 I was phoned with a surgery date for Jan 21st, but the booking admin didn't finish the booking before going on leave and isn't back til next week - so I'm still high and dry without a date, with these gross little fuckers in the back of my mouth making trouble and making me sicker.
Worst part is the public system is gonna be paying for me to have this done in the private system because the hospital can't handle its workload.
But yeah sure red alert is fine for articulating the real impact on patients 🙄🫣
A doctor colleague (who supported National...past tense) proposed that all politicians be required to use only public health services.
Interesting idea.
You'd see things improve so quickly!
What do you think?
Unfortunately politicians and celebs are often quietly prioritised ahead of others whenever they engage with public healthcare services. I've not determined what motivates our staff to do this, but I don't think it's brown-nosing.
This is such a great suggestion. It should be part of their KPIs rather than producing nonsense 90 day plans
Very clever idea!!
I think many of them would go offshore.
Most interesting. Unfortunately, waiting in the wings behind the data are all the people - like me - who haven't yet made to to a specialist appointment to get onto the surgery queue. After a year, I'm no nearer to seeing an orthopedic surgeon.
😓🤬
Thanks for writing about the publication of waitlist times; it's highly relevant to an enormous number of patients on those waitlists, who normally haven't the faintest idea how long they'll be waiting.
It's also very relevant to combat (or reinforce, depending on the waitlist length!) the common public perception that waitlist times in public health are always longer than those of private healthcare providers. Often not true, but highly variable.
The district I work for has been considering publishing accurate wait times (at clinic level, and calculated daily) in our waitlist notification letters to patients. The idea was to coordinate this with two other neighbouring districts to present a regionally standardised approach, but the decision was never made to actually do it, though we're ready to press the GO button as soon as we get the green light.
Adding this information to our letters is absolutely the right thing to do, but as you say, there will potentially be political pushback if we do this.
My heart goes out to the readers above who are living in pain and on opioids. I feel sad, scared and mad for/with you.
The current waitlists under the public system are appalling, and how will privatising health make this terrible situation better? It will not. Research shows privatising health leads to worse outcomes. Profit over people.
We, the NZ taxpayer will be funding private hospitals - owned by medical insurance companies, medical specialists and the sorted and wealthy, and we will continue to sit on waitlists.
Under privatisation, who will own the significant infrastructure that are our hospitals, will this government flog off these buildings at fire sale prices to the sorted and wealthy, saving them a significant penny in building?
We have to protest this oncoming train wreck.
Thanks Dr Gary for your energy to work in the broken system and show us the significant issues present and future.
Luxon has insurance and $$, so is sorted. Reti, Levy etc the same.
I would like to see how many specialists working public / private splits have insurance i.e have voted with their wallet?
Severe osteoarthritis keeps me awake and makes any walking painful. Worried my increasing use of tramadol will lead to addiction. No orthopaedic specialist appointment for 12-14 months
😓
I have been on tramadol for about 25 years for chronic pain.
The Wellington Hospital Pain Clinic thinks I have Serotonin Syndrome, which makes pain worse. Sigh…
I am now slowly detoxing off it.
In Dunedin, I've been trying to get a tonsillectomy since January or February 2023.
I had a consult with a specialist in May 2024 and was added to the surgical list.
On December 20 I was phoned with a surgery date for Jan 21st, but the booking admin didn't finish the booking before going on leave and isn't back til next week - so I'm still high and dry without a date, with these gross little fuckers in the back of my mouth making trouble and making me sicker.
Worst part is the public system is gonna be paying for me to have this done in the private system because the hospital can't handle its workload.
But yeah sure red alert is fine for articulating the real impact on patients 🙄🫣
Thanks as always for this piece Gary.
Thank you for truth speaking and verifying what many of us 'patients' (what an appropriate word for this situation!) are experiencing.
The whole situation is appalling!