Thank you Bernard, that's kind of you. I'm humbled.
The email told me I could bring a support person, but not a support army.
In the meeting I'll have the leader of the union, who is very smart and experienced. I will go there with the moral support of heaps of nurse and doctor colleagues, and now, of NZ's best economics journalist and podcaster 😁.
We may someday need to start a 'Hikoi to Save Our Public Services from Privatisation', but first let's see what these mid-level managers (several of whom I actually like and respect greatly) are being pushed to say.
What can they say other than 'be quiet'?
What have I said that's not already in the public domain, widely talked about in the newspapers and in the community?
What's the worst they can accuse me of?
Criticising the understaffing of public healthcare by politicians who keep telling us that cutting another $1.4 billion will not affect frontline services? ...when healthcare workers can already see with their eyes that that's patently untrue?
This is likely a first meeting to establish a paper trail that might someday end in disciplinary action. Though hopefully not, because I love my work more than almost anything.
We shall see. I will keep you posted. I thank everyone for their support, especially patients who see me in the street. They've made it clear that your average person (of any party) does not want to see their essential public services defunded and degraded.
I have just become a subscriber as I truly appreciate the work you do, both in your day job and in your writing (when do you find the time!?). I am appalled you are being called to a meeting that sounds so menacing. You will have a lot of us standing beside you, along with your ‘support person’ when you go into that meeting. Keep telling the truth.
You’re a gem to NZ and NZ’s healthcare industry Gary. This article needs to be shared far and wide. This intimidatory approach speaks volumes about this government’s attitude to New Zealand and our trusted public institutions, their critical workers, and their clients/patients. We can see them for the self serving moneyed bullies that they are. They clearly have no intention of providing properly functioning essential services let alone improving outcomes for the country. Thanks again for speaking out and shining an important light where it needs to be shone. We all stand beside you.
I've been waiting for an orthopedic surgeon appointment for 12 months so I can get in the queue for knee replacements. Meanwhile Dr Reti applauds my hospital because patients only have to wait 4 months for surgery. I know from the clerical staff there are at least 400 waiting for orthopedic surgery alone at our provincial hospital.
Meanwhile our excellent orthopedic surgeon has resigned because he felt professionally unsafe practicing on his own.
Maybe Drs Reti and Levy need to man the phones in outpatients so they can discover for themselves the missing-out patients.
Hi neighbour! I’m waiting to hear the Governments response to Kieran McAnulty’s question about the missing settlement money for Masterton hospital…
I’ve two friends who desperately need knee surgery and have been waiting for almost two years. One has finally had her surgery this week, and the other has borrowed money from her daughter to go private. It’s diabolical. I hope you get your appointment soon. It sucks being in constant pain 😓
🫂❤️👍I have appreciated your voice putting your lived/worked experience alongside the voices of we "the public" who know there is something wrong but only have PERSONAL experiences or instincts, and no platform to get them out widely. While I appreciate a lot of people are anxious about putting their heads above the parapet for family & financial reasons, in my own small way I have chosen to do so in the past & cannot imagine how I could have lived with myself had I not - perhaps looking back life has taken better pathways from "better choices" ⁉️ By speaking up, you have already made a difference 💪 - whatever happens in your "meeting" I believe you will be OK from taking the ethical & moral path at this moment in time 🤞🤞🤞❤️
Gary, I'm a Dunedin-based Master of Health Policy student at Vic, and I work casual hours as a consultant in diversity and inclusion in health. I also have significant unmet health needs. I have massively appreciated your commentary over time. I send you every ounce of love and support I have ahead of this hui. Your commentary is critical. And if our health system is so short sighted as to punish you for speaking out about how deserving your patients and community are of healthcare, well, their motivations are in the complete wrong place. Every person deserves access to timely, appropriate, affordable and competent healthcare. Not only are you doing that, but you are holding true to your ethical responsibility to declare that to the world. You're a star. Thank you.
Hello Gary I work for Data & Digital at Te Whatu Ora. We're awaiting news of a restructure that will i think be very challenging. As people like to say. No question in my mind of the flow on effects of that. Thank you.
Thank you Bernard, that's kind of you. I'm humbled.
The email told me I could bring a support person, but not a support army.
In the meeting I'll have the leader of the union, who is very smart and experienced. I will go there with the moral support of heaps of nurse and doctor colleagues, and now, of NZ's best economics journalist and podcaster 😁.
We may someday need to start a 'Hikoi to Save Our Public Services from Privatisation', but first let's see what these mid-level managers (several of whom I actually like and respect greatly) are being pushed to say.
What can they say other than 'be quiet'?
What have I said that's not already in the public domain, widely talked about in the newspapers and in the community?
What's the worst they can accuse me of?
Criticising the understaffing of public healthcare by politicians who keep telling us that cutting another $1.4 billion will not affect frontline services? ...when healthcare workers can already see with their eyes that that's patently untrue?
This is likely a first meeting to establish a paper trail that might someday end in disciplinary action. Though hopefully not, because I love my work more than almost anything.
We shall see. I will keep you posted. I thank everyone for their support, especially patients who see me in the street. They've made it clear that your average person (of any party) does not want to see their essential public services defunded and degraded.
Onwards.
I'm sorry to hear that .
This government cancelled a huge IT restructure that was so needed.
These Public Service Service cutbacks will cost our nation so much $ in the long run.
Thank you for being supportive.
Really appreciate you speaking up for a top public health system.
Thank you so much for all what you do.
I have just become a subscriber as I truly appreciate the work you do, both in your day job and in your writing (when do you find the time!?). I am appalled you are being called to a meeting that sounds so menacing. You will have a lot of us standing beside you, along with your ‘support person’ when you go into that meeting. Keep telling the truth.
Thanks for your support. It means a lot.
I think the writing helps me clear my thoughts and reflect on things that matter..at least to me.
Also, I value medicine immensely...its my work, it's my pastime, it's a love.
For the meeting, the executive director of the union is coming with me. For that I'm extremely grateful.
Excellent you are getting the best of support. I cannot fathom on what grounds they can penalise you. Such BS .
Ngā mihi nui 🙏💛
Let's wait 2 days and see what mgmt have to say.
You are doing fantastic work. Would you like more support people in the meeting? May need a very big room…
You’re a gem to NZ and NZ’s healthcare industry Gary. This article needs to be shared far and wide. This intimidatory approach speaks volumes about this government’s attitude to New Zealand and our trusted public institutions, their critical workers, and their clients/patients. We can see them for the self serving moneyed bullies that they are. They clearly have no intention of providing properly functioning essential services let alone improving outcomes for the country. Thanks again for speaking out and shining an important light where it needs to be shone. We all stand beside you.
So glad you’ll have him with you! Thank you for your amazing article - keep up your energy, and believe in your supporters!!
Even better, I'll have 'her' with me! Sarah Dalton is the best.
Thank you so much for speaking out.
I've been waiting for an orthopedic surgeon appointment for 12 months so I can get in the queue for knee replacements. Meanwhile Dr Reti applauds my hospital because patients only have to wait 4 months for surgery. I know from the clerical staff there are at least 400 waiting for orthopedic surgery alone at our provincial hospital.
Meanwhile our excellent orthopedic surgeon has resigned because he felt professionally unsafe practicing on his own.
Maybe Drs Reti and Levy need to man the phones in outpatients so they can discover for themselves the missing-out patients.
Let me guess… Masterton hospital?
Got it in one!
Hi neighbour! I’m waiting to hear the Governments response to Kieran McAnulty’s question about the missing settlement money for Masterton hospital…
I’ve two friends who desperately need knee surgery and have been waiting for almost two years. One has finally had her surgery this week, and the other has borrowed money from her daughter to go private. It’s diabolical. I hope you get your appointment soon. It sucks being in constant pain 😓
🫂❤️👍I have appreciated your voice putting your lived/worked experience alongside the voices of we "the public" who know there is something wrong but only have PERSONAL experiences or instincts, and no platform to get them out widely. While I appreciate a lot of people are anxious about putting their heads above the parapet for family & financial reasons, in my own small way I have chosen to do so in the past & cannot imagine how I could have lived with myself had I not - perhaps looking back life has taken better pathways from "better choices" ⁉️ By speaking up, you have already made a difference 💪 - whatever happens in your "meeting" I believe you will be OK from taking the ethical & moral path at this moment in time 🤞🤞🤞❤️
I honestly don't think the 'big political leaders' believe their own BS. It's just talk to justify their goals.
Gary, I'm a Dunedin-based Master of Health Policy student at Vic, and I work casual hours as a consultant in diversity and inclusion in health. I also have significant unmet health needs. I have massively appreciated your commentary over time. I send you every ounce of love and support I have ahead of this hui. Your commentary is critical. And if our health system is so short sighted as to punish you for speaking out about how deserving your patients and community are of healthcare, well, their motivations are in the complete wrong place. Every person deserves access to timely, appropriate, affordable and competent healthcare. Not only are you doing that, but you are holding true to your ethical responsibility to declare that to the world. You're a star. Thank you.
Hello Gary I work for Data & Digital at Te Whatu Ora. We're awaiting news of a restructure that will i think be very challenging. As people like to say. No question in my mind of the flow on effects of that. Thank you.