Headline: Minister needs to listen to doctors and nurses
New Zealander’s deserve health services that do their best to minimise mistakes, but we are never going to do that if the Minister is determined not to listen to what health professionals have to say
The Green Party is calling on the Minister of Health to listen seriously to the concerns of health professionals so that we can create a stronger healthcare system for all New Zealanders.
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation have responded to increased reports of serious adverse events by saying that healthcare is under-resourced and underfunded.
“The Green Party is taking seriously the calls from health workers’ unions that patient care is being compromised because of underfinanced and stressed District Health Boards (DHBs),” Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague said today.
“Improved reporting is likely to be a factor in the increase in serious events reported by DHBs, but the calls from health professionals tell us that more concerning things are happening in our hospitals as a result of lack of staffing.
“Our aging population is only going to increase pressure on health workers and services, and Health Minister Tony Ryall is not planning for this.
“Instead of working against healthcare professionals like this Government is doing, the Green Party would work with them to create a better and stronger health sector.
“New Zealander’s deserve health services that do their best to minimise mistakes, but we are never going to do that if the Minister is determined not to listen to what health professionals have to say.
“Healthcare professionals in New Zealand do a good job and deserve a fair hearing from the Minister about how to have a stronger health system.”
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