Health system will suffer from ‘let it fail’ strategy – Labour
Feedback from Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora staff on proposed redundancies in data and digital staff reveals deep concerns about a ‘fail early, fail often, succeed over time’ strategy.
“Patient data is too important to let the systems that manage and protect it fail. This is New Zealand’s health system – not tiddlywinks. It needs to be taken seriously,” Labour acting health spokesperson Peeni Henare said.
“National’s cuts have already affected the frontline, which is a broken promise.
“Cuts to data and digital services will have consequences for New Zealanders trying to get care, from the potential for their personal information being hacked, to accurate record keeping of their health information.
“Cuts to data management will disproportionately impact Maori, Pacific and rural communities.
“National has made a big song and dance about targets in health, but without the data to back up what they’re doing, it will only make it easier to game the system – as they have done in the past.
“On top of the crisis in leadership that Christopher Luxon is overseeing at Health New Zealand, these ongoing cuts to the frontline are only going to make it harder for everyday New Zealanders to access the healthcare they need. The cuts must stop,” said Peeni Henare.
I know of two back-room people in hospitals who are nearly 80. They didn’t retire when they could have for whatever reason, but they’d really love to now.
However, they can’t in good conscience, because of the govt’s stupid ban on hiring.
They cannot be replaced and their co-workers beg them to stay.
Somebody is going to drop dead at work soon and then they might re-think such a stupid and inefficient rule.