No one will be surprised to know that despite government pre-election promises to deliver free community mental health care, world-class cancer care, health services in every school and much more, very little has been delivered. Refer to “Labour’s Fails Series – Pre-government broken promises” for some Labour health promises not addressed below.
In August last year H2, aka Heather Simpson, went back on the government payroll to carry out a “wide-ranging review designed to future-proof our health and disability services.”
According to a newspaper, this is the biggest government review of the sector in decades. Despite an interim report released last month, there are no recommendations yet. They’ll come with the final report in March next year.
We do know DHB’s are stretched funding basic services. With the increasing demand for more mental health patient services the 2019 budget promised $455.1 million to expand access to and choice of primary mental health and addiction support – but no across the board increases for struggling DHBs, which are running at large deficits.
“A long-awaited report from a Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry panel released in December 2018, found that the mental health system is set up to respond to people with a diagnosed mental illness but “does not respond well to other people who are seriously distressed“.
The strong relationship between mental health and addiction means those at risk frequently end up in emergency departments (EDs) (often after assaulting helpers and ambulance staff on the way).
“Auckland emergency doctor Scott Orman told a conference in Wellington recently that in the past five years there’s been a 60 percent increase in mental health consultations in the ED at Auckland City Hospital. Overnight consultations of this nature had doubled.
“The unfortunate paradox is that the most unwell patients from a mental health point-of-view, in order to maintain safety, end up in the most visible, brightly lit and noisy parts of the department. This is very harmful.”
Radio NZ
Considering some idiots are the masters of their own misfortune, thank the Lord for triage in the ED.
The government missed the opportunity to address long waiting lists for elective surgery in this year’s budget.
“…more than 350,000 New Zealanders 18 years and over have some form of elective surgery each year. An additional 280,000 have been told they need some form of elective surgery but only 110,000 of those are on waiting lists.
More than half of the 280,000 who require elective surgery but haven’t had it say their quality of life is worse than it was five years ago. A quarter state their quality of life is a lot worse, driven by a lack of mobility and higher levels of pain. Almost a third of those who require elective surgery have had to make significant lifestyle changes.
Overall waiting times for surgery have increased since 2013. Among those waiting for surgery, waiting times are up by 80 days to 304 days.”
Scoop
And while we’re on the subject of surgery, a Scoop report in June this year criticised the government for its lack of interest in collating data on surgical mesh injuries.
“ACC has paid out six million dollars in less than a year on surgical mesh injury claims. Instead of contributing to a much-needed surgical mesh register, they decided to buy back guns.
Once again, the latest statistics from ACC show a total of cover decisions for surgical mesh-related treatment injuries rise with a whopping 30% increase since the last report published 30 June 2018.
This brings the total to 1325 claims by New Zealanders suffering complications from surgical mesh implanted in their bodies.”
Patricia Sullivan, co-leader of Mesh Down Under says “Once again we see that the Government’s attempt to limit the surgical mesh injury rate has failed, it seems that more an more people are suffering with mesh-related complications.
We are saddened that ACC sees it is as more important to buy back guns, instead of contributing to a national surgical mesh register for all mesh implants which could meaningfully track patient outcomes.”
Scoop
In July this year, while the CoL were sitting on their hands instead of delivering on a two-year-old promise, the Nats pipped them at the post by announcing National policy to establish a National Cancer Agency. This was lifted straight from Labour’s pre-election promises. All talk no action Labour, had their thunder stolen when their policy was released a month later. Just think what else might have been achieved with a halfway decent opposition.
The measles epidemic is thought to be responsible for claiming the lives of two unborn babies this week. We are experiencing the worst epidemic of measles in 20 years.
“Measles is a highly infectious and potentially life-threatening viral illness, which has more than a 50 per cent death rate in children with low immunity, such as those receiving cancer treatment.
It is almost entirely preventable through two doses of the MMR vaccine. After one dose, 95 per cent of people are protected from measles. After two doses, more than 99 per cent are protected.”
Stuff
Vaccinologist Dr Helen Petousis-Harris says that going forward the only solution is mass vaccination of those who remain susceptible. According to this expert, it’s a no-brainer.
“This was predictable, entirely preventable, and the government were warned. If this outbreak is not stamped out by March next year NZ will lose its hard-earned measles elimination status.”
Sciblogs
The government needs to act now, but we all know they probably won’t. They only jump for a terrorist attack attracting international interest. This measles epidemic has the capacity to kill more people, as do the many other health issues currently unaddressed.
The government refused to help Abbey Hartley, who died in Bali after being turned down by the government for urgent assistance to bring her home for treatment. A Givealittle page raised more than $230,000 but by then it was too late. A humanitarian crisis became a political opportunity for ACT and National who indicated they would help where Labour refused.