ASMS

Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter welcomes PHARMAC’s move to improve access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs). PHARMAC has today announced it will fund the full cost of Mirena and Jaydess for anyone seeking long term contraception, lifting previous restrictions on access to Mirena. “I welcome women having greater choices over their bodies and contraceptives,” says Julie Anne Genter. “I know, from talking to women and organisations like Family Planning, that price is a significant barrier to accessing contraception. “Budget19 …

Read more »

The patience of senior doctors at Midcentral District Health Board is wearing thin as they sound serious warnings around inadequate and failing hospital infrastructure, says Angela Belich, Acting Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS). A letter sent on behalf of 80 senior doctors at Palmerston North Hospital says there is a crisis arising from delays in building new facilities which is affecting their ability to meet the surgical and health needs of the people in Manawatu. …

Read more »

The Medical Council of New Zealand has four new members. Dr Curtis Walker, Council’s chairperson said today, the Hon Dr David Clark, the Minister of Health, made the appointments late last week which are effective from Wednesday, 2 October 2019. The Minister also reappointed three current members for further terms. Welcoming the new members to Council, Dr Walker said, ‘Nau mai, haere mai ki ngā mema hou. The new members bring a wide breadth of experience and skills to Council …

Read more »

Women patients are paying the price for gaping holes as dire staffing shortages put hospitals on the edge, says Angela Belich, Acting Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS). RNZ reported today that women in Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, South Canterbury and Blenheim are turning away women with “non-urgent” gynaecological conditions due to a shortage of specialists: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/400491/women-denied-treatment-for-gynaecological-conditions In August a similar situation was reported at Counties Manukau District Health Board. “It’s distressing to think that …

Read more »

Figures showing an increase in District Health Board employed doctors are positive, but the health service is under immense pressure, Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) Acting Executive Director Angela Belich says. Ms Belich was commenting on figures released by Health Minister David Clark showing an increase in doctors, nurses, and midwives: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nurses-star-govt-rebuilds-health-workforces “Our members are reporting unprecedented pressure in hospitals around the country. We are seeing a surge in patients presenting with acute illness, and growing demand for …

Read more »

Almost all of Wakari Hospital’s mental health facilities are not fit for purpose, pose safety risks to patients and staff, and hinder appropriate treatment of patients, a critical report of the facility says. The Southern District Health Board accepts that many of Wakari’s buildings are not fit for purpose and has been exploring options to upgrade and replace them. However, a confidential report supplied to the Otago Daily Times stresses the pressing need for action, with several buildings approaching the …

Read more »

Dr Julia Patterson of campaign group EveryDoctor tells why she quit health service ‘cut back to its very bones’ Julia Patterson recalls clearly the moment she decided she had to quit two things she treasured – practising medicine and working in the NHS – in order to safeguard her own mental health. “I loved my job,” she said. “I love psychiatry, but I could no longer go to work every day without tackling what was happening.” She broke …

Read more »

Most public hospitals were under intense pressure on Monday, caring for patients without routine access to x-rays and scans. Hundreds of radiographers belonging to the Apex union walked off wards early in the morning in a day-long strike that will be repeated on Wednesday. RNZ health correspondent Karen Brown has the details: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018715559/hospitals-under-pressure-as-radiographers-strike 

Read more »

A call for the total elimination of dog-transmitted human rabies by 2030 has come from the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and the World Medical Association (WMA). The two organizations have joined forces to mark World Rabies Day tomorrow (September 28) in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Rabies Control. An estimated 60,000 people die from rabies each year, mainly affecting poorer people and children between the ages of five and 15. A majority of these deaths, about 97 percent, are …

Read more »

Dunedin Hospital’s emergency department has had a big increase in people leaving without being treated. In a recent six-week period, almost 500 people opted to leave rather than wait to see a clinician, a report to yesterday’s Southern District Health Board commissioners meeting said. Specialist services executive director Patrick Ng had analysed emergency department data from the past three years, and focused particularly on July 1 to mid-August – usually a time when winter ailments lead to patient numbers rising …

Read more »