ASMS

Each week brings a new story of some calamity brought by vaping. In late July, a Connecticut man filed suit against e-cigarette giant Juul Labs after suffering a massive stroke. The suit alleges that he became addicted while he was still a high schooler, even though the company says it is specifically taking action to prevent young people from trying the product. In August, an Illinois patient died after vaping, succumbing to a mysterious …

Read more »

Since April 2011, The King’s Fund has published a quarterly monitoring report (QMR) to track, analyse and comment on the issues the health and care system is facing. This is the 28th QMR, which takes stock of what has happened over the past few months with NHS financial and operational performance in England. These are strange days when it comes to health and care policy. Compared to the recent past, it is a time of relative plenty and certainty. A 

Read more »

The voters of South Canterbury like to put their health practitioners in charge. Following the elections which finished on Saturday, all seven elected positions on the region’s DHB will be filled by current or retired health practitioners. Four additional people can be appointed by the Minister of Health to each board. Among the country’s 19 DHBs to hold elections – Waikato has a commissioner and did not hold one – a number of health practitioners have been voted in. But …

Read more »

Nursing shifts are dramatically understaffed and vacancies have nearly doubled in the last six months at the Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB).  In September 47 per cent of shifts were below target and there were 15 midwife vacancies and 144 registered nurse vacancies. Patient safety was at risk as tired nurses worked extra hours without breaks, warned the  New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO). Read more here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/116555589/almost-half-of-ccdhbs-shifts-insufficiently-staffed-as-nurses-cope-with-stressful-job

Read more »

Patients are increasingly being turned away for treatment and there can be no more excuses from the Government over properly funding district health boards to boost specialist numbers in public hospitals, says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. Ongoing ASMS staffing surveys in DHBs reveal an estimated shortage of medical specialists of around 24% nationwide. “We will be publishing the results of the most recent completed surveys over the next few weeks starting with Northland …

Read more »

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 »