Category: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Research highlights hospital specialist shortage

New Zealand needs at least another 1000 medical specialists to meet our growing health needs. That is the finding of two separate assessments of New Zealand’s specialist workforce needs in a new research paper published by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

– –

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Opioid-related deaths associated with pharmaceutical marketing of opioid products

Almost 400,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses between 1999 and 2017, and 47,600 deaths occurred in 2017 (67.8% of deaths related to drug overdoses for that year), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among all opioid-related deaths, approximately 40% were due to involvement with prescription opioids—the first opioids individuals with opioid use disorder usually encounter.

– –

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: DHBs acting irresponsibly in Resident Medical Officer industrial dispute

By refusing the Medical Council’s offer to facilitate talks in the escalating industrial dispute affecting public hospitals, District Health Boards are putting hardworking hospital staff under increasing pressure and risk creating alarm among patients, Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director Ian Powell says.

– –

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: NZMA’s seven actions to mitigate health and climate change

NZMA recommends the following seven actions to address climate change.  “Seven actions to make change happen.”  As medical professionals we have a responsibility to advocate for strong action to address climate change for health of all New Zealanders and globally” says Dr Kate Baddock Chair of the NZMA.

– –

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Unions urge Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira (Ora Toa Health) to find compassion this Christmas

Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sam Huggard says that he is appalled health workers at one of the highest-needs health providers in the country are being forced into industrial action again today and potentially on Christmas Eve because of the hard hearts of their employer.

– –

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Hopes high for positive change following mental health and addictions review

The Mental Health and Addiction inquiry report released this month by Health Minister David Clark is the most significant review of the sector since the 1990s and looks set to lead to an overhaul of services. It’s prompted discussion about the role of the state and health professionals in an issue with wide social and community drivers. In an article for ASMS, Wellington forensic psychiatrist Justin Barry-Walsh argues both for broad social change and an immediate increase in resources to deal with pressures in the sector. 

– –

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: NZMA supports call for safe staffing levels

 The New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) supports the call by Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) for safe staffing levels for senior doctors and urges the Government to address the workload pressures and burnout for all doctors regardless of whether they are working in our hospitals or in the community.

– –

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: We’re wasting public money by overpaying Treasury analysts

OPINION: The Treasury made major changes to its recruitment strategies a few years ago, downplaying the recruitment of economists. With the Treasury running the ruler over current pay demands in the rest of the public sector, have they been equally tough on themselves?

– –

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Middlemore’s $80m boost: Health Minister awaits business case

Middlemore Hospital says it has done well from a government funding boost of $80 million, despite the Counties Manukau District Health Board estimating a year ago it needed more than $1.6 billion to upgrade all its facilities. The funding will be put into four projects at the south Auckland hospital and the Manukau Superclinic. The $80 million compares to earlier funding announcements for other DHBs – Auckland Hospital got more than three times that amount, and North Shore $200 million. David Clark is the Minister of Health, he joins Guyon Espiner in the Auckland studio.

– –

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Middlemore $80m boost a good start – Gosche

Middlemore Hospital’s latest cash injection won’t fix all its rotting buildings and it pales into comparison with what other district health boards in Auckland have got. Yesterday the government announced that Counties Manukau DHB would get $80 million to start fixing its building and infrastructure problems. RNZ reporter Phil Pennington asked the DHB’s chair, Mark Gosche, whether that would make much of a difference, given previous estimates that up to $1.6 billion is needed to get the hospital up to scratch.

– –