Category: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists

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

Headline: Health Matters – Framing the full story of Health

Reducing demand for health care in New Zealand means targeting the growing inequities in Aotearoa. We know our members are regularly treating preventable illness and disease which have their roots in social factors such as poverty, racism, poor housing, unhealthy foods, and environments. That is why we’ve put together a new report Health Matters – Framing the full story of health.  We hope it will provoke some better national conversations about health, and some long term cross-party political commitment around health policy.
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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Making a health bucket wish list for Northland

Some of the things that make Northland one of the best and most beautiful parts of the country also make it one of the hardest to support in terms of health. Many of you live hours away from hospitals, while roads and other transport access are not easily navigated.
The Simpson Review of our health and disability system, which was released in June, tried to look at what things might look like in the next couple of decades. Its findings are very broad.  Its recommendations now sit with the Government and like so many of these things, the devil will be in the detail.
One of the key points it made is that our current health system is not very joined up. I don’t imagine there are many people who would disagree with that.
But the real question for most of us will be, what will my access to the health system look like?  How might it change? Will my whānau be better off when it comes to healthcare over the next few years?
We think there are several things that could be picked up really quickly which would make a positive and visible difference in your region. We would probably go a wee bit further than the Simpson Review. Here is our list:

Visible, accurate, information about health delays, waiting times, and the current state of access to specialist care in your region. Specialist shortages in some of your hospital services are at critical levels. As an example, the last time I asked, Sleep Clinic wait times in Northland were upwards of three years.
free access to GPs and primary care, including dentists, physiotherapists, and health navigators with links to DHB, MSD, housing, and education. These would be established as local hubs, with strong iwi and community links and, ideally, with an on-site pharmacy and local drop-in and support centre.
DHB-employed GPs. This means you won’t be reliant on a profit-making business model to ensure there is a GP practice somewhere in your neighbourhood.
Health buses equipped and staffed so that, sometimes, hospital-based, specialist services will come to you. They would also work alongside local primary care providers to improve community-based care for patients and families.

That’s not the whole list, but I reckon it’s a solid start. Alongside all these, we need a better conversation about what our public investment in the health system really means. Having timely access to health care, whether that be GP, dental, or specialist care, costs us all. That’s why we pay our taxes. But it seems to me that it has been a while since we had an in-depth conversation about what we expect back from our investment.
Is it ok that there is no GP in your neighbourhood? Are you comfortable that some sub-specialist care is available in Auckland, and not further north?  We are a nation of just over five million people. It might be reasonable to expect that transplant surgeries only happen in major centres with tertiary hospitals, but is it acceptable to have a three year wait for a Sleep Clinic assessment in Whangarei?
What else do we expect our health taxes to provide? We know the government’s shopping list is even longer than ours, and there is only ever a certain amount of money in the health bucket. But if we are clear about what we expect, what constitutes our bottom line for public health care, maybe it’s time for a bigger bucket.
– ASMS Executive Director Sarah Dalton
As published in the Northern Advocate 19 September 2020
 
 
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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: National’s health targets no magic bullet

The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says politically set health targets are no magic bullet for addressing the growing number of New Zealanders who are missing out on hospital treatment.
As part of its just-released health policy, the National Party says it would reintroduce public reporting of updated national health targets to monitor DHB performance, including cancer treatment times, elective surgeries and emergency department wait times.
“These targets miss the point and serve a political purpose rather than working to meet the healthcare needs of New Zealanders,” says ASMS Executive Director Sarah Dalton.
“DHBs and health staff have been battling to keep up with increased demand for acute care in a system which was starved of funding under the previous National-led Government”.
An ASMS report last year Hospitals on the Edge, estimates there are up to 430,000 people who are missing out on treatment and being rejected for specialist treatment because hospitals do not have capacity and many services are being rationed.
“Target-setting does not address this growing unmet need or take account of the growing workload of the specialist workforce which is already suffering from burnout and staffing shortfalls estimated at up to 24%.  We would like to see something in National’s health policy on how to address workforce shortages,” she says.
Sarah Dalton says all political parties need to acknowledge that that there needs to be political consensus when it comes to what New Zealanders need from their health system.
“Health needs to be viewed as a long game. We need to see priority-setting and a commitment to investment which goes further than political cycles or the makeup of the elected Government of the day,” she adds.
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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Senior doctors back striking nurses

Senior hospital doctors and dentists are voicing their support for the thousands of general practice nurses who are striking today, saying all healthcare workers deserve investment.
The nurses are fighting for equal pay with their district health board colleagues.
“These nurses are at the coalface of our communities and the Covid pandemic has served to highlight the essential service they provide,” says the Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, Sarah Dalton.
“It’s patently unfair that such pay disparity exists between groups of workers with the same qualifications and experience”.
There is similar disparity among senior doctors with those employed in GP practices and non-DHB organisations generally earning significantly less than their DHB counterparts.
“We rely on community-based services for people to access basic healthcare,” Sarah Dalton says.
“Our colleagues in communities are critical to improving people’s health outcomes and they deserve the same salaries and conditions as their hospital colleagues”.
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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Southlanders – what price your health?

Southlanders can feel lucky in the extent to which your district health board provides a contrast to the sorry events at Canterbury DHB, where a hostile board and Crown monitor have effectively led to the departure of the chief executive David Meates and three members of his senior leadership.

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

Headline: The Health and Disability System Review report at first glance

It’s been a long wait but the final report by the independent Health and Disability System Review has been released by the Government. The Review, commissioned by the Health Minister in May 2018, represents a major overhaul of the health and disability sector and promises large-scale reform not seen in a generation. ASMS is still digesting the 264-page report and is preparing a more detailed analysis. In the meantime, we have put together some initial thoughts to share with members. 

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

Headline: World Health Organization advice – rights, roles and responsibilities of health workers

Health workers are at the front line of the COVID-19 outbreak response and as such are exposed to hazards that put them at risk of infection. Hazards include pathogen exposure, long working hours, psychological distress, fatigue, occupational burnout, stigma, and physical and psychological violence. This document highlights the rights and responsibilities of health workers, including the specific measures needed to protect occupational safety and health.

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

Headline: Covid-19 guidance and resources

There is a range of guidance and advice out there for frontline healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. We’ve compiled some of the information and resources which are available to help support ASMS members and ensure their own health and safety is looked after. As you know the situation is rapidly evolving and some of the information could change.

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

Headline: Childcare for essential workers

Finding appropriate childcare is a major concern for ASMS members and frontline health care staff during the Covid-19 crisis. The government has announced approved childcare companies which can look after the children of essential workers in their homes under strict protocols. It’s contained in the Ministry of Education’s update for schools. You can find it here

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

Headline: Covid-19: Experts warn of hospital resources being stretched

DHBs around the country are placing travel restrictions on staff to maintain staffing levels during the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak amid warnings that hospital resources could be stretched. Staff at Auckland and Northland DHBs have been told if they go on holiday overseas and have to self-isolate on return, they’ll have to take unpaid or annual leave and will be unable to use sick leave or special paid leave. ASMS Executive Director Sarah Dalton speaks to RNZ’s Morning Report.

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