I did this on Thursday evening after my son’s cold led to a chest infection.
Due of the thick protective glass in reception, we needed to speak loudly to explain our situation to staff. After answering their questions I felt the whole reception area knew all about us and what was up. So I wasn’t exactly eavesdropping over the next few hours as others arrived and shared their stories, but it was both an interesting distraction from the long wait and a glimpse into their lives.
Circumstances varied, as did opinions on how long they felt they should wait before being seen. We hadn’t meant to be clogging up the system, but an emergency clinic doctor decided, at the cost of $100, that it was easier to send us to hospital than give us the time to see if we could ease my son’s situation.
So, there we were. We were triaged very quickly and thoroughly. All possible scenarios were prepped for and tests and x-rays completed. And then the wait to see a doctor. When we did see one they were hugely apologetic; as was I.
I asked if a 4 to 5 hour wait was a usual midweek evening. The doctor answered that the wait wasn’t just normal for that evening, it was normal regardless of the time of day. Hitting 100 percent ward capacity is normal. Taking up to 8 hours to get a bed in a ward is normal.
I was prepared to wait to get peace of mind that my son’s breathing and chest pains would clear, and the care we got was exceptional. I’m not complaining about the wait. Waiting is part of the NZ health system. I was prepared, I had a hefty book. What concerns me much more is that this situation is not sustainable for clinicians - clinicians we can’t afford to lose.
When a doctor’s departing words are to ‘think carefully about who you’ll vote for this election’, the gravity of the situation hits home.
None of this is a surprise. We hear all the time about how emergency departments are one of the main indicators of how a health system is functioning. We know it’s too hard to see a GP. As I discovered, it’s too expensive to go to a private accident and medical clinic unless you’ve had an accident. We know we don’t enough post-hospital care in the community so people can leave hospital quicker and free up beds.
It was pointed out to me on Thursday evening that when considering the population growth in Auckland we needed another hospital 20 years ago. Not that we’d have the staff to run it - we’re unable to find enough for what we have now.
We have a relatively small population, so why can’t we get this right? The 2022 budget provided the new health entity with an additional $1.8 billion for 2022 – 2023, and an additional $1.3 billion in 20023- 2024, to address historic and future cost pressures.
Are you confident we’ll see a solution to the long, ongoing problem of creating a health system which looks after our people and those who work in it? I'm not.
This week we were subjected to pathetic politicking and lazy mistakes. We’ve had a high-level minister marched off to the Privileges Committee for a mistake that needed to be rectified months ago, a minister reading the wrong speech in Parliament, MPs’ quotes taken out of context and used as cheap shots, and an opposition party which needed to take several runs at working out their policies on bilingual road signs and chemist prescriptions.
We deserve so much better. Those working in emergency departments deserve better. The people sitting in the waiting room with their real world problems deserve better.
At the moment it seems all we’re getting are distractions and side shows. What we need is less ghost-lighting, more honesty, a thorough understanding of issues and some common sense solutions.
If our elected representatives can’t deliver this, they shouldn’t be running in October.
Francesca is a well known film reviewer, writes for NZ Herald's Timeout magazine, and contributes to Jack Tame's Newstalk show. This article was first published HERE
So, there we were. We were triaged very quickly and thoroughly. All possible scenarios were prepped for and tests and x-rays completed. And then the wait to see a doctor. When we did see one they were hugely apologetic; as was I.
I asked if a 4 to 5 hour wait was a usual midweek evening. The doctor answered that the wait wasn’t just normal for that evening, it was normal regardless of the time of day. Hitting 100 percent ward capacity is normal. Taking up to 8 hours to get a bed in a ward is normal.
I was prepared to wait to get peace of mind that my son’s breathing and chest pains would clear, and the care we got was exceptional. I’m not complaining about the wait. Waiting is part of the NZ health system. I was prepared, I had a hefty book. What concerns me much more is that this situation is not sustainable for clinicians - clinicians we can’t afford to lose.
When a doctor’s departing words are to ‘think carefully about who you’ll vote for this election’, the gravity of the situation hits home.
None of this is a surprise. We hear all the time about how emergency departments are one of the main indicators of how a health system is functioning. We know it’s too hard to see a GP. As I discovered, it’s too expensive to go to a private accident and medical clinic unless you’ve had an accident. We know we don’t enough post-hospital care in the community so people can leave hospital quicker and free up beds.
It was pointed out to me on Thursday evening that when considering the population growth in Auckland we needed another hospital 20 years ago. Not that we’d have the staff to run it - we’re unable to find enough for what we have now.
We have a relatively small population, so why can’t we get this right? The 2022 budget provided the new health entity with an additional $1.8 billion for 2022 – 2023, and an additional $1.3 billion in 20023- 2024, to address historic and future cost pressures.
Are you confident we’ll see a solution to the long, ongoing problem of creating a health system which looks after our people and those who work in it? I'm not.
This week we were subjected to pathetic politicking and lazy mistakes. We’ve had a high-level minister marched off to the Privileges Committee for a mistake that needed to be rectified months ago, a minister reading the wrong speech in Parliament, MPs’ quotes taken out of context and used as cheap shots, and an opposition party which needed to take several runs at working out their policies on bilingual road signs and chemist prescriptions.
We deserve so much better. Those working in emergency departments deserve better. The people sitting in the waiting room with their real world problems deserve better.
At the moment it seems all we’re getting are distractions and side shows. What we need is less ghost-lighting, more honesty, a thorough understanding of issues and some common sense solutions.
If our elected representatives can’t deliver this, they shouldn’t be running in October.
Francesca is a well known film reviewer, writes for NZ Herald's Timeout magazine, and contributes to Jack Tame's Newstalk show. This article was first published HERE
4 comments:
Well, Francesca,
This is just one of the many legacies of mis-management left to us by Dame Jacinda Ardern, the previous Child Povvidy Minister.
Add to this - increasing racial division, exploding crime rate, housing shortage crisis, etc.
If we are to believe "Pfizer Documents Analysis Reports" summaries of which are available free, then sure Ardern is implicated in one of "the Greatest Crimes Against Humanity", as stated by Naomi Wolf, but our medical people are also guilty of being complicit.
MSM everywhere stubbornly refuse to mention these reports which discuss the horrific number of side effects.
At a personal , anecdotal level I have met so many people who have weird symptoms which are bad enough to have them end up at A&E.
Of course, there are truly dedicated and over worked staff at A&E. but I wish they would give a little thought into what all the possibilities of the health crisis are.
I was pleased to hear that the Doctor said to vote very carefully this year. I hope there are many professional people saying the same thing to all the people they have to advise through hardships caused directly by this government. Anyone but Labour, hopefully not ACT but rather ACT than Labour now. New Zealand First has always had a consistent message, "NZ First".
MC
Do you relaise that there is still a mandate for medical workers who are unvaccinated. So many qualified people who can't work in the medical system or care homes. If these people could get their jobs back, this would help. With Covid endemic in the community, it is pointless mandating unvaccinated people - just the Government punishing them for being disobedient.
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