Help (besides prayer) is to be provided for pot and other addicts – and the government is hastening to plug potholes, too
Recent news reports suggest perhaps there is a place for prayers in the New Zealand health system.
In the absence of medical treatment, the karakia which Health New Zealand is encouraging should provide some comfort – in some patients, at least.
An increasing inclination to take this comfort is suggested by RNZ’s news that medical jobs are going unfilled as part of a crackdown on hospital recruitment, despite Health NZ saying otherwise.
RNZ has heard from multiple hospital workers around the country who say clinical jobs in their departments are being left vacant – and a senior hospital leader has written to staff about the “overly complex and bureaucratic” recruitment process.
In June, Te Whatu Ora instigated a hiring freeze on all roles that were “not patient facing” to try to rein in its budget, but its language around whether that applied to any medical jobs was murky.
It said all clinical roles that “needed” to be filled would be, but did not answer questions about what that meant in practice and whether any were being turned down.
But the senior doctors’ union, and other health workers who contacted RNZ, said in many cases clinical recruitment had ground to a halt – even the straightforward replacement of a departing doctor or nurse.
Fair to say, Health New Zealand told RNZ clinical recruitment was continuing.
It quoted the number of clinical hires from before the freeze was put in place, but said it did not have figures for June.
And:
Staff spoken to by RNZ said while some clinical jobs may be being filled, it was clear that many were not, even if it was just because of a very long delay.
But the government is taking steps to provide patients with services other than prayer – in some hospitals, at least.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey has announced five hospitals have been selected to trial a new mental health and addiction peer support service in their emergency departments.
Patients with an addiction to pot – presumably – will be helped by this pilot scheme.
More clearly, the Government has announced it will be taking care of roads that have gone to pot.
Its new pothole repair targets agreed between NZTA and roading contractors include:
RNZ has heard from multiple hospital workers around the country who say clinical jobs in their departments are being left vacant – and a senior hospital leader has written to staff about the “overly complex and bureaucratic” recruitment process.
In June, Te Whatu Ora instigated a hiring freeze on all roles that were “not patient facing” to try to rein in its budget, but its language around whether that applied to any medical jobs was murky.
It said all clinical roles that “needed” to be filled would be, but did not answer questions about what that meant in practice and whether any were being turned down.
But the senior doctors’ union, and other health workers who contacted RNZ, said in many cases clinical recruitment had ground to a halt – even the straightforward replacement of a departing doctor or nurse.
Fair to say, Health New Zealand told RNZ clinical recruitment was continuing.
It quoted the number of clinical hires from before the freeze was put in place, but said it did not have figures for June.
And:
Staff spoken to by RNZ said while some clinical jobs may be being filled, it was clear that many were not, even if it was just because of a very long delay.
But the government is taking steps to provide patients with services other than prayer – in some hospitals, at least.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey has announced five hospitals have been selected to trial a new mental health and addiction peer support service in their emergency departments.
Patients with an addiction to pot – presumably – will be helped by this pilot scheme.
More clearly, the Government has announced it will be taking care of roads that have gone to pot.
Its new pothole repair targets agreed between NZTA and roading contractors include:
- 95 per cent of potholes on High Volume, National, and Arterial state highways to be repaired within 24 hours of identification.
- 85 per cent of potholes on Regional, Primary Collector, and Secondary Collector state highways to be repaired within 24 hours of identification.
Latest from the Beehive
19 JULY 2024
Kiwis and freight operators will benefit from the Coalition Government delivering on its commitment to introduce targets that will ensure a greater number of potholes on our state highways are identified and fix
18 JULY 2024
Five hospitals have been selected to trial a new mental health and addiction peer support service in their emergency departments as part of the Government’s commitment to increase access to mental health and addiction support for New Zealanders.
The five Emergency Departments selected to trial this new mental health and addiction peer support service are Auckland City Hospital, Middlemore Hospital, Waikato Hospital, Wellington Regional Hospital and Christchurch Hospital.
Matt Doocey enthused:
“I recently visited Nelson Hospital who have Peer Support Specialists in place, and they have been incredibly successful in supporting people with mental health issues. This is a programme that works, and something our Government want to see implemented across New Zealand so that more people can benefit from the services they provide,”
And the cost?
“This trial will build on the recently announced $10 million Mental Health Innovation Fund which aims to help new and innovative mental health services to scale up and the $24 million of funding over four years to Gumboot Friday, which will provide free mental health counselling to an extra 15,000 young people aged between 5 and 25 years.”
According to Matt Doocey,
“Peer Support Specialists”in Emergency Departments will assist in providing mental health support to patients that need it.
This is comforting news for taxpayers, suggesting they will be spared from paying for mental health support for patients who do not need it.
Let’s see what can be done to discourage prayers for people who don’t want them.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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