We then proceed to be lambasted with political speeches from the Opposition Health spokesperson and the politicised Heath Care Workers Union.
What you don’t hear are the reasons why these shortages have been allowed to occur.
Our Health Care services are and seemingly always have been, plagued by a working environment based on a worker’s freedom to take their state funded skills and move to another country that is prepared to pay for the costly privilege of having them on their payroll.
That subsidised environment breeds a sense of entitlement which is manifested by regular strikes during negotiations for pay increases.
Those unique self annointed privileges should no longer be tolerated and banished from the negotiating table so that the nation is at least able to recoup some of its recruitment expenses and by so doing, fill vacancies in the parts of the country where the need is greatest.
I call the current doctor and nurse shortages a “Clayton’s” problem simply because it clearly is something that has become a manufactured, political hot potato when it could be easily fixed by either an Order in Council or the passing of a law that requires more from those immigrant clinicians seeking permanent residence and work permits in “Godzone.”
Current immigration stats show that we would easily fill vacancies in rural community hospitals and clinics if the “permanent residency” application forms required the applicant to sign up to being bonded to the Government for a five year period as part of the conditions of entry.
This agreement would enable the Government of the day to post the successful immigrant health care worker to clinics at the far flung corners of the country.
My guess is that this requirement would see no reduction of qualified people wanting to settle here in New Zealand and are happy to practice their trade wherever the current shortages are seriously endangering the health of the local residents.
It should come as no surprise that many of these potential immigrants desperately wanting to become Kiwis (even some of the most highly qualified and experienced doctors and nurses from overseas countries) are banging at our door simply because of the lifestyle, work environment and conditions of employment that are second to none compared to anywhere else in the world.
Just one other thing…
You don’t need to dig very deep when trying to find out the reasons for doctor and nurse shortage in this country .
I live in a relatively remote rural community which has few problems staffing its clinic compared to those clinics that service the nearest City population. I can get an appointment either same day or within 48 hrs to see a doctor or nurse practitioner.
My wife on the other hand, is a patient at one of the City’s multi-doctor clinics.
She (although requiring specialist treatment) has to wait 3-4 weeks before being able to see her own doctor - the reason for the long wait often given is because the doctor only works 3 days per week.
In my opinion, all doctors and nurses employed in the health sector (whether immigrants or kiwis by birth) should be required, as part of their employment conditions, to work a minimum full five day, 40 hour week.
That requirement should at least be part of the permanent residency and work permit application .
I hope these two simple requirements as part of the conditions of entry will be adopted by those who have the power to make it happen.
Unfortunately, there appear to be too many vested interests in maintaining the status quo.
And yet, here am I, a simple “sod buster” offering a couple of ideas that could work in saving us from ourselves. However, in this particular context, it is obvious that nothing will be done and so we continue to suffer from self-inflicted wounds,
Makes me want to pull the remaining grey hairs out of my head but what would that do?
Go figure.
Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.
8 comments:
Like an increasing number of people, simply don't turn on the 6pm news (propaganda). I seldom watch TV now, and cancelled my Herald subscription long ago. Even that bastion publication, the Listener, has become so radically left wing, that most articles I classify as 'flick' ones. As a subscriber for masny decades, it costs little, so I live in hope. Under the previous editor, it was great, imho. All downhill since then. The cryptic and food pages are very good, as are, ironically, Jane Clifton's columns. (For those of you who may not know, Jane is Trevor Mallard's partner. He obviously has something that is not obvious to the naked eye).
Imagine what how many nurses and doctors the government could hire with the mysterious $74.4b the Clark advised Ardern hierarchy dished out under cover of covid.
Brook Van Velden hasn't thought to find out where our covid money went.
Come on Mr Luxon. The auditor general is concerned about the lack of covid spending controls. It's high time you ordered a forensic audit so we can find out who got our money.
Mut agree with you Cive. I was educated up to Uni level in UK at their taxpayers' expense. I came to NZ many years ago, piad passage door to door (no 10 pound pom, was I). I was bonded to the government for two years and thought that was more than reasonable. Great country, great life style, plenty of food, beer and girls. What more could you want ? Cheap at double the price.
Yes, if taxpayers in NZ pay for their education, a minimum of two and preferably three years bondage is the least taxpayers should expect in return. So bondage for immigrants and home-growns is reasonable and should be enforced.
Pretty common sense stuff here, and easily implemented. I hope Luxon, Peters or Seymour get a chance to read this.
Our son, with no hope of favourable status treatment in NZ, took his two hundred thousand plus dollar debt (no help from the NZ gov for some!) to Oz, who scooped him up as a young, keen doctor, offered him terms that allow him to pay down said debt in a reasonable time AND maybe consider home ownership, and have now offered him a registrar position in a sought after specialty at a large teaching hospital- completely on merit. Back here in NZ with his genetically inferior background he knew his desired career pathway was going to be one endless struggle(session).
Clive, can I add to your " pearl of wisdom" the additional factor with the NZ Health system.
Hospitals.
We have been hearing (of recent) about our Hospitals and the neglect to building, systems et al. and when such data is presented to us ( examples - Middlemore, Nelson ) one must ask, if this is an ongoing issue - then why ??? have previous Govts not down something to fix "said problems"
Another issue has been the establishment of Private Hospitals - Hasting is a good example, where they are established more in competition to what is available across the road (and Doctors of former, work at the latter, as well)- so who is behind said schemes, why and where did the money come from.
Hastings is not the only City with such Medical establishments
Also to the amount of money that (by each Govt) to a Hospital to establish specific elements in patient assessment surgery and ongoing management - has often been " undone" by the 'lack of staff to operate said system'.
With the "so called" lack of Nursing staff - is it because this working domain does not attract or interest those who "might" pursue such a career - as many women of yonder years did??
During a medical procedure a couple of days back I asked a theatre nurse about the strikes. She said she supported them but couldn't morally stop work. I suspect there is more to this story than is told.
Mate! Most of the doctors perhaps dream of working 40 hours a week! Because for the first years of their training they work almost double that. But, since we can’t stop kiwis from going overseas, making it easier for overseas medical professionals to work here makes sense.
Post a Comment