Hospital Staff Working In Siege Conditions
“Conditions in our hospitals have staff struggling in siege conditions while managers go all out to trim costs,” said
Heather Carter of Health Cuts Hurt today. “Surgeons don’t know from week to week who will be on their operating lists or
if they will even be in theatre.”
“Staff shortages have condemned many operations to be cancelled; people are being dumped off waiting lists. The state of
our health system is a betrayal of the people.”
“There are more procedures now to relieve people of their conditions, whereby, they can be cured and returned to the
workforce. Instead, they are left to linger on while their conditions worsen.”
“Surgeons don’t have any say about where their patients are on waiting lists. In fact, they cannot even indicate that to
their patients.”
“Bottom of the waiting-list?” said one prominent Christchurch surgeon to his patient. “There is no bottom – it’s been
removed!”
“Not only is the current situation a crisis in health care for the public, but medical staff coping in these conditions
will need stress counselling!” Heather Carter said.