Charity Hospital Powerful Message For Government; ‘Wake Up’ Call
“The forthcoming charity hospital in Christchurch is a powerful message for the government which it should not ignore,”
said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.
“The charity hospital is a response to the failure of public hospitals to provide early intervention care for patients
who need it. Without this early intervention it is most likely that the conditions of these patients will deteriorate
and their pain and suffering will increase.”
“Early intervention for patients saves money. The cost of the government not ensuring that patients receive early
intervention treatment is to increase the costs of running public hospitals. If the government wishes to be fiscally
responsible with its health spending then it should resolve this absurd contradiction by working with doctors and nurses
in order to ensure that public hospitals can provide early intervention treatments.”
“As noble and generous as the dedication of the doctors, nurses and others involved in the charity hospital is, the
greatest significance is the ‘wake-up’ call it gives the government and health bureaucrats,” concluded Mr Powell.