Required in Senior Hospital Doctor Workforce Crisis

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ATTENTION: HEALTH REPORTER

MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,
TUESDAY 31 MAY 2011

“Leadership Required to Solve Senior Hospital Doctor Workforce Crisis”

“Strategic leadership is required if the senior hospital doctor workforce crisis is to be solved,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today. Mr Powell was responding to the release of reports by Health Workforce New Zealand which highlight shortages and the loss of specialists to Australia.

“For nearly a year we have been working with the DHBs to develop a full understanding of the workforce crisis and how best to address it. This culminated in the completion of a jointly agreed document called Securing a Sustainable Senior Medical and Dental Workforce in New Zealand: the Business Case.” The Business Case can be downloaded from the Association’s website www.asms.org.nz.

“In summary, the Business Case outlines the extent of the workforce crisis along with the serious clinical and financial risks that arise from it; recommends an investment in senior doctor remuneration in order to overcome this crisis; and describes how this investment could, in effect, be paid back over time by having more time available for senior doctors to be actively involved in decision-making at all levels of our hospitals which will significantly improve financial performance, reduce wastage and improve the quality of care.”

“Unfortunately, in a sad display of lack of vision and strategic leadership, at the last possible moment our health bosses got cold feet and panicked. They are now dithering and fiddling at a time when insight and leadership is required.”

“The solution to this crisis is as plain as the eye can see. Our health bosses need the vision to see beyond the end of their noses. If they can’t do it, then the Minister of Health needs to provide them with eye surgery,” concluded Mr Powell.

Ian Powell

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ENDS

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