Concern about decision to cut Canterbury hospital beds

29 February 2016

Senior doctors concerned about decision to cut Canterbury hospital beds

“Senior doctors are seriously concerned that the Government is imposing a reduction in beds for Canterbury’s new hospital when Christchurch already has the lowest hospital admission rates in the country,” says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

“It’s one indignity after another for the people of Canterbury,” he says. “On top of their ongoing struggles to recover from the devastating earthquakes there five years ago, they’re having to battle the Government for adequate funding to provide essential health care.

“The region’s health system is under intense pressure, especially in mental health and the hospital’s emergency department, but the Government’s bean counters don’t appear to be listening.”

Mr Powell was commenting on media reports that more than 15% of beds in Canterbury’s new multi-million dollar acute services building will not be installed because of budget constraints. This has been attributed to the Government over-ruling a business case proposed by the Canterbury District Health Board, with the decision made by the Hospitals Redevelopment Partnership Group, the Treasury and the Ministry of Health (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/77308679/christchurchs-new-acute-services-building-to-cut-patient-beds-over-budget-concerns).

“It is very disappointing that while the government claims it supports clinical leadership in decision-making, hospital specialists with expertise in necessary bed numbers are marginalised

“It is becoming increasingly clear that the so-called partnership group is in fact government-controlled, with Canterbury DHB effectively having no option but to accept the deal put before it,” says Ian Powell.

“This is a very poor process and a poor decision, which will have ongoing repercussions for health care in the region, and will undermine senior doctor confidence in the government’s commitment to public hospitals.”

ENDS

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