Wairarapa Hospital ED doctor calls for action from Te Whatu Ora, says NZ in healthcare ‘catastrophe’

Senior doctors are calling on the Government to urgently address dropping staff numbers and increasing wait times for patients.

Among them is Dr Gray who told AM on Monday Wairarapa Hospital is “very busy” and they don’t have the staff to cope with the demands. 

He told AM co-host Ryan Bridge the increased wait times are seeing a rise in the mortality rates.

“During that waiting time there’s suffering, losing dignity and overall, for people that are seriously ill and need admission there is increased mortality rates,” he said. 

“The last study done in New Zealand, if your admission to hospital is delayed by more than six hours, your mortality rate in the first week goes up 10 percent, so it’s important.” 

He told AM this leaves him feeling “sad” and responsible but at the same time, doctors can’t control the situation. 

Dr Gray said Te Whatu Ora is good at releasing statements that sound “good” but believes the lack of action is “insulting”.

“I read the same things you read and I get stuff on my email and it’s all very good but it’s all words and really they have to be judged by their actions and not their words,” he said. 

“In some ways, it’s almost a little bit insulting saying we’re going to do this, we going to do that, we really care about you. 

“Then on the other hand, they don’t really care about you that much because they disrespect you, they don’t come to the table to bargain fairly. It’s disappointing I think.” 

Dr Gray told AM the reason doctors are striking on Tuesday is because New Zealand’s healthcare system is “failing”. 

“That’s why the ASMS – our collective union of medical specialists – are finally putting a line in the sand and saying, well, this is enough, we can’t keep declining, declining, the Government can’t keep relying on our goodwill to prop the system up. Our system is failing and unless we make a stand, who else is going to change things?” 

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