Privatising healthcare

[Lilith7]

It may be that govt wants to privatise the health system. How anyone with a vestige of conscience can even contemplate such a thing is beyond understanding - but apparently, that is the aim of David Seymour....who will soon become deputy leader.



https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/5352...shane-reti

[nzoomed]

It kind of has been going on for a while now to some degree.
I know a couple of people who have had some elective surgery done at the private hospital but paid for through the public health system.
My gastroenterologist I see privately also works for the DHB, performing colonoscopies at the hospital and reportedly they are sending some patients to him privately too.
The biggest concern I have is that even if you are insured and wanting to see someone private, that there appears to be quite a wait even through the private system.
Im not sure whats going on, but my suspicion is that the private system is possibly overloaded with DHB patients being referred to them?

[Lilith7]

It kind of has been going on for a while now to some degree.
I know a couple of people who have had some elective surgery done at the private hospital but paid for through the public health system.
My gastroenterologist I see privately also works for the DHB, performing colonoscopies at the hospital and reportedly they are sending some patients to him privately too.
The biggest concern I have is that even if you are insured and wanting to see someone private, that there appears to be quite a wait even through the private system.
Im not sure whats going on, but my suspicion is that the private system is possibly overloaded with DHB patients being referred to them?

I wouldn't be surprised if that was it. And half nursing graduates weren't able to to find a job which isn't going to help out health system.

I think what's needed is all our political parties to get together & put aside their differences & come up with a  public health system which is the best we can possiblly manage, absorb  private health care into it & set up a system which will be able to cope in the future.

[SueDonim]

It kind of has been going on for a while now to some degree.
I know a couple of people who have had some elective surgery done at the private hospital but paid for through the public health system.
My gastroenterologist I see privately also works for the DHB, performing colonoscopies at the hospital and reportedly they are sending some patients to him privately too.
The biggest concern I have is that even if you are insured and wanting to see someone private, that there appears to be quite a wait even through the private system.
Im not sure whats going on, but my suspicion is that the private system is possibly overloaded with DHB patients being referred to them?

There are two important aspects of public/private partnership that were happening when I was still in the health sector.

One is what you experienced with your gastroenterologist. Pretty much all the public hospital consultants/surgeons also had their own private practices so whether you go public or private makes little difference in who does the procedures, or at least who the supervising senior doctor is.

The other is in the potential for getting the much needed new buildings. The DHB (as it was then) owned the land and leased it to the private provider who built a great new building, some of which was then leased back to the DHB. Win-win.  A few years before then when a new publicly funded building was built, in the media the MoH was praised for providing the new facility when the reality was that the DHB had to borrow the money from the MoH and be able to account for and show how it was to be paid back.

[Lilith7]

Charity hospitals.


Christchurch
https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/healt...ystem-gaps

Auckland
https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/private/ge...ital-arch/


Wellington
https://www.heringaawhina.org.nz/

[Oh_hunnihunni]

My ortho consultant - I have been his patient now for fifteen years as a research subject - has a thriving private practice. I sing his praises because he is one of the best. One of my neighbours asked to be referred to him for an assessment for cause of hip pain and possible replacement, as a private patient she got an appointment within three weeks. It cost her $400, for a half hour consultation, during which time he explained just what was happening to her hips and prescribed a course of drugs, telling her no replacement was necessary, or would help. One week into the drug regime she walks without pain, she is sleeping well, and feels 100% better.

That's the beauty of the private system. Had she needed a replacement she would have gone on his public system waiting list. Currently around 12 months...

But, if she had been resident in the provinces, or a small country town with no access to such expertise - different story. That patient needs medical insurance, because postcode healthcare is a very real thing in this country. So, $400 well invested don't you think? Or 12 months wait for a $25,000 procedure the system would provide for free with that same surgeon.

And that is why I live in a big city. And have learned patience, lol.

[Lilith7]

Bryan Bruce had a bit to say on the subject of healthcare; "The slow death of our public health system" which was extremely interesting.

Similar situations in the UK now as well; their pride in the NHS which was set up just after WW2( despite their country still having to pay for WW2) has long gone.

Perhaps every country which set up Neo Liberalism needs a law which forbids making money from the suffering of others.
There was once a time when plain old human decency made sure it didn't happen but it seems those days are long gone.