Our failing health system
Last year, with a day off from my anaesthesia work and free to roam, I reflected on the dire state of Wellington Hospital. I was so concerned that I contacted the office of the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC). Space and staffing were causing daily compromises with patient care.
Like many hospitals, it consistently runs near or over 100% occupancy in all beds, as well as ICU. There were 35 patients waiting in ED, including in corridors. Major surgeries were on hold or cancelled on the day, due to lack of capacity. Sometimes, there isn’t a ward bed for ICU patients, but they need to be pushed out early. These factors are dangerous, cruel and wasteful. Nurses were already stressed and increasingly burnt out.
Wellington is not in any way unique in the New Zealand system, and its problems are not due to individual failure in the organisation.
The HDC representative informed me that the dangerous deficiencies were not its concern. I then clarified with her that if harm happened to one of my patients, I would indeed be found wanting or culpable under the HDC Act. I found
