It has been one year since the establishment of the national health system made up of three entities – Manatu Hauora – Ministry of Health, Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, and Te Aka Whai Ora – Māori Health Authority.
Aotearoa’s emergency clinicians remain hopeful that the 2022 reforms will lead to more people getting the healthcare they need, faster.
It is well-known that emergency departments (EDs) have never been so busy and overcrowded – people have never had to wait so long for the care they need.
The issues in the health system that lead to these pressures have been building for decades and are inherently complex. It will take time for solutions to lead to palpable improvements, and for administrative processes to be clarified and streamlined.
As frontline health workers, we see the impact of inequity every day in EDs, and believe Te Aka Whai Ora could achieve real improvements in Māori health outcomes and equity.
On the frontline, since the reforms, there has been no significant change in how we deliver care to patients in EDs. The welcome focus on addressing health workforce shortages hasn’t yet translated to improvements on the ground, and EDs continue to experience a lack of skilled clinical staff, particularly in nursing.
Due to a lack of appropriate beds – particularly in mental health and aged care – we are seeing increasing amounts of people stranded in EDs for overly long periods of time. We are also seeing more violence and aggression towards staff.
All patients, staff, carers and whānau must be safe to deliver, receive and support care in Aotearoa’s emergency departments. To keep EDs safe for everyone, Te Whatu Ora must ensure that every emergency department has access to 24/7 appropriately trained and integrated safety and response staff.
The government and Te Whatu Ora must also prioritise the addition of staffed inpatient beds, and remain focussed on solutions that will ensure an appropriate emergency care workforce.
The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine urges parties contesting the 2023 election to work with the College on solutions to save the nation’s emergency departments.
Background:
ACEM is the peak body for emergency medicine in Australia and New Zealand, responsible for training emergency physicians and advancement of professional standards. www.acem.org.au
Media Contact:
Andrew MacDonald [email protected] +61 498 068 023