1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 1: So ti fut to Order has released its health targets 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: for July to September this year, and all but three 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:09,960 Speaker 1: are on track. Sixty seven and a half percent of 4 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: patients were admitted, discharged or transferred from an ED within 5 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 1: six hours. The target was seventy four percent, So do 6 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,759 Speaker 1: a bit better there, and that's the big, big failure, 7 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: but most are on track. This comes after Health New 8 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: Zealand released its workforce plan. It says we will need 9 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: three four hundred doctors over the next ten years, and 10 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: of course critics of the health targets say we need 11 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: more doctors to meet those targets. But where will the 12 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: doctors come from? And can we reach they four hundred 13 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: and ten years. So Deborah Powell is the National Secretary 14 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: of the Resident Doctors Association, joins me. Now, Hello Deborah, 15 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 1: Good morning Andrew. So the targets are on track. The 16 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: government will be happy. They like numbers, they like targets. 17 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: Is that a true representation of where our healthcare is at? 18 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: Does it mean we're getting better healthcare? 19 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 2: No, it doesn't. I'm afraid our healthcare system is a 20 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 2: real stress. Anyone who's been to an ED will see that. 21 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 2: And you know, We've got block problems because we simply 22 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 2: don't have enough beds or the staff to look after 23 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: the patients inside our hospitals. We have problems in radiology 24 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 2: because we don't have enough radiologists or medical imaging technologists, 25 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 2: so people get stuck in ED because they can't get 26 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 2: an X ray or CT. And the volumes, the volumes 27 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 2: of patients that we're being asked to look after is 28 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 2: just so huge number of factors there. We've got an 29 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,119 Speaker 2: aging population, so you know there is more demand, but 30 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 2: primary care isn't being supported enough, and so people are 31 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 2: turning up to ED because they can't get. 32 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: To a GP. 33 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 2: So no, our health system is not doing well. And 34 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 2: you know, releasing this at the same time as the 35 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 2: workforce Plan, well that was an interesting strategy. I have 36 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 2: to say that. Well, because the workforce Plan has long awaited. 37 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 2: It's overdue, of course. And three four hundred more doctors, 38 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 2: as you say, but no new medical school. You know, ultimately, 39 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 2: if we're going to get more doctors in this country, 40 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: we need to produce. 41 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: We need new medical They've promised one in way Kato. 42 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: You can't just rust up a medical school overnight. 43 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 2: Well, they've promised one but then they've started talking about 44 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: the business case and we haven't heard anything. Further, I 45 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 2: understand that promise is possibly a shaky ground the money. 46 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 1: All right, good, well, you've seen what's happening in to needing. 47 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: So let's take a look at the targets. You know, 48 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: for instance, eighty four point six percent of patients received 49 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: cancer management within thirty one days of a decision to treat. 50 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: And that's quite good and that means we are well. 51 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,679 Speaker 1: And what I'm saying, don't the targets focus the mind 52 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: of all the practitioners and the patients to get their 53 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: care underway? 54 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,239 Speaker 2: Oh? Absolutely, But I don't think any of our doctors 55 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 2: or allied scientists and technical staff such as our radiation 56 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 2: therapists of course, who are treating cancer patients, are setting around, 57 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 2: you know, not really interested in the next one that 58 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 2: rolls up. That's not the case. They're working really, really hard. 59 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 2: They always have and yeah, getting patients through, getting patients 60 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 2: treated is what health practitioners are there for, and yeah 61 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 2: they're very focused on doing that. These are general figures, 62 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 2: you know. For instance, we've got real problems in Wellington 63 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 2: and Palmerston North with a number of radiation therapists we 64 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:18,919 Speaker 2: have there. We've had on their accelerators not working during 65 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 2: this year simply because we don't have enough staff to 66 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 2: run them. So they do an amazing job with a 67 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 2: really difficult environment. 68 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: I have to say, very good Seff, Deborah. Enjoy your Christmas. 69 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: If we don't speak again. 70 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 2: For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live 71 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 2: to News Talks at be from five am weekdays, or 72 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 2: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.