What is actually happening with NZ Health?
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It's either a) being deliberately underfunded so it falls over and has to be privatised by the neoliberals, or b) we can't afford it. Or there might be other theories, what's yours sarge?What is actually happening with NZ Health?
No idea. Thatâs why I askedIt's either a) being deliberately underfunded so it falls over and has to be privatised by the neoliberals, or b) we can't afford it. Or there might be other theories, what's yours sarge?
My non political take:No idea. Thatâs why I asked
Finland is interesting how it taxes compared to NZ. Their thresholds and tax rates for lower incomes are less than ours but our version of WFF is higher than theirs. Their highest personal tax threshold is lower than ours and the tax rate higher.My non political take:
As a percentage of GDP our health spend is in line with other countries. We canât afford to spend more. Weâre in deficit already.
The issue is our GDP per person is shocking. Finland with a similar population has double the GDP so if they spend the same GDP per person on health, their health budget is double ours for the same population despite the same spend on a GDP basis. Simple maths really.
So our retirement economy, anti growth and pro lifestyle over the economy, is coming back to bite us. Weâve got what we wanted and now some are waking up to the realityâŚ
Add to this our massive population growth (not adding to GDP per person) and we slowly slip backwards. Because we live it everyday we donât notice the slow decline but when you go overseas to visit countries that were once way behind us and they are now ahead of us it becomes obvious how much weâve stood still and are falling behind.
As a country we need to priorities the important things like new businesses and growing existing businesses, etc rather than non event issues like how well free school lunches are going⌠our priorities are all wrong sometimes.
Decades of underfundingWhat is actually happening with NZ Health?
Another problem we have is that we swing to far one way or another with every change of government.Decades of underfunding
Itâs always in the âhigh priority but low urgencyâ category, so no government actually funds it like it should be
We are the frog in the slowly boiling water pot
Itâs not some Machiavellian scheme by the private sector. Itâs just fiduciary incompetence
Finland has a GDP of $296b with $200b tax leaves $96b private surplus.Finland is interesting how it taxes compared to NZ. Their thresholds and tax rates for lower incomes are less than ours but our version of WFF is higher than theirs. Their highest personal tax threshold is lower than ours and the tax rate higher.
Their corporate tax rate is lower but VAT is 25% compared to our 15%. And, of course, they have a comprehensive CGT while ours is pretty much non existent.
They also have inheritance and gift taxes.
Their total tax revenue in 2023 was just over $200 billion NZD, while NZâs total tax revenue was $115 billion. Itâs not just they have a higher GDP, theyâre also far more willing to pay tax, or be taxed, depending on your outlook.
Health New Zealandâs latest workforce data for the quarter to March 2024:Another problem we have is that we swing to far one way or another with every change of government.
Where I think our current government is falling down is its drive for efficiency at all cost attitude. While itâs fine to question if the money provided to the health system is being used to properly to provide front line health services, thereâs a major problem with gutting the back office staffâŚ. someone still has to do this work and if thereâs no support staff or a reduced support staff to do it, then frontline staff have to which then effects their ability to preform their frontline duties. While itâs fine might be âcheaperâ it wonât lead to better outcomes for patients.
From what Iâve heard from a few people working it hospitals, is that Shane Reti got dumped as Minister of Health because he was starting to pushback against more cuts in the name of âefficiencyâ.
Which is all well and good.... but when more of their time is being spent on admin roles for those let go in the name of efficiency, it won't lead to better outcomes for the patients... which, IMHO, should be the ideal result of any reforms in the health system. Otherwise, you're just moving the deck chairs on the Titanic!!Health New Zealandâs latest workforce data for the quarter to March 2024:
âThere are now more nurses employed by hospitals than ever before, with 29,404 full time equivalent (FTE) nurses employed by Health NZ across the country. Thatâs an additional 1,198 compared to last quarter, and an overall increase of 2,900 over the last year.
What some people won't want to know is that during the time of Helen Clark's government, my father had a triple bypass.... performed in a private hospital but paid for by the government. It sounds like it was done under a similar scheme as the one the current government is wanting to use to help clear the public waiting lists.No wonder Reti had to go, this is no way to create a crisis and force privatisationâŚ
Or is it to early to make that call?Which is all well and good.... but when more of their time is being spent on admin roles for those let go in the name of efficiency, it won't lead to better outcomes for the patients... which, IMHO, should be the ideal result of any reforms in the health system. Otherwise, you're just moving the deck chairs on the Titanic!!
Yeah, you have to specifically ask them to send results to the doc. The different depts in the hospitals don't communicate well with each other either. Witnessed a stand up between my cardiologist and urologist over blood thinners. Thought there might be a bit of Biffo.In my recent visit to hospital I had a number of blood tests Two days later I was phoned by my doctor to check on me.
Then she said that I should get a blood test.
I said I had the tests done while in hospital.
She replied that the hospital doesn't pass these on to her.
Seems like a bit strange in this technology age![]()
From the recent fall, a couple of days after each dressing change, I'd get an email from Managemyhealth saying that more results had been loaded.... it actually got a bit annoying...In my recent visit to hospital I had a number of blood tests Two days later I was phoned by my doctor to check on me.
Then she said that I should get a blood test.
I said I had the tests done while in hospital.
She replied that the hospital doesn't pass these on to her.
Seems like a bit strange in this technology age![]()
You fool..... those older ones were from last year!!!!From the recent fall, a couple of days after each dressing change, I'd get an email from Managemyhealth saying that more results had been loaded.... it actually got a bit annoying...
View attachment 12109
View attachment 12110
A year for results to come in might be the issue heâs annoyed about!You fool..... those older ones were from last year!!!!
My GP can see all test that have been done either requested by him or my hospital ones and their notes. It does take a little while to get loaded in the system though.Yeah, you have to specifically ask them to send results to the doc. The different depts in the hospitals don't communicate well with each other either. Witnessed a stand up between my cardiologist and urologist over blood thinners. Thought there might be a bit of Biffo.As for using private hospitals for public work, no problem, wouldn't surprise me if the cost was cheaper as they are probably more efficient. Had a few ops on the state done here in Southern Cross, surgeons are the same across the board anyway.