28/11/2024
The NZ Health System, and a Government willing to let some of its country's population die unnecessarily to save a few bucks.
I don't usually bother saying a lot about our health system as it has struggled for at least the last 35 years, but the last few weeks have highlighted that it is now not just in crisis, it is beyond crisis. What the most concerning thing is, is that the current government, and also several before it, seem to be purposely ignoring the issue, ignoring the thousands suffering, ignoring the unneeded deaths, the irreparable hospitals, the huge shortage of Drs, and so on. Instead they smile, give the thumbs up and say 'don't you worry, it's all just fine'.
Dunedin hospital in particular is at a stage where even if the Govt still builds a new replacement hospital, while we wait for it potentially thousands will suffer from waiting months for needed procedures, people will die while on waitlists or because operating theatres are unusable due to leaks, broken equipment or simply due to unusable asbestos ridden areas. Yet we laid back Kiwis just put up with it, don't protest, don't demand action, but what happens when it's suddenly a member of our family that is affected by the now close to third World health system, then we shout 'hey, someone should do something about it!'
It's time the media hounded the Government daily. Demanding the Dunedin hospital is built to a high standard, and quickly - no matter the cost. It serves over 350,000 people in the surrounding towns and cities. 350,000+ who have not been looked after well by the local health system for many years.
The media should also hound them daily about the GP surgeries with few if any GPs! They should hound them daily about the lack of specialists, the lack of access to many effective medications, and so on. But the media seem to turn a blind eye to it, just like the Government does. No wonder so many of the public no longer support them or trust them. They are supposed to be our mouthpiece, but most instead are nothing but show ponies trying to name drop all the politicians they are mates with! But what about when it's them or their family affected, will they then shout 'Hey, someone should do something about it!'
As a people we should be discussing national strikes, blockading roads, protests outside MP offices, parliament, and other areas to the degree that an MPs ability to even move around becomes near impossible. Until the Government will have to pay whatever it takes for new GPs, Hospitals, medicines and specialists, we should not be accepting no for an answer, not one little bit!
Or, we could just keep accepting what we have, watching things get worse literally by the day. Then just wait until it is us or a family member needing urgent care, and then shout 'Hey someone should do something about it!''. But bad news, by then it will be way too late.
