Alexander (Sandy) Milne

On Radio NZ yesterday morning, a spokesperson for the NZ Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) added to the chorus of criticism of Health New Zealand regarding the rapid decline in health services in our country.

Once again, health minister Simeon Brown’s lack of experience or understanding of healthcare was no match for the ASMS worker.

Our health system clearly is in crisis, as was detailed in the recent zoom meeting in Whakatāne District Council, chaired by Mayor Victor Luca.

It’s time for Whakatāne’s doctors to step up and provide spokespersons from the Whakatāne Post-graduate Medical Society or other Whakatāne Hospital or GP groups.

These doctors of medicine have lain low for long enough.  

I acknowledge that semi-retired hospital paediatrician Chris Moyes contributed a great letter to the Beacon during the obstetrics and gynaecology furore, but if other local doctors have done anything apart from going on strike, it was under my radar.

Cannot one or two local doctors provide a regular Beacon column on health matters, just as Dr Luca does on council matters and other issues?

I invite doctors to join us all at the Grey Power public meeting on health services at Knox Church, 5pm to 7pm today.

We will be addressed by doctors Art Nahill and Glenn Colquhoun, who are travelling the country on a hikoi for health.  

I go further and ask patients who are seeing a GP or Whakatāne Hospital today, to do their bit by politely asking their doctor or nurse practitioner to spread the word and support the out-of-town doctors who want us to be better served by government.