Tim Dower: The state of NZ healthcare is a blatant example of ambulance at the bottom of the cliff mentality

Primary healthcare is back in the news this morning, with a report putting us fifth from bottom in the OECD for healthcare waiting times.

Fifth from last, out of 38 OECD nations.

Could there be any more of a fence at the top of the cliff scenario.

Look at it this way: if your car starts making funny noises you lift the hood, look for something obvious, and if that doesn't fix it you take it to someone who can.

Leaving it just makes things worse.

Same with your body, surely. If it starts making funny noises you have a poke around, and if that doesn't fix it, you take yourself off to someone who can.

Leaving it just makes things worse.

Looking under the hood of these waiting times reveal we have a deep systemic issue.

GPs say that quality healthcare is all about access. But it's the first thing that goes when a system is failing. 

Worse than that, in health terms poor access translates to worse morbidity and mortality figures.

On the ground, when people can't access a GP they get sicker. Then they're off to A&E, clogging up those emergency departments for people who need immediate care.

There's a few other factors at play, but the bottom line is pretty plain. We just don't train enough doctors and we don't have enough GPs.

Rather than set up another medical school, or maybe a couple more, we depend instead on importing doctors from overseas.

Politicians baulk at this. “Ohhh... it's so expensive... and we can't afford to make GP visits free.”

I'd argue the other side. This is about the most blatant example of ambulance at the bottom of the cliff mentality.

Prevention is better than a cure.

Next to that? Early intervention is what we need.

This article was amended on 27 January 2023. An earlier version stated that the report referred to put New Zealand “fifth from bottom in the OECD for GP waiting times”. It should have said healthcare waiting times. This has now been updated.

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