Mike Shepherd: Te Whatu Ora spokesperson on the new waitlist tool - The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Te Whatu Ora's defending its equity adjuster-waitlist tool.

Ethnicity is a factor in new medical waitlist criteria rolled out in Auckland in February — alongside clinical priority, time already spent on the waitlist, location, and deprivation level.

Te Whatu Ora's Dr Mike Shepherd told Mike Hosking that clinical prioritisation always takes precedent.

The system’s being rolled out to other northern region areas.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.