Health group views given on report

Press, 7 April 1988, Page 2

Health group views given on report

By

CHRISTOPHER MOORE

The Gibbs report on hospital and related services yesterday continued to draw reaction from private and public sector health groups.

The chief executive of the Southern Cross Medical Society, Mr Peter Smith, described the report as a positive document while the New Zealand Nurses’ Association questioned I some of the task force’s findings, describing these as simplistic. The report had clearly indicated areas in which the public i heplth system could improve efficiency through adopting market systems, Mr Smith said in Auckland. "tyhile New Zealand does not want an allmarket approach to health care, i it is encouraging to see that tfye Task force i has taken ideas on board from the private health care system.

"I am disappointed with the reaction of a number of organisations including the Hospital Boards’ Association.

"The public health system must face the fact that there will be changes. It must take note that the report believes that it has had a comfortable existence for far too long.” The report’s recommendations would have little effect on the private health care in New Zealand outside ; the recommendations for the introduction of contract bed

system. I i : ■ “A continuing demand for private health care in Christchurch means that it is unlikely that hospitals in the area will be able to make these beds available if the scheme is adopted,” he added. An independent hospital management consultant, Mr Murray Woodward I of I Christchurch, said ne believed I that the Gibbs report opened up opportunities for the private health system to provide replacement longstay feeds at the Jubilee and Coronation Hospitals. "Canterbury should begin discussing this question | immediately. The report is a breath of fresh air and Jthe private sector should be provideq with the opportunity to replace these beds under contract to regional health, authorities.” He now intended to seek a meeting i with the Minister of Health to discuss the question. Mr Woodward also questioned claims by healtr worker unions that the task force recommendations would result in a fall ifi the quality of care. “Tie private health care system already provides a high quality of patient care. We could not afford to let that decline." The executive director

of the New Zealand Nurses’ Association, Ms Gay Williams, said that economic accountability was only one aspect of a successful health care system.

"Value for money is what is required. The social goals of a hospital service should not be superseded by its economic goals. The intrusion of the profit motive will only reduce the status of health in significant proportions of the population. “The association questions some of the strategies proposed by the task force. The focus on cost effective output and new structures will not as such solve present perceived problems.” The association opposed the dismantling of the triumvirate management structure "without careful thought.” The system worked in a number of areas and she claimed it was shortsighted to dismiss the concept without supporting data.

The association supported the task force comments on the need for a basic information system. It had identified an “appalling” lack of data, but provided little evidence to support changes in the system proposed in the

report. The association was also alarmed about recommendations that private patients could be cared for in public hospitals.

“The resulting difference in standards of care could cause resentment and embarrassment. This issue highlights the report’s failure to define what is a public or private hospital. "We hope that those making the decisions about the Gibbs report give sufficient regard to its practicality,” Ms Williams said. The New Zealand Medical Association believed that the report had identified significant problems affecting the management and structural areas of the public health system.

While the association president, Dr Tony Baird, said that the cost cuts proposed in the report would affect patient services, he said that the association supported moves to improve efficiency in the public sector.

“What the task force seems to be advocating is that more; patient care should be moved out into the community where resources are much more effective,” Dr Baird said.