MidCentral DHB closes eight surgical beds
MidCentral DHB has temporarily closed eight surgical beds, Labour Associate Health spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway said.
“The DHB says that a drop in acute surgical cases means that the beds are not needed. However, questions must be asked as to why they are not using this opportunity to increase elective surgery,” Iain Lees-Galloway said.
“It seems bizarre that surgical beds and theatres are not being utilised at time when the Government is dumping patients off ACC surgical lists and on to those of DHBs.
“While in opposition Tony Ryall demanded that then Minister of Health David Cunliffe intervene when a drop in the demand for acute surgery at Canterbury DHB occurred saying that they should be increasing elective surgery.
“But it seems now that he is Minister of Health Tony Ryall has apparently failed to instruct DHBs experiencing a downturn in acute cases to increase elective surgery.
“Perhaps the Minister has been too distracted by the thought of allowing cash registers back into hospitals to care about surgical theatres and beds sitting empty,” Iain Lees-Galloway said.
