We ended last week with some hopeful noises from the health sector.  

Minister Simeon Brown was praised by academics and commentators for his increased funding for nurse practitioners, advanced training for nurses and increased training for doctors who come from overseas.  

He also announced an increase in the numbers of doctors we train here.  

Then, on Friday he announced the health plan which sees Lester Levy replaced by a board.  

Five targets were announced, all focusing on speedier healthcare and outcomes.  

And to chew through the waiting lists, the minister talked about utilising private facilities.  

At this point I think it’s important to think about where we are.  

Labour tried to reduce the DHBs from over twenty to four and the Māori health authority.  

Even though the right wing had been complaining about the inefficiency of too many boards for years, when a left-wing government does it it’s branded as a socialist central government takeover.  

After $50 million dollars was spent pursuing the four mega board we appear to be right back where we started.  

Except we’re not. Lester Levy has been cutting the workforce, and the workforce feels hollowed out.  

We have more funding than ever and yet it didn’t keep pace with inflation. 

And to cope with the waiting lists that have built up over the decade, patients are being directed to the private system. 

The upshot is that the public system is slowly withering. While it’s a good time to be a shareholder in a private health facility. 

 We seem to be heading towards a two-tier health system. One for those with money and one for those without. 

And increasingly if you don’t have health insurance, you’re playing a waiting game about who will see you first. St Peter or the surgeon. 

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