Surgeons are now being required to consider a patient’s ethnicity alongside other factors when deciding who should get an operation first.

Several surgeons say they are upset by the policy, which was introduced in Auckland in February and gives priority to Māori and Pacific Island patients, on the grounds that they have historically had unequal access to healthcare.

The other categories on the waitlist are clinical priority, time already spent on the waitlist, location and deprivation level.

National Party Health Spokesperson Shane Reti joined Kerre Woodham to discuss the change.

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