Govt to utilise private hospitals

[Mully]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10581536

Seems like a good idea to me. If you can contract in advance for X number of a certain operation at $X a go, rather than paying more to use the private system last minute.

I do like this point:

"Encouraging DHBs to enter into longer-term arrangements with private hospitals isn't dealing with the real issue," said PHA national executive officer Gay Keating.

"What we need to be doing is keeping people healthy, by sorting out little health problems before they become big problems.

"About one in five hospital beds is taken up with someone whose illness could have been prevented."

Quick, Gay; there goes the point!! Catch it!!! Too late, you missed it.

[ynot slow]

Seems to be happening a bit,I had to have a PET scan in Wellyville and went to Wakefield as the nuclear isotope didn't arrive till late afternoon,therefore the usual staff at public hospital would be gone,they utilised the staff at Wakefield.Took about 3-4 hours to do.