Bruce Munro: Disgraceful waiting list for elective surgeries at public hospitals
17 Jan, 2021 09:08 PM
10 minutes to read
Bruce Munro in the Mercy Hospital ward a few hours after his hip replacement surgery. Photo / Annemarie Nelson-Munro
Bruce Munro in the Mercy Hospital ward a few hours after his hip replacement surgery. Photo / Annemarie Nelson-Munro
Otago Daily Times
OPINION
Bruce Munro recently had hip replacement surgery. He details his experience, quantifies the disgraceful waiting list for public hospital elective surgery and asks why the public health system allows so many people to languish rather than receive much-needed help.
My body accuses me. Silently it screams, What have you done?! .
Canterbury Charity Hospital founder and surgeon Phil Bagshaw described the role as a “poisoned chalice”. Bramley will be heading an organisation with a $180 million deficit – the largest in the country – and the recent resignation of seven members of the executive management team. “I know from my experience . there are always areas where we can improve,” Bramley said.
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/Stuff
Former CDHB chief executive David Meates resigned in August after 12 years at the helm. It is understood the relationship between his executive management team and the board and Ministry of Health had broken down over funding. His clashes with the Ministry of Health, Treasury and the CDHB board over funding – which he believed to be unfair – and delays to new Christchurch Hospital building Waipapa were understood to be behind the decision.
“You’re taught to care for the patient sitting in front of you. From time to time, the system can’t provide that care.” Helping others is an intrinsic part of his life; from Rotary meetings, volunteering at the Canterbury Charity Hospital, and helping to establish the Southland Charity Hospital, to running clinics in Uganda. “Everyone likes to give back. I believe that I’ve been very fortunate, in the sort of life I’ve been able to have and what my career has been able to give me. So you sort of feel a strong desire to give back.”
Bramley stepped into the breach as acting CDHB chief executive (CE) in August after the sudden resignation of former boss David Meates and six other executive team managers. In October Bramley returned to Nelson-Marlborough and handed over the acting CE role at Canterbury to Andrew Brant, deputy chief executive of the Waitematā District Health Board (WDHB). Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) executive director Sarah Dalton wished Bramley well but said he had taken on a daunting task to meet demands by the board and the Ministry of Health to reduce the $180 million deficit without cutting services. “It’s a tough gig, I think.”