MIL OSI – Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement
Headline: More signs of growing unmet health need
“The latest figures out of a district health board are further evidence that an increasing number of people are not getting the health care they need from public hospitals,” says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).
He was commenting on the release of information obtained from Waitemata DHB under the Official Information Act by Labour’s health spokesperson, Annette King, about the number of patients sent back to their own GPs after a referral without having a first specialist assessment. This has risen from 4055 people in 2013/14 to 5617 in 2014/15.
“This is clearly a DHB under pressure to meet the health needs of its communities, and this should send a very clear message to the Government about the growing levels of unmet health need in this country,” says Mr Powell. The full ASMS media release can be read here.
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