Ag 14 september 2015

Page 1

Monday, Sept 14, 2015

Since Sept 27, 1879

Retail $1.50 Home delivered from 95c

THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Party People on the move FULL STORY

P5 PHOTO AMANDA KONYN 120915-AK-019

Turned away from specialist care BY CAITLIN PORTER

CAITLIN.P@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ

Two fights, two wins

P24

It appears more Mid Canterbury people are being referred away from specialists and back to their GPs, according to a local doctor. Dr Charlotte Cox said she gets referrals sent back to her “all the time” and most days she has some kind of request declined. The requests ranged from CT scans to x-rays and ultrasounds, as well as hernia and varicose vein operations – all things considered to be minor, she said. Requests are often declined because of resource constraints or patients not

fitting the criteria, she said. Without an assessment, the only options patients have is to fork out privately. She argued that while patients in need are getting turned away “they still seem to manage to do ankle joint operations in 85-year-olds”. About 29,000 people in Canterbury have been refused a first specialist assessment (FSA) for surgery under National government, figures provided to the Labour Party revealed. Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) general manager of planning and funding Carolyn Gullery said those figures equated to an average of

5500 returned referrals each year - a return rate of 10 per cent. Labour Party health spokeswoman Annette King told the Guardian she believed an independent review of unmet need was needed. GPs who had been in contact with her said they were now no longer bothering to send referrals, knowing they would be declined, she said. One Rotorua GP was so fed up he termed what was happening a “scandal”, she said.

CONTINUED

THE HOME OF GOOD BAKING MILK - DAIRY DALE 2L VARIETIES 2 FOR

6

$ 60

FAMILY MINCE & CHEESE PIES

4

$ 99

CUPCAKES 6 PACK Assorted flavours

SAVE 90C

P4

Ph 03 307 7900 to subscribe!

4

$ 99 SAVE $100 Open 7 Days 7.30am - 6.00pm 110 East St, Ashburton Ph: 03 308 8487 Images are serving suggestions only. Available while stocks last.

14/09/15 to 20/09/15

Weather: High 14˚ - Overnight 3˚ Page 22

Puzzles: Page 21

14/09/15 to 20/09/15

Television: Page 23

www.couplands.co.nz

Family Notices: Page 22

www.guardianonline.co.nz


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.