I recently attended the protest regarding the standard of food on a wet Friday afternoon outside of the Dunedin Hospital. I went because a lady from my Community Board area has been seriously ill in hospital and her family have been bringing in meals from home to help build up her strength. Her grandson plays rugby with my son so I’ve been hearing from the family about how her treatment and care has been going on the sidelines lately. To my surprise I saw her in a wheelchair wrapped in a blanket with her family at the protest. I couldn’t help but admire her for taking a stand despite the fact that she has been so dreadfully ill.
In an earlier post I wrote (The Community Compass) that one of the issues with the food problems at the hospital is that local people feel they have lost control of the decision-making process. There is a strong view in the community that the hospital is owned by the community for the community. However, In light of the removal of the SDHB Board by the current government this has become even more pronounced.
One of the biggest disappointments at Fridays protest was the absence of local City Councillors. This was not lost on the crowd who attended, especially when the Mayor of Invercargill, Tim Shadbolt spoke. While its true that the City Council has no control over the management of healthcare in Dunedin, hospital services impact on the well-being of the city on social, economic and community levels. These impacts are also part of the governance and leadership role of the Council in its management of the city. Take for example the impact of employment in the city through the hospital and the flow on effects of that employment on our local economy. The importance of the hospital as a teaching facility for the Medical School is another area important to the city’s economy and its prestige as an educational leader both nationally and internationally. Finally, there is the desirability of Dunedin as a place to live, work and to do business in because we have quality healthcare facilities available. All of these factors impact on the Council’s ability to manage, promote and develop Dunedin at a range of levels. Its time that the Council understood that and acted.
In my opinion, the food issue is a symptom of a much greater problem in healthcare, especially in the way that services are provided in regional centres like Dunedin. Healthcare services transcend political affiliations. All of us at some time in our lives will have whanau, friends and neighbours who will need treatment and care. This returns us back to the fact that this is an issue of how local people have lost the ability to manage the services they require in their own community.
Paul, the people must take back control of the hospital and its food provision and the only way is to decrease the influence and self importance of the senior staff, management and board.
The best way to do that is to decrease senior salaries by tendering senior management jobs. i’ve been in there and I can tell you the staff are amazing and dedicated, a donkey could runnthem if the systems are maintained. It does not require overqualified nurses, just capable administrators.
Ive just got out of the hospital today after being there for two weeks and having a triple bypass. The standard of the food is more than adequate and if you are expecting haute cuisine then you should be paying a fortune for private medical insurance and have a right to complain.
The standard of the nursing staff and Drs was amazing and the care provided was outstanding,
If you have nothing better to do with your time than promote your personal agendas on social media then you could be spending your time far better and you obviously need to rethink your attitude instead of relying on the opinioms of someone who is idiot enough to go outside in the rain in a wheelchair whilst receiving care
When I picked up the paper today and read that the SDHB spent $150k on making “listening” one of their values I know we’re in trouble. Having spent 2 years managing the Surgical Audit unit I’m well aware of the dedication of staff who do incredible things for their patients. My role as a Community Board member is to support my community and that’s exactly what I intend to continue doing. That’s not a personal agenda, that’s my job.
Well said Paul. Have you thought of running for DCC? I’d vote for you.
Certainly food for thought, and you’re not the first person to ask.
wonderfull article
Many thanks, this is such an important issue in our community, I just need to say something.
Hi Paul, you make some very valid points. You do need to ask – the food that is being “shipped down” from the north island – who is actually cooking it? And where is it coming from? You might be interested to find out.
Seeing and hearing what people are saying in the community it scares me to ask, but will keep digging.