Bay health system not looking very well

The “blood pressure” of Hawke’s Bay’s health system is high. It may be too early to call it a crisis but locals are entitled to ask “what’s going on?” There are two examples right now that have put the Hawke’s Bay DHB under the microscope. Fifty-five patients face HIV and hepatitis tests after having surgery this month that involved theatre equipment not sterilised properly. DHB chairman Kevin Snee has said any risk of infection is extremely low. It was a process failure, the degree of any human error was being established. Snee, to his credit, says as chairman he takes responsibility. Funny, by the way, that the public never hears about the lives saved each day by DHB employees, the brilliant work of staff, amazing surgery, clean wards, hospital food people enjoy, nurses’ kind words that help change lives. Somehow the negative steals the spotlight. The 55 patients wait to be cleared over the next 24 weeks — this is the time frame needed to get an accurate “all clear” on the tests. The mistake is a serious one by a DHB under a variety of pressures. Every day decisions are made by DHB-employed health professionals in pressurised situations. Like other DHBs, Hawke’s Bay has had strikes by health professionals. Each time there are assurances everything is being done to ensure public safety is not compromised. There can’t be guarantees. At any time — fully staffed or not — no workplace can guarantee human or systemic error will not intervene in the otherwise smooth running of their respective business or service. But we make big efforts to ensure we avoid factors that can lead to error. Whether the DHB likes it or not, the public will draw conclusions that strike action is linked to poor performance. The DHB investigation will clarify what has happened. The other example that points to regional health sector pressure are the current delays to see a GP. It is not unusual for a registered patient to be told they cannot see their doctor for two weeks. However, if they think they are acute they can go to the practice and wait. In effect, patients are being asked to self diagnose the severity of their illness or ailment and make a crucial health decision. The obvious danger is that people will not front at a GP to wait, will get worse and die. A worst-case scenario. But a scenario none-the-less. There is also the potential for people to front at A&E at Hastings Hospital rather than their GP. If you can’t see a GP for two weeks, what do you do? Here is where we spare another thought for the 55 patients waiting to learn if they have contracted HIV or hepatitis. They would probably swap a 24-week wait for a two-week delay in a heartbeat.