No NZ Inquest For Emily Jordan

We’ve often mentioned the tragic death of British tourist Emily Jordan, who drowned on an organised riverboarding activity whilst on holiday in New Zealand in April 2008.

In November we raised our concern that an inquest still hadn’t been held into her death in New Zealand. Read Still no inquest for Emily Jordan.

Emily’s father, Chris Jordan has contacted us

I am the father of Emily Jordan who you may remember was killed in NZ in April 2008 whilst river boarding with Mad Dog. The Company and owner was subsequently prosecuted, but the owner was let off. The Company finished up with a small fine for killing my bright intelligent daughter, which was covered by an insurance company? Interesting result?

I am now preparing for an inquest in the UK, as the NZ Coroner refused to do this. I have not been given the reason why for this. I can only make assumptions?
If anyone has any information that may be relevant for the inquest I would appreciate them contacting me.

My E Mail address is:
chris.jordan@theemilyjordanfoundation.org.uk

I am planning to publish a book after the inquest, so all information is relevant but will remain confidential. However this must be factual.

Thank you,

Chris Jordan

Anyone who is able to help Mr Jordan with pertinent information is advised to contact him. We wish him well for the forthcoming inquest.

Last year in an interview with Queentown’s Scene, “The free voice of Queenstown,” Chris Jordan has said he was going push for an inquest into his daughter’s death to be held in the UK if one isn’t held in NZ. He said that he was disappointed to still be waiting to hear if one will be held.

“I don’t believe that I sitting in the UK should be insisting on an inquest in New Zealand – it should happen as a matter of priority…It’s just bizarre to me.”

Scene said:

“Otago-Southland regional coroner David Crerar told Mountain Scene last week that he won’t decide whether he’ll conduct an inquest into the Jordan death till after a Government investigation into adventure tourism led by Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson.

Jordan: “I believe that David Crerar is getting the two issues mixed up – there’s a ministerial inquiry which is investigating extreme sports … I don’t understand why [he] has to wait till the end of the ministerial inquiry because that’s got nothing to do with Emily’s individual case.”

As coroner, Crerar has the power to make potentially law-changing recommendations through an inquest. “I’m hoping that David Crerar will make recommendations with regard to improved safety of riverboarding,” Jordan says.

“Part of Emily’s legacy must be to create better knowledge of how to avoid these deaths in the future. If no fundamental change takes place, it will happen again.”

He was absolutely right, the review has got nothing to do with the details of Emily’s death, if there are lessons to be learned about why she died what better way to do so than by holding an inquest?

And now, months after the report was released we finally learn that an inquest will not be held in New Zealand. Why is that?

Has a decision been made to  avoid adverse publicity harming ‘trade’ or is it to be held back until the Rugby World Cup is over – for the same reason?

The Queenstown coroner, David Crerar, admitted to Scene that there were:

“a number of ancillary matters relating to the death of Emily Jordan that could be the subject of closer scrutiny”

But said he was waiting to see if they were addressed in the report.

So were they addressed in the report, or not?

According to a BBC news report an inquest into Emily’s death was opened in the UK on 9 May 2008, shortly after she died, however it was adjourned.

The West Bromwich coroner, Robin Balmain, said he would wait until a full inquiry into her death was conducted and he hoped the full inquest could be held in New Zealand.

The West Bromwich Advertiser shed more light on Mr Balmain’s decision in an article published on 9 May 2008:

“He added he had been advised by the authorities in New Zealand that the medical cause of death of the 21-year-old, of Valley House, Trimpley, was asphyxiation, due to drowning.

He explained: “She was on a trip with her boyfriend. They were river boarding and, in the course of that, she got into difficulties and drowned.

“This is a very distressing case. The circumstances are quite tragic. I understand she had recently completed a law degree and it is very sad her life should be ended in this way.”

He said there would be a full inquiry in New Zealand and law in England required him to resume the hearing in “due course”.

He added: “When the Government published the draft Coroner’s Bill in June, 2006 they promised they would explore the possibility of coroners not holding inquests in this country in certain circumstances.
“If there is a full inquiry in New Zealand this could be such a case. I hope the Government will give due consideration to that possibility.”

Here we are, almost three years on since Emily Jordan died and there has still not been a full inquiry, nor has there been an inquest in NZ.

The circumstances of Emily’s death, risk being being rolled-up together into the general investigation into adventure sports and getting conveniently ‘lost’ within it, never to be heard of again.

For that to happen would be manifestly unjust, Emily and her family deserve better.

For more about the Adevnture Tourism review’s finding read our extensive  Adventure tourism and safety facts and stats page, which includes the following information

• “Labour minister Kate Wilkinson said it was “scary” that just about anyone could set up an adventure tourism business.” quote in the Sydney Morning Herald.

• A wide ranging review of adventure tourism in New Zealand found gaps in safety, following which  recommendations were made to introduce a registration scheme (not licensing) and mandatory auditing

• British doctor Tom Donaldson died whilst particpating in an organised sand boarding activity in Omapere -Opononi in Northland. At his inquest in November 2010 the coroner said “Visitors wanting to experience New Zealand’s adventure tourism should be warned that they are taking a risk.” and that adventure tourism businesses should warn those keen to experience the thrills about the dangers via their websites.

• 448 adventure tourism workplace accidents that resulted in serious harm… were reported directly to DOL during the five-year period 1 July 2004-30 June 2009. Not all workplace accidents in the sector are being reported to DOL, possibly because they are viewed as recreation rather than workplace accidents.

• “Many injuries go unreported, so the figures of injuries included in the report are unrealistically low. I’ve studied adventure tourism injuries for the past decade and many injuries to overseas visitors are never reported to official bodies.” said Professor Tim Bentley, director of Massey University’s School of Management’s Healthy Work Group. August 2010.

For other blogs about Emily Jordan click here

Christchurch Disaster

We here at E2NZ extend our heartfelt condolences to the people of Canterbury and to those who have lost loved ones and colleagues in today’s quake.

The blog will be closed for a while as a mark of respect.

Morrinsville College Girl Brain Damaged By Bullies – updated

We here at E2NZ are shocked at allegations that Mikayla Edwards, a student at Morrinsville College, has been left with possibly permanent brain damage after being set-upon by four girls in a toilet at the school. Three of the attackers were in year 9 and one in year 10.

According to a report Tracey Edwards, the injured girl’s mother said

They allegedly cornered her in the girls’ toilet and beat her so badly about the head she was left with bruising on her brain. She now has constant headaches, blurry vision and memory loss.

But it was not the first time the girls had attacked her daughter, Ms Edward said. Last November they had taken to her – leaving her with concussion.

Ms Edwards wants to know why but no explanation had been forthcoming.

At a school board meeting on Monday the girls were asked why they picked on the victim. “Apparently none of the girls could give any reason as to why they did it,” Ms Edwards said. “I would have understood if [my daughter] provoked them – but she didn’t.”

The report also stated that a week after the attack the four alleged attackers were back at school, because school management thought it was safe to do so. Safe for whom?

Our thoughts and best wishes go out to the injured schoolgirl and her mother, we hope she makes a full recovery and finds a school with effective anti-bullying policies.

If you’re a long time reader of this blog you’ll now that we’ve written many times about the appalling bullying and violence that goes on in New Zealand’s schools. You’ll probably also know that the country has one of the worst records for bullying within the developed world.

If you’re a prospective migrant, thinking that maybe you’ll take your children to New Zealand because its a great place to raise kids, please think again and look elsewhere.

In the long term your kids will thank you for it.

The Principal of Morrinsville College the school placed this notice on the school website:

Statement from the Principal Regarding Recent Newspaper Article

I am posting this statement in response to the emotional outcry that has developed as a result of the media’s wide reporting of an assault that occurred at this school last week on Tuesday afternoon. I hope that my comments here will be reassuring to our wider Morrinsville community.

Sadly, all schools have to deal with assaults and fights from time to time and we are no different in this respect. Usually the reasons for these incidents are related to issues that arise out of school time and this incident is no different. The three girls responsible for the assault that took place are all in Year 9 and only 13 years old and this was their fourth day at this school so they have no history of violence here.

The assault was serious and it was made more so by the fact that the victim ended up in hospital for several days with bruising to the brain. This was almost certainly made worse by the fact that this girl was allegedly assaulted at the Guy Fawkes celebration in our community last November, so that this was a second concussion which will always be more severe than the first.

There has been real concern and emotion from all people involved with this school – staff, students, Board members, other parents and of course the perpetrators’ families. We are outraged that these very new students to our school would do something like this to harm the very good reputation of our school.

I reassure parents that the Board and I have dealt very firmly with the matter and that following stand-downs and long meetings with the Board of Trustees’ Discipline Committee earlier in the week, put a number of strategies in place as a result of the incident. I am confident that there is no potential danger to the victim or other students from the perpetrators’ return to school. They are all genuinely remorseful and did not think for a moment that their actions could result in such serious consequences for the victim.

I also affirm that this is regarded as a very safe school, one where we never ignore poor behaviour, and certainly not violence, and where we have always taken immediate action to deal with bullying. If you read our last two ERO reports you will see that they also agree with this statement and our school surveys and other feedback from parents and students have strongly endorsed this view.

It is natural that many people will be feeling emotional at this time and that includes all of us, but especially the family of the victim of the assault. We have kept in continual contact with her mother and I am pleased to advise you all that she is out of hospital and taking things very easy while her concussion heals. We hope to see her back at school soon.

John Inger
Principal

Contrast that with the mother’s comments:

• “But it was not the first time the girls had attacked her daughter, Ms Edward said. Last November they had taken to her – leaving her with concussion. Ms Edwards wants to know why but no explanation had been forthcoming.”

• Ms Edwards said that given her daughter’s history with the girls, she went to the school on the first day to arrange a safe environment for her daughter. “But three days later they took to her.”

We’d be interested to hear from any one who experienced bullying at this school. Send us your comments.

You may also like to read a thread about a public  protest that was organised to draw attention to this incident, it appearedon the Trademe forum. Gives you a feel for how this was regarded by the local community and of the issues involved – which included pupils being disciplined for joining the protest.

Update

For an update to this story see

School Daze (to be screened on 60 Minutes, TV3 on 30 March)

“Mikayla Edwards, just 13 years old, was beaten senseless by four schoolmates – hit with fists, feet and a toilet door. Today she is under 24-hour care at home and she doesn’t know when, or whether, she will ever go back to the classroom.

Mikayla is just one of a number of victims of girl-on-girl bullying in New Zealand. She and her mother talk to 60 Minutes reporter Karen McCarthy.”

For further reading about New Zealand’s culture of bullying and violence click here, or click on some of those stories below. For our stats and facts page relating to children and education click here:

Belfast Teacher Encounters Troubles In NZ

Parents Furious At Dean’s “Slut” Comment – Updated

Howick College – Bullying Allegations Continue – updated

Howick Schoolgirl Returns To South Africa To Escape Bullies

NZ Scores Second Worst in the World For Bullying in Schools“School Bullying Reflects `Culture Of Brutality’”

Fairfield College Parents Angry At School Bullying – parents removed children from school

Ryotaro Wright Attacked At Forest View High School

Rotorua stabbing “indicative” of youth issues in the city

NZ A Great Place to Raise Kids? Porirua’s Midnight Express

Kids in New Zealand – The Village Lets Them Down

NZ Teachers Need More Power to Protect Themselves

Two More Teachers Assaulted In Tauranga

Bullying to Blame For Te Puke Teacher Stabbing

“Poor” NZ Among Lowest In OECD For Education Spending

Silent Death Toll In World’s Eighth Happiest Country

NZ Poverty A ‘Lifestyle Choice’: Let Them Drink Coke

John Key is beginning to look like a man out of touch with his country.

People living in New Zealand are burdened with spiralling food and petrol costs, both which have been exacerbated by the recent increase in sales tax (GST) and the country is a hair’s breath from officially re-entering recession.

As more and more people fight to make ends meet the nation’s charitable organisations have struggled to keep up with demand for assistance. The pressure on food banks is one manifestation of this which started with the first recession in 2008 and shows no sign of abating.

Stories about low stocks at food banks have been around for some-while. Porirua (pop. 50,914) has five food banks and they were running out of food towards the end of last year

In the year to December 2009, there was a 40 per cent increase in food parcels given out nationwide by the Salvation Army.

“People are really struggling out there,” says Elizabeth Iona, team leader of the Salvation Army Porirua food bank.

“They come in and say, ‘I had to pay bills this week, there’s no food‘, and this is people who have five or six children at home.”

With the tough economic times and the approaching festive season, Ms Iona’s shelves are nearly empty.

While there are baked beans and rice aplenty, they are down to single tins in other items; one packet of pasta, almost no tea bags and extremely low in toiletries, meat, fruit and vegetables…

“We’re at very low levels in general. We’ve actually been asking other food banks to top us up.

“It’s getting to the point where we might have to turn people away.

“We need milk powder, nappies, baby food, toothpaste and soap.

“It would be great to get a few luxury things like biscuits but that’s not often the case.”

Kerry Atkinson, store manager of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Mungavin Ave, said if their food bank stocks get worse they will consider shutting the doors…” read more

How insulting it is that people in poverty due to the global recession, poor wages, poor job prospects and successive governments’ mis-management should now be told that if they need food donations it is because of the lifestyle choices they’re making?

When reading the following remember that migrants in NZ (read the comments section) are also caught in this poverty trap:

From the Herald

Prime Minister John Key says beneficiaries who resort to food banks do so out of their own “poor choices” rather than because they cannot afford food.

Mr Key made the comment when asked in Parliament yesterday about poverty levels.

When Labour’s social development spokeswoman Annette King asked about Salvation Army reports of high demand for food parcels, Mr Key responded by saying it was true that the global recession meant more people were on benefits.

“But it is also true that anyone on a benefit actually has a lifestyle choice. If one budgets properly, one can pay one’s bills.

“And that is true because the bulk of New Zealanders on a benefit do actually pay for food, their rent and other things. Now some make poor choices and they don’t have money left.”… read the full report here

Meanwhile more and more people are calling on The Salvation Army for help because of rising food, electricity and petrol prices. Its fortunate that charitable organisations like the ‘Salvos’ exist:

“Many of our clients are facing tremendous hardship and struggle even to put food on the table. And it’s often the children who suffer the most when household budgets don’t stretch far enough.

When you donate money or food to a Salvation Army food bank you’re helping to provide one of life’s most basic necessities to those who need it most.”

The “basic necessities” doesn’t include milk in New Zealand, this is now a luxury item. It is cheaper to buy coke.

The government of NZ would do well consider the hardship its population is suffering this next time it hosts film studio executives at the tax payers expense and gives them millions of dollars in added incentives to make films like The Hobbit in New Zealand. Some of them can’t even afford to buy milk now:

Milk on the luxury list

“The country’s biggest supplier is warning milk prices are about to go higher, and medical experts fear the cost of a daily glass is already out of reach for some.

Dairy giant Fonterra today warned supermarket prices could surge further following the sixth consecutive rise in prices on its online global DairyTrade auction this morning…”

Milk in neighbouring Australia retails at around $1 a litre and  British supermarkets are charging 44 pence (93 NZ cents) a litre. Stuff reported that prices in NZ are more than twice that amount:

“Today at Countdown, Anchor-branded milk cost $4.80 for a 2-litre bottle. In June 2009 in was $3.94 for the same amount.

By comparison, the same supermarket has a 2-litre bottle of Coca-Cola for $3.99 and a 2.25-litre bottle of Coca-Cola for $3.57 (currently $2.79 on special).

Medical Officer of Health for the Waikato District Health Board, Felicity Dumble, said it was a concern when milk was dearer than soft drinks.

“One of the great things about milk is it considered to be a `complete’ food, with a wide range of nutrients essential for growth,” she said. “If the price makes milk prohibitive for families then not only are they missing out on benefits of milk itself, but they may turn to cheaper but less healthy options.”

Ms Dumble said when healthy basics became too expensive it exacerbated problems that led to malnutrition or even obesity…” read more here

We’ll not get sidetracked into NZ’s obesity epidemic (third highest in the OECD) now and will save that issue for another day.

The present government is presenting itself as one that is increasingly out of touch with the people it was elected to represent, perhaps voters will bear that in mind when they head to the ballot in November this year (Key has already said he will step down if he loses) What is the government doing right now to reduce the cost of living for the average Kiwi family?

Certainly stories like this one are doing nothing to endear Key’s government at a time when the economy of  NZ is probably in recession:

34 units of the 7 Series BMW will head to New Zealand

Many believe the recession has passed, but most are still tightening their belts, regardless if we’re talking about the automotive sector or any other segment of the industry. So what the New Zealand’s government did caused more than indignation, it led to an avalanche of criticism, not only from the other parties but also from the country’s residents.

The short story so far: the government ordered a total of 34 new BMW 7-Series, each with an estimated price of $200,000, a thing that makes people in the country blame all those involved.

But Prime Minister John Key says he didn’t know about the acquisition, explaining in a statement that the whole deal was actually based on a six-year contract by the former Labour Government.

“I can’t take responsibility for a contract that was entered into by the previous Labour Government, that wasn’t bought to my attention or to my ministers’ attention,” Key said according to stuff.co.nz. “I am surprised, I would’ve thought they (Internal Affairs) would have referenced it to us… politically we should have known about it, we didn’t.”

Internal Affairs representatives on the other hand explain that they were not required to talk to the government on the matter because the previously-signed contract belonged to them.

“It’s our contract, we administer it. Our assessment was it was the best value for money to replace the vehicles now and we got a good deal in the first place and we got a good deal now,” a spokesman said.

The deal will definitely go through, as the Prime Minister said it would be quite pricey to stop the whole acquisition right know…”

So what exactly  does the government accept responsibility for and if it doesn’t even know what its own department of Internal Affairs is doing what does that say for its understanding of the impacts of poverty in low income households in New Zealand?

Perhaps Key’s government is making the wrong lifestyle choices and should send back those cars?

How has it improved the life of the ordinary man and woman on the street?

Why are there still a quarter million children still living in poverty in New Zealand whilst government ministers get to drive around in $200,000 beamers?

There’s no Fair Go for all in NZ. Is it any wonder that 7,000 people overwhelmed the Oz Jobs expo in Auckland last weekend?

You may also find interesting:

1. Our other blogs:

“NZ: 100% Pure Rip-Off” (July 2010)

NZ’s Poverty Gap – Fat Cats Feast Whilst Queues Form For Bread And Jam (July 2010)

Immigrants Caught In Cold Poverty Trap (July 2010)

Ministerial Credit Card Rort (June 2010)

Family Gets $200,000 Bill For House Fire (July 2010)

2. And these external sites:

Wealth gap divides nation

“ACCUSATIONS THAT New Zealand is one of the worst performers in the developed world when it comes to the income gap between rich and poor have been validated by a Sunday Star-Times survey.

Conducted by Horizon Research, it shows the burgeoning gap between the haves and have-nots is frothing over into resentment, anger and disillusionment….”

Key: Poverty is your fault

“John Key says if you’re having trouble getting by on your income it’s due to your ‘lifestyle choices‘. Key has given himself at least $23,000 in tax cuts and had a $7,500 rise on our borrowed money. He has the worst economic record of any PM in 80 years: 86,000 more jobless Kiwis and falling incomes. And this bastard blames Kiwi families for their poverty…”

Families feel the pinch

Palmerston North families, many of them in paid work, are reaching out to food banks and budgeting advisers in growing numbers as new year bills and price rises tip them into crisis… Salvation Army community ministries manager Kevin Richards said there was no doubt more people were finding it harder to feed their families. In January, it faced a 25 per cent increase in customers compared to January a year ago, with 40 to 50 new clients each month. “Most are people who have never used us before. It’s a huge growth in demand, and it continues to grow.”

As well as about 180 people needing food parcels each month, the number of people looking for assistance with clothing, bedding and household goods had doubled to about 200 in six months.

Some were in work, but 99 per cent were beneficiaries.

Banks face downgrade

“The big banks look set to lose their prized Aa2 credit ratings after ratings agency Moody’s Investment Services said it was considering a downgrade of them.

The big four banks ANZ National, Bank of New Zealand, ASB Bank and Westpac all hold Aa2 rating for their long-term senior unsecured debt and deposits…”

Petrol prices highest since 2008

“Petrol prices are on the rise again, hitting their highest level for more than two years.

Overnight the price of a litre of 91 octane petrol rose 3c to $2.02 and 95 octane rose to $2.11…”

New Zealand: Unite takes on minimum wage

“In New Zealand, 100,000 workers live on the minimum wage of NZ$12.50 per hour, which is just 51% of the average wage.

Unite’s “campaign for a living wage” calls for the minimum wage to be immediately raised to $15 per hour. Then, it would be further increased in stages and set at two thirds of the average wage. The union is organising a petition drive, aiming for 300,000 signatures calling for a citizen’s initiated referendum by May 2010. If this is achieved, the government would be required to call a referendum on the demands within a year…”

Kiwis discuss Key’s comments online
“I know of two people on the sickness benefit due to recent circumstances completely out of their control. One receives $180 a week. She pays $150 a week rent, which includes power in a tiny granny flat. $10 a week is allowed for her cell phone because she has medical emergencies, so she is left with 20 a week for food. The other of those people also receives temporary assistance which takes her total up to $300 a week…in order to cover the mortgage payment. In her case, the mortgage, rates and house insurance is…you guessed it, $298 a week. She has $2 a week to cover her food, power, phone. Budget that, if you can.”

“WE are fortunate to be sort of middle income and I have to say that over the last 18 months despite tax breaks and pay increases we are about $80 – $100 a week WORSE off than we were with all the increases. We pare things down to the bone. Rarely have special treats or outings.I am a good experienced cook and we cook from scratch. I can’t imagine how a beneficiary would cope these days. Edit to add also a lot of beneficiaries are not on unemployment benefit.. they may be on sickness etc and have extra costs for medical care …”

Bullying Rife In NZ Hospitals

The NZDoctor.co.nz website reported today on last night’s Wellington forum on the subject of burnout in the medical profession.

Experts said that doctors in New Zealand aren’t good at giving each other the support and affirmation needed to avoid burnout. Furthermore, hospitals are rife with bullying

Hospitals rife with bullying

“A bullying culture exists at hospitals, said forum chair John Carter, clinical leader of haematology at the Wellington Blood and Cancer Centre…

Attendees at the forum, part of the Inaugural International Cancer Symposium organised by Otago University, Wellington, heard psychiatrist and academic John Adams emphasise the medical profession’s poor record of giving mutual support and feedback.

This is an important factor in burnout, says Dr Adams, chair of the Medical Council.

By the time doctors come to the council’s attention, when their behaviour is affecting other staff and patient care, stress and burnout have led to physical health problems.

Depressive symptoms, anxiety, sleep disorders and/or substance abuse will have developed, and a stigma is attached to seeking help, Dr Adams says.

The earlier the problem is identified, the more likely its impact on the individual will be ameliorated…”  read the full report here

Which is ironic considering that New Zealand’s laid back lifestyle is used as a major selling point to attract overseas doctors into the country.

New Zealand has been suffering a severe shortage of medical specialists for some time.

Coincidentally The NZ Herald published an article today headed Doctor shortage reaches ‘crisis’ level, saying that a spiraling shortage of doctors “has sparked a warning of future “severe safety issues” in New Zealand hospitals.”

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists director Ian Powell told the paper that the flow of New Zealand doctors overseas and difficulty of replacing them had put many hospitals in crisis.

Patients could suffer from increasing medical mistakes and treatment delays without urgent action, he said.

“The situation is already unsustainable. We’ll have severe safety issues if this continues.

“New Zealand is losing too many of the younger doctors we train so well overseas, losing too many of our current public hospital senior doctors overseas and struggling to recruit in a very tight and internationally competitive market.

“Eventually these chinks are going to get so big that the system breaks down.” … read the full report here

Some things you may like to know about the health service in New Zealand:

Understaffing

• There is a workforce crisis in New Zealand’s hospitals. Specialist senior doctors are being lost and there is a shortage of cancer specialists. Staff are lost to Australia (where the salaries are 35% higher) and to private practice. The causes are low pay by international standards, overwork and lack of resources to do the job.

• New Zealand has an estimated shortage of around 600 specialists and that’s set to get worse, according to the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. Growth has not kept pace with increasing need in an aging population.

• The senior doctor’s union estimates there is a shortage of 638 medical and surgical specialists and that having to treat too many patients is driving doctors away from NZ. The country “needs at least 1100 more specialists if it were to match the number per head of population in Australia, the union says in a discussion paper based on data from 2007 and 2008.” Source NZ Herald.

• New Zealand’s has a high dependence on overseas-trained doctors, the highest in the OECD , who comprise 40% of specialists. In some areas, such as psychiatry, the figure is closer to 60%.

• So many NZ trained registrars go overseas when they’re qualified that it’s hardly worth training them at all. Medical registrars can earn around $70,000 more in Australia and  difference in salaries is one of the major drivers for the exodus. “The situation is a crisis and a crisis generally comes before a collapse” -says Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Ian Powell.  See the bullet point above for the other drivers.

But its not just the medical profession that are suffering in New Zealand, patients are doing it hard too:

Adverse Effects on Patient Health

• A shortage of Oncologists in the central part of the North Island means that some cancer patients are being refused chemotherapy. Instead of being placed back on waiting lists patients are being referred back to their own doctors (as of Jan 2011) Affected patients include those suffering relapses of some cancers, including cervical, oesophagus and melanoma.

• The Chief Exec of the NZ Cancer Society said

“It might not be what we want to hear, but it is honest … It is good to know they will not be hiding patients on waiting lists.”

But the list of cancers that won’t be treated had only been intended for clinicians to see, not the general public.

• Cancer treatment services are under such pressure that current treatment levels are unsustainable unless more money is spent. Rationing is likely to “become a feature.”

• An economist said that New Zealand’s cancer-treatment rates were lower than the average for developed countries.”Already we have unmet need, so I guess the message is, get used to it.”

• 261 people in Canterbury are waiting more than six months for cancer-detecting colonoscopies, raising alarm among doctors. In July 2009 the figure stood at 75 people. A private procedure costs £1,000.

• A “postcode lottery” health system is failing people as there is “inequitable” access to treatment depending on where patients live. One woman failed to have a brain tumour diagnosed for over three years. A report into her case has highlighted serious deficiencies within NZ’s public health service.

• Hospital errors causing serious harm are rising. In the year to June 2010 there were

“374 patients who were involved in a serious or sentinel event, of whom 127 died; compared with 308 events, including 92 deaths, the year before.”

Migrants Tales

Are you still considering a move to NZ to work in the medical profession? Read some of our Migrants Tales, for example this one

“The Health Care System Is Second Rate”

This story was written by a nurse with over 30 years of experience. In it she tells of prejudice and how difficult it was to find a job. She also talks about how thousands and thousands of health care dollars are being wasted because there is no incentive to change and of how people wait so long for some tests and treatments that permanent damage is done to their health. She is minded to stay and work through this but her Kiwi partner is starting to look toward Australia to make some money….read on

You may also find interesting:  “Kiwis Missing Out On Vital Medicines with Fatal Consequences“