Pae ora bill needs to make patient safety a key priority, say consumer advocates

“There is too much harm happening within the health sector and the time for consumers sitting on committees being ‘consulted’ has come and gone”

Patient advocates say the health reform legislation doesn’t go far enough towards making patient safety a key strategic priority.

A written submission by Charlotte Korte and Renate Schütte on the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill raises their concerns in eight points which includes the short time frame for providing submissions.

Oral submissions to the pae ora legislation committee have now closed. Altogether, about 4600 written submissions were received.

Rushing something as important as the overhaul of the health system without wider consultation and enough public consideration will not instil public confidence, write Ms Korte and Schütte.

“From the outset this makes a mockery of the supposed intentions for active consumer participation.”

It goes on to note the lack of reference in the bill to the role of the health and disability commissioner in promoting and protecting consumer rights, as well as the need for a formal patient safety consumer representative.

For the bill to meet the principles of being responsive and compassionate, consumer complaints need to be a central issue that is addressed in order to allow for monitoring of patient safety, facilitating improved standards of care and identifying systemic issues, says the submission.

The authors note the current consideration being given to Ms Schütte’s petition for the right to appeal decisions made by the HDC, which was presented to the health select committee last October.

But they add that the principles of consumer rights and the consumer voice presented in this petition need to be reflected in the pae ora bill.

A formal patient safety consumer representative role established in the bill is needed.

“There is too much harm happening within the health sector and the time for consumers sitting on committees being ‘consulted’ has come and gone.

“The Ministry of Health must have more accountability and responsibility for patient safety. Relying on the HDC is not enough.”

READ MORE:

• Women’s health strategy needed to achieve health reform’s aims
• Call for a right to appeal not unheard by HDC
• Petition for right to appeal HDC decisions reaches health select committee

What has become clear from their work in addressing the surgical mesh issue, both as consumer advocates and at a regulatory level, is that the medical colleges have too much power, write the authors.

There needs to be legislative change that allows the ministry more powers over the private sector to enact change when needed.

The pae ora bill needs to promote a culture change, that includes building positive relationships, fairness, respect, effective communication, openness, honesty and personal responsibility.

“There is a significant level of distrust in the healthcare system, particularly among those who have been poorly supported, such as the mesh injured.”

Ms Korte and Schütte also throw their support behind the development of a national women’s health strategy, with women’s health currently inadequately understood, researched and supported.

They point out the need for mental health to be specifically addressed with clear lines of accountability for implementation and reporting.

Finally, they are concerned over the absence of disease prevention and health promotion from the bill.

“This makes no sense as it is clear many health issues are to varying extents preventable through various societal, lifestyle and dietary changes.”

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