Cash swamps health board

By REBECCA WALSH

Patients in South Auckland are being sent to a private hospital for hip and knee operations in an attempt to reduce waiting lists.

About 40 people will have orthopaedic surgery at Mercy Ascot over the next month using some of the $5 million in additional Government funding given to the Counties Manukau District Health Board.

Chief executive Stephen McKernan said the additional money was "over and above our core contract" and the hospital's Manukau Surgery Centre did not have the resources available to handle it. The amount contracted to Mercy Ascot was relatively small.

"What we are doing is using whatever we can to make a positive impact on our waiting lists. It will give 40 people more immediate access than they would otherwise have got."

Mr McKernan said a "significant amount" of orthopaedic work would be carried out at the surgery centre in January.

The board was not paying more for the surgery to be done privately and the public health system was not being disadvantaged by the contract. It was not uncommon for public hospitals to contract private providers.

Dr David Chamley, clinical director of surgery, said those receiving surgery were at the top of the waiting list. He was not able to say how many people were waiting for hip and knee replacements.

In July the Herald reported that two operating theatres at the surgery centre were unused despite thousands of people being dumped from the centre's waiting lists.

At the time, hospital managers said the hospital had the facilities but not the money to meet demand. The board then received the extra $5 million.