Adrian Rurawhe: Smoke and mirrors hide real waiting list

FOR a country that is told hospital waiting lists are getting smaller, we know this is creative and dishonest accounting by a Government that is hiding the real numbers.

In fact, these people have been booted off the specialist referrals list and back to the "GP referral list".

Our kaumatua, Maori and non-Maori, have earned the right to these surgical operations of primary care for their general health and wellbeing. These operations will enable them to enjoy the remaining time they have left.

They have paid taxes throughout their lives and the state should be taking care of them.

Instead, they receive a letter from a government agency saying that, although they are sick and still need treatment, there is not enough money to treat them.

In a civilised and caring society, our kaumatua should be revered.

We know that millions of dollars are owed by overseas visitors who have received urgent hospital care while travelling in New Zealand, and this Government is trumpeting how well the country is doing.

But when we look at the true cost to ordinary New Zealanders who are on waiting lists for hip replacements and blurry vision, then we know there is no accountability by National which is covering up its failures and being tricky with numbers.

New Zealand once enjoyed a buoyant and caring health system but now it is overloaded and our people are suffering. I am sure that these people never envisaged we would become an uncaring country with misplaced priorities. Budgets usually have more dollars in them each year, because of inflation. That's not rocket science, and it means when the Government congratulates itself on how many dollars are in the budget, it's trumpeting an empty number.

What really matters is whether the amount of health services available to each person is going up or down.

That is the most important number, and it is a number the Government does not want you to know about. It is going down.

Per person health funding, accounting for inflation, has been cut in four of the last six budgets.

The Government has underfunded health by $1.7 billion.

Only bureaucrats care about the distinction between the "waiting list" and the "referred back to their GP" list.

For patients who are sore and sick and need treatment, it doesn't matter which list they're on - they are still sick and they still need treatment. But they are still not getting it.

If the Government were in business, it would be fired for cooking the books.

I know Labour health spokeswoman Annette King will not give up on this campaign - and good on her.

People in New Zealand deserve to know the health system will be there for them if they're sick, whether it makes some bean counter's life easier or not.

-Adrian Rurawhe is the MP for Te Tai Hauauru.