Maranga Ake

Fighting Back For Health.

You don't have no prescription
You don't have to take no pills
You don't have no prescription
And baby don't have to take no pills
If you come to see me
Doctor Brown will cure your ills.

Songwriters: Waymon Glasco.

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Dr Luxon. Image: David and Grok.

First, they came for the Bottom Feeders
And I did not speak out
Because I was Wealthy & Sorted

Then they came for the Public Service
And I did not speak out
Because I was dreaming of Tax Cuts

Then, they cut Disabled Support
And I did not speak out
Because I was not caring for Whānau

Then, they failed to fund Healthcare
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a health worker

Then illness came for me
And there was no one left
To help me

With apologies to Pastor Martin Niemöller.

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Today, I want to focus on the upcoming Doctor’s strike, how the government has responded, and what you can do to help.

What’s going on?

Sadly, you don’t need me to tell you that our public healthcare system is stretched beyond reasonable limits in terms of the pressures on its workers and the ability to deliver the desired medical care.

Every day, there’s a new headline. Like this one:

Chances are you’re aware of issues in your community. Understaffing at the local hospital or clinic leads to long wait times in emergency departments. Surgeries that would enhance people’s quality of life are delayed or unavailable.

Underfunding, service closures, and staff vacancies exasperate the fact that our health system is not meeting our expectations of a public health system in a wealthy country in the 21st century.

Something had to give, and yesterday, it was announced that senior doctors would strike.

Thousands of senior medical doctors have voted to go on strike for 24 hours over pay at the beginning of next month in a move the Health Minister has called "deeply disappointing" and "failing patients".

The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) had sought a 12% pay increase for senior doctors like anaesthetists, surgeons, physicians, paediatricians, and radiologists; Health NZ offered 1-1.5%

ASMS Executive Director Sarah Dalton said, “So effectively, what they're offering is a real-terms pay cut, not keeping track with CPI even, and basically telling senior doctors 'we're not that bothered'.” She added, “A 24-hour strike is unprecedented, but we’re really stuck.”

ASMS Executive Director, Sarah Dalton Photo: LDR / Stuff / Kevin Stent.

Dalton said senior doctors felt “angry, fed up, tired, and unheard,” which is hardly surprising.

If you worked in an environment that was constantly understaffed as you endeavoured to deliver the care you had trained so long for, overworked and stressed only to be told that your reward was an effective pay cut, you’d probably be fed up too.

In fact, the only person who seemed more angry with the situation was the Minister of Health, Simeon Brown.

Not out of frustration that his government had let them down and he’d have to beg for more in the budget to do right by the workforce he represented but at the personal inconvenience of having to respond to the situation.

Simeon Brown did what any self-respecting National Minister would do. He went on the attack, badmouthing and pointing fingers at those resorting to action.

He said what?

It turns out that when the going gets tough, Simeon takes to Twitter to cast those striking, the people we trust and depend on to look after our health, as the problem.

This was the first in a series of nine tweets. Don’t worry; I won’t talk about them all. In the first tweet above, he expresses his disappointment that doctors' actions will hurt patients.

It’s embarrassing that a minister is telling dedicated professionals that they are letting patients down, not the government, which fails to fund adequate staffing levels or remunerate the specialists we depend upon.

He even attacked current benefits, as above, painting these specialists negatively for receiving two weeks of training and conferences. It’s absurd. Surely, even the people he targets with his tweets can understand that doctors need to continue learning.

One of the things I hate most about this government is its desire to paint public servants as the enemy of other taxpayers. They don’t want to spend the money to address issues in all sorts of areas, from Education to Health, so they make the hardworking, lowly paid public servant the enemy with tweets or back-office jibes.

I shared the tweet above saying:

Dr Brown is right for once; NZers do expect better. But not from salaried medical professionals or their union, but from Simeon Brown and his government.

It's despicable to see this little weasel trying to throw doctors under the bus—are we supposed to believe they want to go on strike?

A weasel dressed as a doctor. Image: David and Grok.

Here are some of the replies:

Celeste said, “They behave exactly the same to teachers and other unions. That’s why there’s power in the unions. Don’t you just love the irony when the government talks about ‘good faith’?”

I replied: “I'd love to see a winter of mass protests across the public sector. Often, it seems that unions wait for a Labour government to press demands, knowing they’ll be more receptive, but this won't wait - there'll be nothing left to save the way these guys are going.”

Irene spoke for many, saying, “How dare this sanctimonious little tosspot pen such a post. Just how dare he.” Quite.

Les said, “Good Faith? The little weasel published how much they’re paid. Despicable. PS I will probably be affected by this strike, but the doctors have my support.”

Diane, “Good grief, what a miserable, ignorant twerp. He watched a TV ER programme once and now knows everything. He has no idea of the conditions in which the doctors work. The stress they have trying to live up to their own standards of patient care is now affecting their physical and/ or mental health. If only Simeon had some of their duty of care.”

Anna had had enough, “Honestly, as a registered nurse of 37 yrs, I'm fucking tired of health being used as a political punching bag. I and many others have had enough. I only stay because I love this little country of ours. But this govt is willfully fucking the health system up. Excuse the French.”

Stand Up, Fight Back.

So what can you do?

Well, it is, I’m sure, no coincidence that this strike has been scheduled for May 1st. A date associated worldwide with the Labour movement and worker’s rights.

A day when a myriad of groups are coming together and as close as I can see to the day of action many have called for. To stand up and tell this government that what it’s doing is unacceptable.

From the CTU:

This is the most anti-worker government that we’ve seen in decades, attacking our rights day after day and trying to divide us. But we won’t let them get away with it. We must fight back.

• The coalition government has shown they are in the pockets of the rich, putting corporate interests over the interests of working people.

• Through standing together and mobilising, we can demonstrate our power and ensure that this one-term government loses its legitimacy.

• When our backs are against a wall, we fight back. And when we fight, we win.

Image: PSA.

And from the PSA:

Fight Back Together For Health is about resisting callous attacks on public health. It’s about calling for the resources we need to make sure everyone’s looked after – including health workers themselves.

Everyone's invited – all PSA members, whānau, and community members. You’re welcome at whichever hui you choose to come to – whether it’s at a town centre or hospital.

But don’t take their word for it; listen to this guy. I don’t know what Aotearoa ever did to deserve Dr Gary Payinda, but I’m bloody glad we have him:

If you can make it, keep the day free. The protests are around lunchtime so people can attend and return to work; here’s a list of events around the motu.

If you know anyone who might like to read this and/or take part in the May first protest you’re most welcome to share this newsletter.

Have a good day all you lovely people, and stay warm as we’re reminded that winter is indeed, coming. To end today, the appropriately named Doctor Brown, by an early incarnation of Fleetwood Mac, back when they played the blues.