COMMUNICATIONS

Media Release - 05/09/06

CDHB refutes ASMA president’s claims

Canterbury District Health Board refutes claims made today by the president of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, Jeff Brown that the DHB is trying to prevent General Practitioners and hospital specialists from talking to each other about their patients.

In response to comments made today on Radio New Zealand’s Nine to Noon show, Acting CDHB CEO Karleen Edwards said, "the CDHB does not have demand managers preventing GPs and specialists from talking to one another and has no desire to do so."

"We want GPs and specialists to talk to one other and have actively encouraged this during recent decision making about patients being removed from our booking system," she said.

In its efforts to become compliant with the national electives policy, the CDHB has been working with GPs, hospital doctors and PHOs to find the best solutions possible for patients. "We have been working closely with primary care and PHOs on improving the process of re-referring people back into the hospital system," Dr Edwards said.

 

ENDS

Media Contact – Michele Hider, CDHB Communications Manager, Ph 364 4103
or 0275 314 796