NorthPower

The rescue helicopter from Northland left the helipad at North Shore Hospital this afternoon, to return north to its base (I assume in Whangarei). From the words painted on its side it is sponsored by NorthPower and by Top Energy. 

I was in my office in He Puna Waiora when I heard the engines as it started up. Got the camera and went along to the end of the building where I got this shot as it started on its journey back north.

It is good that a couple of power companies are helping fund this service. However, I have an intrinsic dislike of being in a society which is unwilling to allocate sufficient of the common funds the state collects (via taxes and so on) to the provision of essential services. 

Today I was told that quietly (in the sense of making no public announcement) the Government has ceased funding four free GP visits per year for the chronically and severely mentally ill. Without meaning disrespect of my colleagues in the outpatient services, the physical well being of such patients is therefore compromised. Even with the maximum allowances to which such a patient is entitled would not easily cover the cost of a GP visit. Often enough they struggle to buy sufficient food, and frequent the charities which provide food bags. 

On top of that, the District Health Boards instruct the community mental health teams that they should send as many patients as possible back to the GPs. Is it any wonder that so many decompensate and get readmitted at much greater cost. One day as an inpatient costs the system more than five times the cost of four GP visits a year. 

Of course its not that simple. Actual money has to be given to the GPs. No money is actually generated by not admitting someone, as an inpatient unit's costs continue unaltered. 

It is easy to feel superior to countries without a state funded health service, and certainly for emergencies, and big serious stuff (as I and S have both experienced in the last 12 months), the quality and immediacy of care is unbeatable. But the least powerful members of our society, the children, the elderly, the disabled (physically and mentally), are increasingly receiving intermittent and at times inadequate care. 

So; thanks go to NorthPower and Top Energy, and other sponsors. I just wish you didn't have to do that.