Anaesthetists Are Key To Improving Access And Outcomes In Surgical Care

• Anaesthetists play a vital role throughout a patient’s surgical journey, ensuring patient safety and optimal outcomes.

• Increasing outsourcing of public surgical cases to private facilities raises concerns about workforce capacity and patient care.

• Fair contracts, sustainable resourcing, and careful planning with coordination are essential to support both patients and healthcare workers.

The New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists (NZSA) is raising concerns with some of the approaches towards increasing the outsourcing of public surgical cases to private facilities, emphasising the critical role anaesthetists play throughout a patient’s surgical journey.

Anaesthetists are essential at every stage - before, during, and after surgery. Their expertise in perioperative care, from pre-operative assessment, to monitoring during surgery, to post operative pain treatment alongside specialist pain medicine physicians, is vital for minimising complications and delivering the best possible outcomes.

NZSA President Dr Morgan Edwards says, “No matter which pathway a patient takes through surgery, their safety and best outcome are of the utmost importance. As outsourcing grows, careful planning, anaesthesia input, and close coordination among all care providers are fundamental, and it is crucial that arrangements and contracts are fair and equitable for all involved.”

While New Zealand remains one of the safest countries to have surgery under anaesthesia, postoperative complications are not uncommon. These can result in longer hospital stays, delayed recovery, or readmission. Effective perioperative care - the care provided before, during, and after surgery, led by multidisciplinary teams in public hospitals, is delivering positive outcomes and helping to reduce the risk of complications. These gains could be at risk if outsourcing is not managed with careful planning and coordination.

Another concern is that many private hospitals do not have overnight on-site doctors, limiting their ability to manage unexpected complications. This increases the likelihood of urgent transfers back to public hospitals, adding cost and strain to the public system. In private facilities, anaesthetists often shoulder a disproportionate share of responsibility, highlighting the need for robust support and coordination.

The NZSA, representing anaesthetists in both public and private sectors across the motu, is actively listening to its members, hearing both serious concerns and constructive ideas for improvements. The Society is committed to working collaboratively to develop care models that prioritise patient safety, support a sustainable workforce, and ensure that those providing care have access to the right information, appropriate resources, and effective systems.

“It is essential that any new models of care are backed by a sustainable, well-resourced workforce,” says Dr Edwards. “Anaesthetists are already working at or beyond capacity across both healthcare systems. Increasing workloads further risks staff burnout and compromised patient outcomes. We must consider the long-term impacts on those delivering care for patients and the healthcare system.”

The NZSA is well-positioned to play a constructive role in shaping initiatives that improve patient care and outcomes for all New Zealanders.

Who we are:

The New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists (NZSA) is a professional medical society representing anaesthetists and specialist pain medicine physicians (SPMP) across Aotearoa New Zealand. Our members include specialist and trainee anaesthetists and SPMPs in public and private practice.

© Scoop Media