Privacy Commissioner must investigate threats to patient information

The IT crisis at Wellington Regional Hospital - where clinicians are struggling with crashing systems and delayed patient care - is exactly what happens when the Government slashes specialist tech staff without thinking of the consequences.

"We warned the Government last year that cutting IT staff at Health NZ Te Whatu Ora was playing with fire. Now we're seeing the inevitable result - doctors forced to make decisions without access to critical patient information," said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"We take no comfort in being proved right. But this is just the tip of the iceberg - we know these problems plague clinicians across the health system because of the Government’s underfunding.

"The PSA understands Health NZ's IT Help Desk is so understaffed it’s relying on contractors to fill the gaps - and there’s still not enough staff resulting in big delays to fix problems.

According to The Post today, the single clinical portal at Wellington Hospital has been plagued with problems since March. It's running painfully slow and crashing for hours at a time. Clinicians can't access X-rays and scans. They're ordering tests on paper because the digital systems don't work.

"This is what happens when you gut the very teams that keep essential systems running. Patient safety is on the line. Sensitive patient records are at risk. The stakes could not be higher.

"The Privacy Commissioner refused our request to investigate privacy risks to patient data last year. We say he needs to think again - before patients are harmed and confidential health information is compromised.

"Health Minister Simeon Brown's attempt to blame the last government’s health reforms is a distraction from his own government's responsibility. You can't slash IT staff and then act surprised when the systems fail.

"The Government needs to stop making excuses and start fixing the problem. That means properly resourcing Health NZ's IT workforce, upgrading old legacy systems and ensuring our hospitals have the technical support they desperately need 24/7.

"Our health workers deserve better. And so do the patients who depend on them."

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