Inquiry into North Shore hospital well overdue

The news that there will be an inquiry into the care of four patients at North Shore hospital last winter is welcomed by National's Health spokesman, Tony Ryall.

Health and Disability Commissioner, Ron Patterson, has instigated the inquiry after complaints to his office about the patients' care when they were treated in the Emergency Care Centre and two medical wards.

"This may be the circuit-breaker North Shore patients and hospital staff have been hoping for.

"Emergency departments are a barometer of how well a hospital is performing and things have not been going well at North Shore.

"Dedicated staff have been ignored and the public has been snowed with endless excuses from bureaucrats.

"National spent most of last year raising serious concerns about the endless delays in the country's emergency departments and the Government's response has been pitiful. The news that Waitemata DHB will be put under the spotlight is a good start.

"This a wakeup call for Health Minister David Cunliffe. The crisis is real, and needs his serious attention.

"We look forward to this investigation and its findings and hope it's a catalyst for change".