KEY POINTS:
The National Party aims to cut surgery waiting lists by building new theatres, making greater use of private hospitals and by paying GPs with specialised skills to do more work traditionally the preserve of hospitals.
The party released another slice of its health policy yesterday and it largely reflects the version obtained and publicised by the Government last month.
National intends to build 20 new operating theatres, dedicated to elective surgery, and support facilities over five years at a cost of $36 million a year.
The party points to the success of Counties Manukau District Health Board's elective surgery hospital in Manukau and expects to build one or more such hospitals, including a new one in greater Auckland, each with at least four theatres.
National estimates 800 more nurses, doctors and other health practitioners would be needed to staff the new theatres and committed itself to training them, at a cost of around $20 million a year.
"Smarter" use would be made of private hospitals for state-funded surgery, by establishing longer-term contracts - a policy long sought by private hospitals - to reduce prices.
Party leader John Key said the new spending initiatives would be funded from the indicative health operating allocations and forecast new capital allowances in the 2008 pre-election fiscal update.
The update this week confirmed indicative new spending in health of $750 million a year.
Medical Association chairman Dr Peter Foley said National was moving in the right direction on elective surgery and he welcomed the recognition of workforce issues as central.
