Minister's office withheld warnings regarding surgery outsourcing risks

Wednesday 14 May 2025 · 6 outlets · 4 reports · updated Wed 14 May 2025, 10:11am

In this story Health New Zealand, Simeon Brown

Health Minister Simeon Brown's office removed details about serious risks from a memo concerning the outsourcing of surgeries to private hospitals. Health New Zealand warned that rapid attempts to reduce waitlists could distort the system and threaten public hospital staffing and acute work.

How they headlined it

6:57am8:07am10:11am

1. RNZWed 14 May 2025, 6:57am

   Warnings about serious risks to over surgery outsourcing blanked out by minister (opens in new tab)

2. Otago Daily TimesWed 14 May 2025, 8:07am

   Warnings about surgery outsourcing blanked out by minister's office (opens in new tab)

3. NZ HeraldWed 14 May 2025, 8:24am

   Warnings about serious risks of surgery outsourcing blanked out by minister’s office (opens in new tab)

4. Waikato Times via RNZWed 14 May 2025, 10:11am

   Warnings about serious risks in surgery outsourcing blanked out by Simeon Brown's office (opens in new tab)

   Also on RNZ (opens in new tab), The Press (opens in new tab), The Post (opens in new tab)