Photo: 123rf.com - RNZ / Composite Image - RNZ
Thousands of New Zealanders have become concerned about getting quality healthcare as more and more people encounter barriers accessing treatment.
The latest Health Futures survey from Southern Cross also shows around two-thirds of Kiwis believe the pandemic has had a long-term impact on their physical and mental health.
And Southern Cross Health Society chief medical officer Dr Stephen Child told Checkpoint the cost of living has also been taking a toll.
"Access to affordable health care has gone to number three in concerns of New Zealanders from seven," he said.
"So the concern about health is increasing. At the same time, they're feeling their access to health care is decreasing, so that's a train crash, really."
Child added that he had also seen how the pandemic had taken a toll.
"You can imagine that if it increases the incidence of chronic fatigue, which may occur in say 10 to 20 percent of people after fatigue, after COVID, then fatigue is going to impact your ability to do your job.
"Ability to do your job is going to impact on your financial resources, which is going to impact on your stress. And away we go in a big cycle."
He praised the public health care system, and said at least 90 percent of the time, especially for acute issues, health needs are met.
He said it was seen in the patient satisfaction surveys that people do in public hospitals.
"So most of our needs are being met. I think it's the elective needs. It's some of the more difficult needs that are on the fringe, really, that are really starting to get affected."
