Last month when Rahui Katene suggested more public money be put into providing stomach stapling operations as an answer to obesity-related health complications I knew in my gut that it was the wrong message and needed to be challenged.
But I also know a couple of people for whom this type of operation has been extremely beneficial and has extended their life expectancy immensely. As a final option – when all other avenues have been explored – it should be considered.
Today, however, the completely arse-about-face approach to healthcare the National / Act / Maori Party government take has taken a step into the ludicrous.
Reports this morning bemoaning the additional costs to ACC of dancing-related accidents typify the thinking:
Prevention = Bad, Cure = Good
or
Long term plans = Bad, Short-term stats in time for the election = Good
Should we discourage kids from playing sport because they might get injured? Should we not go to the gym because we might pull a muscle? Should we all sit on the couch and watch TV or play Playstation rather than go for a walk as a family?
And having lived that type of lifestyle, will the Government then pick the tab on surgery to make it all OK?
There is no sense whatsoever in taking away the services that teach people to take responsibility for their own health and assist people to make early interventions and then putting more ambulances at the bottom of the cliff.
Sorry, Iain, but I couldn’t see the negative connotations in the article that you do.
It just seemed to be giving some idea of the sort of things our money is being spent on. I found that really interesting, but not in a way that makes me want to advise anyone to stop doing the sort of exercise that probably resulted in the pulled muscles etc that resulted in the claims.
The only thing I winced at was the skateboard stats, but that was in a parental sort of way. I don’t think that even if ACC was abolished for errant young skateboarders it would stop them from trying to do crazy things!
I agree with George, you are drawing a very long bow on this one.
I again agree with Peter and George about the article not particularly bemoaning ACC. If anything it shows the issue of our popular media promoting things that are dangerous.
On discouraging sports and gym I say no. People should be perfectly free to do dangerous things if it makes them happy. It is somewhat different given ACC is paid via levy not tax but the same principles should apply that we protect people in their wish to do what they want. People have all sorts of opportunities to enjoy their life some dangerous some not and they should all have the equal opportunity to change those.
We do need preventative things of course but these are of a different nature. Making our homes and businesses safe. Regular exercise for elderly people to reduce the damage of falls. Better training for dangerous activities and jobs.
When it comes to obesity yes people should be able to get stomach staples. I am not so sure it should be free however. Even at very late stages of obesity and diabetes it is curable if people put the effort in. I would much rather see those other methods used. They need to learn the self-control or they will never get to be thin again. I used to be an extra 50% heavier than I am now and I dropped it all. It was difficult but I am better for it. Stomach staples look flash and people feel like they get an instant result. It is not the safer, cheaper and more effective method however just as the “cure” rather than prevention usually is.
I am loathe to say it, but I agree with above comments – I could not see where the govt (much as I would like to) are going to cut funding for these (although if they were not, now this is out they will)things.
Nick Smith and Tony Ryall should watch “Sicko” before they start privatising health, ACC.