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NZ has 'disturbing' rate of medical error - study

One in four New Zealanders with serious health problems have been the victims of medical error, according to a report made public today.

08 May 2003

The study, carried out by the Harvard School of Medicine on behalf of the Commonwealth Fund, surveyed 750 patients in New Zealand, and compared them with similar groups in Australia, Britain and the United States.

The study revealed "disturbing rates of medical error".

About a third of those surveyed had seen five or more physicians, and it was this group that suffered the most problems, particularly with conflicting advice.

Others had been subjected to duplicate tests and poor co-ordination of care.

Some patients taking multiple prescription drugs said their doctors had not reviewed their treatment or even discussed it with them recently.

Ministry of Health spokesman Colin Feek told NZPA the ministry was already aware of the issues and was taking steps to improve co-ordination of care.

"This report is based on data we supplied.

"The biggest problem we have identified (and that's backed up in the report) is when people are seeing multiple physicians for different health problems.

"By building up our primary health organisations, we are combating problems of co-ordination of care.

"Your GP is now the person responsible for co-ordinating treatment."

Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson said the fact that New Zealand had similar error rates to the other countries surveyed (Australia, Britain, the United States and Canada) was "no comfort".

Speaking on National Radio this morning, he said the report's findings were "absolutely consistent" with the issues raised in complaints received by his organisation.

"The most common complaint is about problems with left-hand, right-hand communication, whether it's between hospitals or between hospitals and the community."

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