[ad_1]
The New Zealand health system has learned and adjusted any failures it made during the Covid-19 pandemic, says Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
Director General of Health Dra. Ashley Bloomfield. Source: 1 NEWS
His comments come after a report on the response to Covid-19 showed failures with the testing system and communication between the Ministry of Health and those working on the ground.
Bloomfield was quick to defend the health system response, saying it was put in place on an unprecedented scale and speed to eliminate Covid-19.
“The response has not been without flaws, but the ministry and the overall system have learned, reviewed, and adjusted along the way to continually improve our response.
“New Zealanders should be confident that we have responded to four outbreaks since the August Auckland cluster without changing alert levels – this is a reflection of the strengthened systems that have adapted since the beginning of the pandemic.”
In a statement today, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health says that the 13 recommendations of the Surveillance and Testing Report have been addressed and that the actions have already been implemented or are ongoing.
They claim that a response to the 15 recommendations in the Addendum on Contact Tracking Report is also being developed.
Earlier today, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins also defended the healthcare system’s Covid-19 response, saying he did the best he could in unprecedented times.
“When you look at the overall results we have achieved, we can be proud of them. The report highlights where we could have done better; there is no doubt that the system has been learning as it has progressed. “
Hipkins says they will continue to work to improve the system in the future.
