Rural hospital doctors have detailed the lack of support they received from DHBs during the first Covid-19 outbreak, in new research by the University of Otago.
The study lays bare issues of equity, and the tug-of-war between rural and larger hospitals, when deciding how to transfer infected patients.
University of Otago senior lecturer and rural doctor Dr Kati Blattner spoke to Guyon Espiner.
St John Ambulance contacted Morning Report with a statement after this interview aired.
It said the Otago University report states St John Ambulance had stopped transporting patients with respiratory conditions - this is incorrect and has never been the case.
St John Ambulance said it has continued to transport all patients, including those with respiratory conditions, throughout all Covid-19 outbreaks in Aotearoa.
