October 10, 2023
Reti defends after dark ED spy tour
National’s health spokesperson has defended his undercover tour of hospital emergency departments.
Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand says it was blindsided by Shane Reti’s 19 unauthorised ED visits between January and May when he was doing weekend ridealongs with ambulance services.
The agency wrote to St John’s Ambulance to complain about its foray into politics.
But Dr Reti says New Zealanders want its politicians to see what happens on the front line.
“I was a guest of that wonderful organisation and the work they provide and that took me out with the front line into areas and parts of New Zealand that I would otherwise not have known what their strong points and their weak points were,” he says.
Dr Reti says he now has a better understanding of the health system after dark.