Public Pressure Pays Off: Cardiac Surgery Backlog Eased at Waikato Hospital – 19 June 2025
Media scrutiny and political pressure have been credited with helping clear the prolonged cardiac surgery waitlist at Waikato Hospital. Amid a backlog of up to eight-week delays—driven by insufficient ICU beds, staffing shortages, and equipment limitations—the spotlight from both media coverage and elected officials prompted Te Whatu Ora to act decisively. They responded by outsourcing procedures to private facilities, reallocating resources to intensive care, and prioritising the most urgent cases. The effort appears to have significantly reduced delays, demonstrating the impact that public and political attention can have on driving healthcare system change.