Canterbury Mornings

New Zealand Dermatological Society President Dr Paul Jarrett told Chris Lynch there's a chronic under investment in publicly funded dermatology across the country.He says the resignations (in Christchurch) are a symptom of the stress under which the senior medical officers are working.Dr Jarrett says the New Zealand public cannot be reassured that if their skin fails that there would be a suitably qualified specialist within a reasonable distance to supervise their care.He says there is approximately, overall, one dermatologist working in public per 270,000 of the national population of New Zealand which he says is a "third world statistic in my view."Dr Jarrett says Christchurch, along with other DHBs, deserves a good publicly funded dermatology service.A Canterbury District Health Board spokeswoman says the DHB has no plans to withdraw the service.She says current staffing shortfalls are being addressed via an “active recruitment drive” and they’re hoping to appoint a consultant to work alongside a medical