In my poem Heart risk 1 v Sore puku 0, that was published on Corpus, I wanted to capture the tension between the demands of health funders, who concentrate on specific health targets, and the needs of patients who present to the iwi health clinic that I work at. I have a real concern that taking a target based approach can lead to unintended consequences. The poem potrays this unintended consequence as a disconnection between patient and doctor and the loss of trust.

Heart risk 1 v Sore puku 0

Everyone over 20% heart risk needs pills,
is what the experts told me.
A little heart shaped one to thin out your blood,
a little white one to drop your pressure,
and a little oval one to clean out your tubes is what I told my patient.
…But I only have a sore puku,
is what my patient told me.

You are doing a good job by talking about pills, is what the experts told me.
Your heart might explode so keep taking the pills,
is what I told my patient.
…But the little heart one makes me bruise
and the little white one makes me dizzy
and the little oval one makes me ache
is what my patient told me.

Don’t forget to check for diabetes, ask about smoking and offer a flu jab
is what the experts told me.
Sugar is eating your veins
and smoke is blocking them up
and the flu might kill you is what I told my patient …But I really came in about my sore puku,
is what my patient told me.

Your numbers aren’t great you need to do more smears,
is what the experts told me.
I know that you are a man but have you considered a smear?
Is what I told my patient.
…I don’t think I want to see you again, you haven’t asked about my sore puku, is what my patient told me.