Sarah Dalton
Sarah Dalton is the executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) in New Zealand. She has been vocal about the challenges facing the health system, particularly in emergency departments (EDs), where long wait times for patients are becoming the norm. Dalton has criticized management for ignoring concerns about understaffing and the bureaucratic hurdles that hinder effective decision-making. Her advocacy highlights the serious implications of delayed patient care in terms of potential complications and increased mortality rates.
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Recent news mentions
Sarah Dalton discusses the declining health of New Zealanders and its economic implications.
New Zealanders’ health is getting worse and it’s costing us billions each year - Sarah Dalton
New Zealand· 2025-10-09Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, highlighted the ongoing shortage of medical specialists.
Health targets: Sustainability of improved Bay of Plenty, Lakes surgery waitlists questionedNew Zealand· 2025-10-05
Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, highlighted the ongoing shortage of medical specialists.
Health targets: Sustainability of improved Bay of Plenty, Lakes surgery waitlists questionedNew Zealand· 2025-10-05Sarah Dalton, executive director of ASMS, criticized Health NZ's spending on locums instead of investing in salaried specialists.
ASMS warns of Health NZ’s spend on locums as senior doctors strike for second day – The Front PageNew Zealand· 2025-09-26
Sarah Dalton told The Front Page that Health NZ spends upwards of $200 million annually on locums, rather than investing in salaried specialists.
Senior doctor warns Christchurch Hospital could face ‘catastrophic failure’New Zealand· 2025-09-24
Sarah Dalton, executive director of the senior doctors’ union, agreed with Chisholm’s diagnosis about the cause of the increase in assaults.
Pressure on hospital system blamed for increase in assaults on staffNew Zealand· 2025-09-22
Sarah Dalton told RNZ that there was no point taking the offer to its members as it was worse than what was originally on the table.
Sexual health services cut as specialist retires in Bay of Plenty, LakesNew Zealand· 2025-05-01
ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton told the Herald hospital specialists were seeking a 12% pay rise but were being offered an increase of less than 1% per year.
Health NZ taking striking medical union to Employment Relations Authority as negotiations stallNew Zealand· 2025-05-01
ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton told RNZ there was no point taking the offer to its members.
Doctors’ strike: Appointments postponed, some clinics to closeNew Zealand· 2025-04-30ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton told RNZ there was no point taking the offer to its members as for most of them it was 'worse than what was originally on the table'.
Doctors’ strike: More than 300 senior doctors to strike at Tauranga, Rotorua HospitalsNew Zealand· 2025-04-29
ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton said the union has been in bargaining with Health NZ since August.
Healthcare strikes loom as doctors, nurses protest pay, conditionsNew Zealand· 2025-04-18
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton said the constant rostering squeeze was exhausting for the senior doctors the union represented.
Taupō Hospital’s senior doctor shortage raises closure fearsNew Zealand· 2025-04-16
Sarah Dalton is the Association of Salaried Medical Specialist union organiser who participated in the rally.
Whakatāne rally: Community protests cuts to maternity services at hospitalNew Zealand· 2025-02-19
Sarah Dalton is the Association of Salaried Medical Specialist union organiser who participated in the rally.
Whakatāne rally: Community protests cuts to maternity services at hospitalNew Zealand· 2025-02-19Sarah Dalton, the executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS), highlighted the risks associated with patients not being assessed in a timely fashion.
Watch: How does your hospital emergency department ED rate? Herald investigation into the best and worst-performing EDsNew Zealand· 2025-02-16
