Patients referred for hospital treatment aren't even making it onto waiting lists.

RNZ's obtained part of a letter to a GP from an orthopaedic clinic that confirms some referrals are being knocked back.

It says the decision's forced on them by a lack of resources to let them see all referred patients within the limits of Ministry of Health waiting time targets.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton says she thinks they're trying to inject some realism into the situation.

"I think the point they're making is that if they put someone on a waiting list like that at this time, that person is never going to make their way up." 

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