National health system will enable sector to take advantage of new tech, Minister says

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth 

The launch of a new nationwide public health system will enable the sector to better support the health workforce and take advantage of new technologies, says Health Minister Andrew Little.

Little attended an event at AUT South Campus where two new organisations were formally established: Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora - the Māori Health Authority.

“The launch of the new health system is the start of Pae Ora (healthy futures) and means we… will be able to better support our health workforce and take advantage of new technologies.”

Director general of health Ashley Bloomfield also spoke at the event about what was achieved by the sector during the pandemic and said the great progress made in data and digital is one of the things the system can celebrate.

The Minister said the Covid pandemic had demonstrated why change is needed in the health system. This means changing forms of leadership, where decisions get made and how decisions are made.

Because health is such a vital service, change must be managed in a way that brings people communities and workforce on the journey, he told the audience.

Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand, now directly employs 82,000 health workers and all 20 DHBs have been disestablished.

Little said during a media standup that he expects some job losses among back office functions as there will no longer be 20 organisations doing the same thing. Any efficiencies gained will be redirected to the frontline of healthcare.

He said health staff working on the frontline will not notice any change straight away, but “transformation work is about changing systems and processes and that now begins”.

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Chair of Health NZ Rob Campbell said it is the people who do the work who will make the difference.

“The best policy or operating system, the best technology or well drafted contract, are only as good as the skill and motivation of the people making them go,” said Campbell.

He added that staff will need to let go of many of the old ways of doing things and the system needs “action groups and change agents”.

His message to businesses looking to sell into the health sector is to expect Health NZ to be driving hard for its goals: “expect us to be hard, demanding and fair in our negotiations with you”.

“We are building a genuine National Health Service, so don't expect to be able to pick and choose where and best suits you to sell to us,” he said.

Associate Minister of Health (Māori Health) Peeni Henare said the launch was a “remarkable day” of optimism, reflection and challenges.

He said people deserve health care to be delivered in the places where they live, no matter how remote and the new entities will ensure “better care closer to home”.



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