Health NZ proposes to amalgamate data and analytics function

NEWS - eHealthNews editor Rebecca McBeth

Eighty-one analyst roles would be transferred to the data and analytics function of the Planning Funding and Outcomes (PFO) business unit as part of a restructure proposal at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. 

The new business unit brings together people from service improvement and innovation, commissioning and hospital and specialist services, alongside data analytics and reporting.

An introduction to the proposal document from national PFO director Dale Bramley says the unit “seeks to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by using evidence, data insights and clinical advice to plan, fund, monitor and improve nationwide health services”. 

Data and analytics functions have already been consolidated into a new group led by interim director data and analytics Stuart Bloomfield after the data and digital directorate was split. Data staff have moved into PFO and the newly named digital services is an ‘enabling function’.

The proposed new changes include transferring another 81 analyst roles from other directorates into PFO’s data and analytics group with a net reduction of seven full-time equivalent (FTE) roles. 

Under the new structure, 346 data and analytics staff already working in PFO will have no impact with 68 impacted, 22 disestablished and 15 new roles created.

The proposal document, seen by eHealthNews, says democratisation of data and analytics will be a cornerstone of the new service. 

“The model provides efficiency gains to meet growing information demands through amalgamating into fewer teams, automation, data transformation and data platform rationalisation,” it says.

The restructure includes creating a finance and workforce analytics team and realigning analytics roles to address regional disparities. 

Hauora Māori and Pacific Health data and analytics teams would also move into the new group, with dotted-line reporting to Hauora Māori Services and Pacific Health Services to ensure their kaupapa is preserved, the document says.

Ashok Shankar, Public Service Association (PSA) national health lead, says cuts proposed across the wider PFO business unit total 200 roles and will adversely affect frontline services, including mental health and community health programs. 

"Te Whatu Ora have continuously delayed the release of these change proposals. We have not been consulted on this process, except for being given an early ‘heads up that it’s coming," Shankar says.

“These proposed changes are about money, rather than doing what is right for the health and wellbeing of Aotearoa."

The consultation period for this proposal is open until January 31, with the final decision pending further input from stakeholders.

To comment on or discuss this news story, go to the eHealthNews category on the HiNZ eHealth Forum

Read more National Systems & Strategy news

Return to eHealthNews.nz home page