The sacking of the Te Whatu Ora board and the appointment of a commissioner to oversee Te Whatu Ora is a worrying development, especially since one of the stated reason by government for doing this is alleged over-spending by Te Whatu Ora.
The Society view is:
o Over-spending is not the issue, but under-funding is.
o Any 'over-spend' is due to delivering more patient care and meeting demand, as well as the hiring of much needed additional nurses and other health professionals.
o The number of nurses hired over the last couple of years is less than needed and budgeted, but still represents a big spend.
o Likewise, pay equity and the Holidays Act remediation payments were also costly.
o The public health service is still the main provider of health services across Aotearoa. The last thing that that service needs now is further tinkering with the structure and/or cuts.
o The abolition of DHBs was widely welcomed.
o One of the fears arising from the appointment of a commissioner is that it suggests government plans to make some changes to the structure of Te Whatu Ora.
https://theconversation.com/nz...
The sacking of the Te Whatu Ora board and the appointment of a commissioner to oversee Te Whatu Ora is a worrying development, especially since one of the stated reason by government for doing this is alleged over-spending by Te Whatu Ora.
The Society view is:
o Over-spending is not the issue, but under-funding is.
o Any 'over-spend' is due to delivering more patient care and meeting demand, as well as the hiring of much needed additional nurses and other health professionals.
o The number of nurses hired over the last couple of years is less than needed and budgeted, but still represents a big spend.
o Likewise, pay equity and the Holidays Act remediation payments were also costly.
o The public health service is still the main provider of health services across Aotearoa. The last thing that that service needs now is further tinkering with the structure and/or cuts.
o The abolition of DHBs was widely welcomed.
o One of the fears arising from the appointment of a commissioner is that it suggests government plans to make some changes to the structure of Te Whatu Ora.
https://theconversation.com/nz...