College of Nurses Press Release re the release of the Health and Disability Report
- College of Nurses
- Jun 16, 2020
- 3 min read
College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) Welcomes Health and Disability System Review
Kia tuku atu ko ngā kupu whakawhetai, whakamoemiti ki te Runga Rawa. Kia kahuria tātou ki tōna korowai atawhai e haumaru nei tā tātou noho i ēnei rangi. E rere ana ngā tai o mihi ki a koutou katoa i tēnei wā, ko te manako e noho haumaru ai koutou katoa. Tēnā tātou katoa.
The College welcomes the detail, accuracy, thought and integrity that has gone into producing a most comprehensive analysis and action plan for the ongoing development of the New Zealand health care system into one of world-leading repute in line with our current standing as a ‘nation that can do’ within the international community.
Many of the recommendations come across as being so obvious it is easy to underestimate the significance of the report. At long last someone has done the mahi needed and told it as it is to hopefully make a real difference.
Congratulations must go to Heather Simpson and her team for bringing together such a detailed piece of work from which we can really build a coordinated, effective, efficient, and culturally responsive truly national health care service.
The College welcomes renewed emphasis in putting the community in the driving seat, especially giving mana whenua due position to lead and provide care specific to their particular needs and in ways which they prefer. Alongside this there is an imperative to strengthen Māori leadership, we support this particularly for Māori nurses and value the contribution they make to the profession and iwi, hapu of which they serve.
We are pleased to see specific acknowledgement of the key strategic leadership role undertaken by the Chief Nurse within the Ministry of Health and trust this emphasis will bring renewed recognition of the leadership potential of our profession as our new national health system comes to fruition.
In general, people stay in hospital because they need nursing care. As the Review indicates, better workforce planning is needed to ensure nurses have time and resources required to provide optimum care. When we have these, nurses can demonstrate their ability to manage care effectively and efficiently with the best possible outcomes for all members of society.
We particularly welcome the potential for right and proper use of nursing ability and skills in the primary health care environment. The Review rightly identifies population health as being at the heart of our nation’s health and wellbeing.
Phasing out the PHO function as the contracted provider of primary health care services makes sense as, apart from a few exceptions, notably kaupapa Māori organisations, many simply perpetuated an outmoded system reliant on services delivered by general medical practitioners focussed on the management of ill-health without the time, and in some cases ability, to help people stay well in the first place.
We see great opportunity for ‘next-generation DHBs’ to use their locality planning and commissioning initiative to truly bridge the gap between population and primary health care. As the Review indicates, we can only reduce the burden on ill health by getting ahead of the curve through using a culturally responsive and equitable care delivery process focussed on helping all people stay well and maximise opportunity should their health be compromised. Notably our significantly underused nurse practitioner role straddles the current divide between these aims in ways that other practitioners do not. We support the focus on designing a health and disability system that is Te Tiriti based and see this as crucial to addressing racism and a step towards addressing inequalities. Indigenous nurses are experts in this space.
Harnessing research evidenced skills and talents of nurses as the lynchpin of a new delivery model to replace the catch up system of sickness management often seen in current primary (health) care delivery will do much to meet the aspirations of the review team.
As a professional organisation of New Zealand nurses aiming for excellence in nursing practice and health care delivery, the College is ready and willing to partner with Health NZ, the Māori Health Authority, Ministry of Health and government in designing the operational structure of our future national health care system and leading the way in providing the services required as it is implemented.
Content and comment can be attributed to College Co-Chairs:
Dr Mark Jones and Lorraine Hetaraka
For further information please contact College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ):
E-mail: admin@nurse.org.nz
Phone: 06 358 6000