New Zealand Diabetes Workforce Inequitable

NZSSD Press Release
July 3rd 2009

New Zealand Diabetes Workforce Inequitable

A recently completed diabetes workforce survey of the 21 DHBs in New Zealand has shown a striking disparity in the availability of diabetes services around the country.

The survey was performed by the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) and showed that there is almost a 5 fold difference in the availability of diabetes specialist services between the best and worst DHBs. Other diabetes–related services, such as diabetes nurse specialists, dietitians and podiatry; show similar significant regional variation.

Out-going NZSSD President Associate Professor Patrick Manning says that the survey is a graphic example of what can happen when services in different regions evolve without some form of national agreement about service provision.

“The situation is clearly not equitable and shows that the contention that health services are delivered using a population based formula is a farce.” Manning says.

In addition, workforce recommendations from the United Kingdom suggest that New Zealand has only 50% of the diabetes specialists that it should.

The NZSSD has recommended that a national consensus should be reached concerning the appropriate diabetes service provision for a given population. This target should then be incorporated into the annual plan for each DHB.

ENDS