7 actions which will help sustain the NZ health service

Media Release
17 February 2015

A time to act: 7 actions which will help sustain the New Zealand health service for future generations

The PHO (Primary Health Organisation) Alliance has this week presented the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Jonathan Coleman, with a copy of its new publication A time to act, setting out 7 actions which will help sustain the New Zealand health service for future generations.

“Our health service is one of the greatest in the world. But we have an ageing population living with more long-term conditions, increasing incidence of obesity, the challenge of technological advancement and rising public expectations, all of which are combining to place unsustainable pressures on hospitals, general practices and aged care providers” says PHO Alliance chairman, John Ayling.

The actions set out in A time to act are based around the two areas of:
• Reprioritising funding and services
• Removing barriers to access and eliminating perverse incentives

Dr Andrew Miller, PHO Alliance Executive Committee Member, GP and chair of Manaia Health PHO in Northland, says that the actions are based on the concept of ‘aggregation of marginal gains’ and ask some challenging questions.

“Whilst we have a great primary care system, we know we cannot meet rising demand using the same models of care and provision as we do now. We need to address those areas of the current system which are failing to keep pace with demand and are failing to address the unacceptable inequalities being experienced by our most vulnerable and high-needs patients.”

John Ayling says some of the proposed actions will require bravery to implement given that they confront an established way of thinking and established practice. However, he says “improved patient outcomes must stand above existing arrangements and organisational barriers. Now is the time to act for those communities and families most at need.”

A time to act: 7 actions which will help sustain the New Zealand health service for future generationsis available to download from the PHO Alliance website here:
http://www.phoalliance.org.nz/news.html#other

ENDS

Note to editors:

• The PHO Alliance is a consortia of member PHOs working together to share learning, share best practice and support better outcomes for patients
• The PHO Alliance members encompass some 1.2 million New Zealanders living in some of the most deprived communities from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
• The PHO Alliance was formally established in September 2006 to provide national leadership on key issues affecting the Primary Health Care Strategy and Primary Health Organisations in New Zealand
• The PHO Alliance guiding principle is that: “Improving health outcomes for all is best achieved through a combination of clinical leadership and community involvement”
• The PHO Alliance Vision is to be the hub for the development, exchange and promotion of policies and strategies which advance the objectives of the Primary Health Care Strategy through its member PHOs
• The PHO Alliance operates what is believed to be a unique governance and operating model on behalf of members. This includes the following key principles:
• The PHO Alliance provides a specifically Primary Health Care focused national body
• The PHO Alliance runs on a low-cost membership model which adds significant additional value through the collective ‘in-kind’ contributions made by Members
• The PHO Alliance incorporates strong ‘on-the-ground’ community representation from PHO Board members with a broad skill-set and a degree of independence from provider organisations

• The PHO Alliance Executive Committee consists of:
• John Ayling, chair
• Dr Denis Lee, chair of East Health Trust and GP
• John Hunter, chair of Nelson Bays PHO
• Ian Macara, chief executive of WellSouth Primary Health Network
• Allan Marriott, chair of Rural Canterbury PHO
• Dr Andrew Miller, chair of Manaia Health PHO and GP
• Liz Stockley, chief executive officer of Health Hawke’s Bay

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