21 DHBs Welcome Workforce Reports

21 DHBs Welcome Workforce Reports

The 21 District Health Boards (DHBs) welcome the Minister of Health’s release of a number of health workforce reports today.

The Minister has released reports by the Medical Training Board, Resident Medical Officers’ (RMO) Commission, Ministerial Task Group on Postgraduate Training and Education, and a Nursing workforce review. Another report from the Senior Medical Officers’ (SMO) Commission has previously been released.

Peter Glensor, Chair of the Chairs’ Board of Governance for the 21 District Health Boards (DHBs), says the reports provide invaluable information about the health workforce and DHBs will identify what actions they need to take as a result.

He particularly welcomed the emphasis placed on training and mentoring in the RMO Commission report issued today.

“The apprenticeship model of learning that underpins medical training has been eroded by a range of complex factors over the course of many years, and the priority now is to restore the emphasis on learning,” he says. “The Commission is clear that we must change the way we train our doctors, and that we must begin now.”

“RMOs are a vital part of our frontline medical workforce. These are people who have spent years training to be doctors and are dedicated to improving the health of New Zealanders. We really want to nurture this future workforce.

“RMOs are doctors in training. It’s easy to forget that because of the pressures on the health system, but this report is a valuable reminder of that fact. DHBs are committed to providing an environment in which RMOs can learn and feel supported as they develop their medical careers.

“An important part of that involves strengthening the relationship between RMOs and SMOs so the apprenticeship model works effectively. Our Senior Medical Officers have hugely valuable knowledge, skills and professional standards to pass on.”

Mr Glensor noted that the Minister is seeking views on the best employment model for RMOs, including retaining the status quo, or moving to a regional or single national model.

DHBs are planning to engage locally via roadshows and other mechanisms to discuss the medical workforce reports and confirm clinicians’ views on the directions and options for the medical workforce. DHBs have done some initial work with the sector on medical workforce and this work, plus the Commission reports, will be used as a starter for discussions.

The information gathered from these discussions will help DHBs develop a nationally consistent approach to medical workforce issues and how best to support medical workforce development.

ENDS

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