Rural Women NZ rejects ‘Post Code’ healthcare

Rural Women New Zealand rejects ‘Post Code’ healthcare

Rural Women New Zealand is very concerned about the impact on rural communities of a predicted 24 percent shortfall in health workers by 2021, highlighted in a recently released Ministry of Health Report.

The Ministry says rural and provincial areas will be particularly affected by the anticipated shortage of 23,000 regulated health staff.

Rural Women New Zealand’s health spokesperson, Kerry Maw, says the situation is exacerbated by New Zealand’s fragmented District Health Board system.

“The complexity of the health delivery system already leads to geographic inconsistencies, which is where Rural Women New Zealand can help. We are keen to work alongside the Ministry of Health to act on this report.

“We can bring the rural voice to the planning table,” says Ms Maw. “As a national organisation we can provide a more global view to service delivery than the 21 separate DHBs currently do.”

Rural Women New Zealand acknowledges it is not practical to have a full range of specialists in every centre, but it is important that rural people have equitable access to healthcare.

Ms Maw says, “We need to review advanced training, funding and resourcing of local service providers, such as rural Nurse Practitioners and homecare workers.

“The government also needs to be looking at the level of funding for travel and accommodation for rural people who need access to specialist services in the city.

“Healthcare must not be allowed to slip further into a ‘post code’ system, where the availability of health services depends on where you live.”

ENDS

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