Healthcare system under great strain, major reform looming, says Andrew Little

The health system is under “serious stress” and the cabinet is ready to approve a major redesign of the system, says Health Minister Andrew Little.

“We know that our system is under increasing stress and its design has not allowed it to function fairly for all New Zealanders,” he told an invited audience of health sector representatives in Parliament this morning.

Improving outcomes for people traditionally underserved by the health system – Maori, Pacific, disabled and rural communities, among others – is critical to the reforms that are about to be undertaken.

The Disability and Health System Review led by Heather Simpson, which recommended the establishment of a Maori Health Authority, said the system had become complex and unnecessarily fragmented.

Organizations had unclear or overlapping roles, responsibilities, and boundaries.

“There is a significant duplication of activity and variation that creates a zip code lottery when it comes to accessing services,” Little said.

In some district health boards, for example, people were twice as likely to die from potentially preventable causes than others, and three times more likely to be readmitted to hospital for urgent needs.

“In more than half of our DHBs, more than 10 percent of people did not receive cancer treatment within 62 days of diagnosis,” he said.

In the lower-performing DHBs, nearly a third of people were still waiting for cancer treatment after 62 days.

“Where you live in New Zealand should not dictate your access to good quality healthcare.

“We know that our system is under great stress and does not offer the same results for everyone.”

He said that five key changes had to occur and first was that the health system would reinforce the principles and obligations of the Treaty of Waitangi.

“We have to accept that the way our system currently works for Maori is inadequate. This simply has to change.

“At the core of our reform is a Maori-for-Maori approach. Our role as Corona is to be the enablers of change, not the barriers.”

Second, all people could access a wide range of support in their local communities to help them stay well.

Third, everyone would have access to the high-quality emergency or specialty care they need.

Fourth, digital services would provide more people with the care they need in their homes and local communities.

And fifth, health and care workers would be valued and well trained for the future health system.

“I am convinced that the scope of our ambition is correct and that we have a real opportunity to achieve significant change.

“What I want to emphasize is the need for partnership.”

The cabinet would make decisions on the reforms in the coming weeks.