Latest news with #TeWhatuOra
NZ Herald
7 days ago
- Health
- NZ Herald
Ending healthcare's postcode lottery remains a distant dream
Analysis When the Health NZ - Te Whatu Ora behemoth was rolled out three years ago, one of its core purposes was that New Zealanders with the same health needs should get the same treatment, no matter where they lived. A single, centralised health agency would end fragmentation and spread
RNZ News
25-06-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Health NZ appoints interim CEO Dr Dale Bramley to top job for three year term
Health NZ CEO Dr Dale Bramley. Photo: Supplied / Te Whatu Ora Health NZ's interim chief executive Dr Dale Bramley has just been officially appointed to the top job for a three-year term. Previously the National Director of Planning, Funding and Outcomes, Bramley stepped into the top job in February after the sudden resignation of the agency's founding chief executive, Margie Apa . In announcing his appointment on Wednesday, Health NZ Commissioner Dr Lester Levy said Bramley's "expertise in driving performance and clinical quality aligned with Health NZ's strategic objectives". "He is widely respected across the healthcare system as both a senior clinician and senior executive. "His breadth of leadership experience, insights and expertise stand him in good stead to drive Health NZ's ongoing improvement as a high performing organisation that is focused on delivery, outcomes and enhancing patient experience." A practising public health medicine specialist, he headed Waitematā District Health Board for more than 10 years, and also served as Chair of New Zealand's Health Quality & Safety Commission and as a member of the national health committee and national ethics committee. Bramley, who takes over officially on 14 July, said being able to focus on improving health outcomes for all New Zealanders would be "an absolute priority" for him. "Our health system is blessed with incredibly skilled, highly trained and compassionate people. "Working with them, we will aim to improve access to health services, promote health, and focus on delivering the very highest quality healthcare we can for patients, whānau and communities." Public Service Association National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said Bramley's appointment came at "a very challenging time for health services". "Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand has been starved of the funding it needs to deliver the better patient outcomes the government is demanding. "We hope Dr Bramley is clear with ministers about how their decisions to fund tax cuts over properly funding the health system has impacted the health services New Zealanders expect from his agency." The 24,000 health workers represented by the PSA were struggling to deliver for patients, she said. "This must change if New Zealanders are to have confidence that the health system will be there for them when they need it. "The PSA will continue to advocate for greater funding and looks forward to further making that case with Dr Bramley in his new role along with ministers." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
New Te Whatu Ora / Health NZ CEO Takes Over At A Challenging Time For Health
The PSA welcomes the appointment of Dr Dale Bramley who takes over as Te Whatu Ora / Health NZ CEO next month at a very challenging time for health services. "We have met Dr Bramley in his current role as interim CEO and have welcomed the constructive discussions to date," said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. "Dr Bramley takes on the role at a very challenging time for our public health system. Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand has been starved of the funding it needs to deliver the better patient outcomes the Government is demanding. "We hope Dr Bramley is clear with Ministers about how their decisions to fund tax cuts over properly funding the health system has impacted the health services New Zealanders expect from his agency. "The PSA represents some 24,000 health workers across the sector who experience every day the struggle to deliver to the needs of patients. This must change if New Zealanders are to have confidence that the health system will be there for them when they need it. "The PSA will continue to advocate for greater funding and looks forward to further making that case with Dr Bramley in his new role along with Ministers."
RNZ News
18-06-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Hospital understaffed and under resourced
A senior doctor has said she's kept awake at night by having to ration care at Whangarei hospital which she says is understaffed and under resourced. Others say it's frustrating, exhausting and like being on the deck of the Titanic. Senior Northland doctors, who are union members walked off the job and onto the picket line this morning, on a 24 hour strike, after a break down in negotiations over pay and conditions. All hospitals in the region, including Whangarei Hospital and its emergency department are still open, although Te Whatu Ora says some planned treatment and appointments are being disrupted. Checkpoint called the Whangarei doctors who were striking and they spoke to Lisa Owen about thieir experiences. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Scoop
16-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Cancellation Of Health Charter A Giant Step Backwards For Health And Community Support Workers
Hard on the heels of the cancellation of pay equity claims for thousands of hospital, health and community support workers, the Government's announcement today that they're dropping the Te Mauri o Rongo Health Charter is another callous twist of the knife, the PSA says. Minister Simeon Brown's suite of changes to the Pae Ora Act will see, among other things, a repeal of the Te Mauri o Rongo Health Charter. "The Health Charter set out shared values and principles to shape behaviours for how Te Whatu Ora will support and promote a safe working culture across health, including the funded community sector. Now it's gone, with seemingly nothing to replace it," Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi national secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, says. "Hospital, health, and community support workers are already under immense strain. They're constantly asked to do more with less. And the high frequency of assaults by patients - particularly for mental health workers - is increasingly, frighteningly normalised." The PSA played a critical role in developing the charter, standing up a working group of health and community support workers shortly after Te Whatu Ora was established. It was developed by the health workforce for the health sector, and is a positive framework to lead and support the health system to develop relationships to achieve pae ora (healthy futures). "A functioning health system must commit to supporting their workforce and empowering them to speak out when their safety is compromised. Otherwise we'll just do what New Zealand has done for years, and drive out our highly trained health workforce to sunnier pastures overseas. "The commitment to a well-trained workforce with access to appropriate resources to develop their skills, as well as workers to provide person and whānau-centred services, are a challenge to this Government. "The coalition continues to show us who and what they value. It's very clear that they're continuing to completely under-value the workers, and especially the women workers, who prop up the system to serve New Zealand whānau when they need it most."
