Frontline jobs to go in 'significant' Health NZ restructure, union says

A "significant restructure" announced by Health New Zealand for hospitals in the Central North Island would result in a net loss of 17 roles, the public service union says.

According to the Public Service Association, 96 roles across Taranaki, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Tairāwhiti were proposed for disestablishment. A further 30 vacant roles were proposed to be disestablished.

In their place, 108 new roles would be created, resulting in a net loss of 17 jobs.

Affected hospitals included Tauranga Hospital, Whakatāne Hospital, Gisborne Hospital, Hāwera Hospital, Taranaki Base Hospital, Rhoda Read Continuing Care, Taumaranui Hospital, Te Kuiti Hospital, Thames Hospital, Tokoroa Hospital, and Waikato Hospital.

Health NZ told 1News no patient-facing clinical staff would be impacted by the proposal.

The union said staff would have to reapply for the new roles, with no guarantee of success, and risk being placed in lower-paid positions.

It said the restructure aimed to centralise clinical leadership and administration functions across the region.

Affected health workers included psychologists and counsellors, physiotherapists, administrators, social workers, and those in cancer support services.

The PSA said a four-week consultation period on the restructure would take place.

"At a time of crisis in our underfunded health system, it beggars’ belief that a major restructure of so many frontline health roles is a priority," PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said.

"All this will do is force more work onto fewer people and destabilise local health teams. It ultimately impacts care patients receive.

"This is another huge change dressed up as efficiency, but what they are doing is cutting roles and wages because the Government is refusing to provide hospitals with the funding they desperately need."

The union said it was seeking legal advice on the proposal, and was not ruling out litigation to stop dismissals. It formally objected to the four-week consultation period as being "insufficient for such a major upheaval".

It also wrote to Health New Zealand for more detailed information and an extended consultation period.

Patient-facing clinical staff 'will not be impacted'

Health NZ executive regional director for midland Cath Cronin said clinical staff who are patient-facing would not be impacted by the proposal put forward.

"Instead, the changes focus on operational and clinical leadership roles that are proposed to strengthen quality of care and clinical coordination across teams. The proposal will enable effective local decision-making to improve patient care and experience across the region.

"Clinical care and services would continue to be delivered locally and within existing budgets."

Cronin said the region's hospital and specialist services was consulting with staff on a proposal for a strengthened and consistent clinical and operational leadership design across the Waikato, Tairāwhiti, Taranaki and Bay of Plenty districts.

Cronin said there are currently 3152 operational and leadership roles in place, and the future state across these functions would be 3192.

"There is a net increase in roles."

Health NZ engaged with staff and unions late last year when developing the proposal, before formal consultation began and are committed to ongoing communication, Cronin added.

"Feedback from staff and unions remains critical in informing the final model before any decisions are made. We thank staff for their valuable feedback and input so far."