One in six jobs at Ministry of Health to go
Thursday, 13 June 2024
Government spending cuts will see 123 roles axed at the Ministry of Health after final decisions were confirmed today, according to union the Public Service Association.
The ministry confirmed there would be 247 roles disestablished and 124 new positions created, leaving a net loss of 123 roles.
Dr Diana Sarfati, Director-General of Health, said the new structure was expected to be in place from September 2.
The total number of people who will leave the ministry as a result of the changes will not be known until after that date, she said.
In April, consultation documents released as part of the Government’s cost-cutting plans called the size of ministry’s workforce, “unaffordable”.
The decision affects about one in six positions at the ministry, the PSA said.
Specialist teams supporting clinical, community, and mental health have been downsized. Cuts include clinical leadership and at the team responsible for protection and rights of those receiving compulsory mental health treatment.
'Our heart goes out to impacted workers whose lives are being turned upside down at Health and across the public sector as the Government continues on its rushed and reckless campaign of spending cuts,' Fleur Fitzsimons PSA assistant secretary said.
'At the very time when our health system is under pressure from a growing and ageing population, and as the cost medical technology grows, we should be investing in the very Ministry that provides the expert advice and support needed for an effective health system.'
Changes coming to Suicide Prevention Office
The ministry is continuing with plans to downgrade fulltime roles at the Suicide Prevention Office but appears to have reversed the decision to remove the role of director.
In April, the Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey told the ministry he expected the office to remain open, after comments from the PSA suggested it would close in the restructure.
The initial change proposal axed most of the team including a vacant leadership role and senior Māori advisor.
The ministry later issued a public apology to Doocey, saying it failed to brief him properly and it would make sure suicide prevention leadership was retained in the new structure.
Documents obtained by The Post and confirmed by the ministry detailing the office’s new structure reveal a ‘multi-disciplinary approach’ to suicide prevention, with three dedicated roles — a programme director, principal clinical advisor and principal advisor.
A total of 18 other roles in mental health would spend at least a quarter of their time dedicated to suicide prevention, the final document said.
But the Ministry’s deputy director-general, clinical community and mental health, Robyn Shearer said the final decision left 7.5 fulltime roles focused on suicide prevention, “but the people and teams that deliver this work will be organised differently”.
Fitzsimons said the PSA remained concerned that the full time senior advisor Māori role in the office was still being axed. “That doesn’t make sense when the Māori suicide rate is 50% higher than the national rate.“
Shearer said specialist capabilities from the Māori Health Directorate and other directorates would step in.
“Different teams with time and resources focused on suicide prevention will mean that the Ministry can bring the necessary expertise to address New Zealand’s high levels of suicide, particularly among young people and Māori, as a health system issue,” Shearer said.
Sarfati said the Ministry of Health held an all staff meeting on June 13 following a three-week staff consultation where 466 submissions were received, including 59 from groups and two from unions.
The ministry made the commitment to staff to announce the decisions following these proposals before the end of June.
“This continues to be an unsettling time for the ministry,” Sarfati said in a statement.