Minister of Health Andrew Little reveals a major reform of the health system which will abolish all of the DHBs nationwide.
Concern the top of the south will be overlooked by a new health authority has punctuated reaction to the surprise decision to drop all district health boards. The Government will abolish the 20 district health boards and create a single health organisation, in a sweeping plan to centralise New Zealand’s fragmented healthcare system and end the “postcode lottery” of care. Health Minister Andrew Little on Wednesday announced the Government would create a national health organisation, akin to the United Kingdom’s NHS, and also a Māori Health Authority with spending power, and a new Public Health Authority to centralise public health work.
Nikau House supporters at a protest in June 2020 on the Church Steps in central Nelson. The key to its success lay in the relationships built between the team of long-term staff members and the clients, she said. “When your grandfather dies, you don’t get another grandfather,” Lane said. “Nikau House, as it was, is gone.” Nelson Marlborough Health general manager of mental health, addictions and disability support services Jane Kinsey said that “as with any change, there have been some staff changes” including one retirement and three redeployments. The remaining staff had been joined by “new and additional roles to support [a] newly focused service”, Kinsey said.
The service provided has changed after health boards stopped the shop from selling sugary drinks. Other sugar filled snacks such as ice cream and chocolate were replaced by nuts, crackers and muesli bars. Watson said the lack of sweet treats had affected sales. “There used to be good money in a bar of chocolate.” The snacks stocked now have the tick of approval by hospital dietician, Nicole McHaffie who Watson worked with to bring the shop in line with Nelson Marlborough Health’s Healthy Eating for staff and visitors policy. These days, the biggest selling items are magazines and newspapers. It also sells other hospital necessities such as cards, balloons, toys, toiletries, postage stamps and hygiene products.
“I’m pleased I’ve done it. I wasn’t worried about it [the vaccination] . I’m probably more excited about having it done here and having it done with my whānau . to me that’s important,” Powick said. “It’s really critical that we get good information around our health, and that we take responsibility personally and collectively for our health practices.”
SCOTT HAMMOND/STUFF
Waikawa Marae members, from left, George Aldridge Rita Powick, and Ngaro Moana Aldridge have a cup of tea after receiving their first dose of the Covid vaccine. The special clinic was a collaboration between Te Piki Oranga, Nelson Marlborough Health, the Marlborough Primary Health Organisation and Waikawa Marae.
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