This week’s Union Report, a regular series on Triangle TV hosted by Martyn Bradbury, focusses on the Talley's AFFCO meatworks dispute. The dispute affects 1200 employees and is NZs largest current industrial dispute. The interview is with CTU President Helen Kelly and Meat Workers Union Secretary Laurie Nankivell and discusses the key issues behind the dispute, current working conditions for AFFCO employees, Talley's behaviour since becoming 100% owners of AFFCO and the implications of this dispute for industrial relations in New Zealand. (The interview can be seen here)

The six-month countdown to MPS’s international conference on quality and safety in healthcare has begun.  As the countdown to the Olympics ignites sporting fever across England’s capital city, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) has started the six-month countdown to its international conference –Quality and Safety in Healthcare: Making a Difference.  The two-day conference will bring international experts from around the world to London to share their knowledge, experience and expertise on quality and safety in healthcare.

Sione Tu’itahi has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand Runanga Whakapiki Ake I Te Hauora o Aotearoa. An educator, author and public health professional, Sione has been the Deputy Executive Director of the Forum for the past four years. “We are delighted to have Sione with his wealth of professional experience and leadership in the education and public health sectors over the last 18 years,” says Donna Leatherby, Chairperson of the Forum.

Burnout rates which affect more than a quarter of young surgeons are being addressed at Counties Manukau District Health Board with a programme to make doctors remain vigilant about their quality of life.  A study in the New Zealand Medical Journal last year noted 27 per cent of young surgeons here and in Australia reported burnout. Risk factors included being female, working in small hospitals and putting in more than 60 hours a week.

Increasing prescription prices to subsidise other health services punishes the wrong people, says Labour’s Health spokesperson Maryan Street.  “The Government’s announcement today to increase prescription subsidies from $3 to $5 shifts the burden of balancing the Government’s health budget to our most vulnerable.  What Tony Ryall is doing is asking low and middle income New Zealanders, who already struggle to meet their basic needs, to cough up more cash at the counter to subsidise treatment for others."

Medical student leaders are arguing doctors have a duty to initiate changes to the policies and living conditions behind poor health.  Student doctors should be ambitious for changes to the social determinants of health, New Zealand Medical Students Association representatives say in a video ahead of a vote on health equity to be held at their conference this week.  "As future health professionals and doctors, we will be the ones dealing with the consequences of health disparities, so why shouldn't we be the ones to initiate the changes?" asks Ari Pfeiffenberger, external vice-president.

Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced the Government will increase the $3 prescription charge to $5 per item up to a maximum of 20 items from 1 January 2013. The savings will be reinvested in the health sector. “The National-led Government is committed to protecting and growing public health services,” Mr Ryall said at a pre-Budget announcement with Prime Minister John Key.  “Despite tight financial times and what will be a zero Budget on 24 May, health will receive a big funding boost, which will come from savings within health and across the Government’s accounts.

The Budget next week will provide $101 million of extra funding over the next four years for more elective operations and scans, and improved cancer services, Health Minister Tony Ryall says. In a pre-Budget announcement with Prime Minister John Key, Mr Ryall said the extra Budget funding would invest in four new initiatives. “This is part of our commitment to deliver more and better frontline health services where they are most needed, while ensuring we responsibly manage the Government’s finances,” Mr Ryall says.

This is the 2^nd issue for 2012 of our electronic publication, Executive Direct, to report to members on National Executive news. It is forwarded to members after each Executive meeting. It reports on the last Executive meeting on 3 May (there was a successful branch officers’ national workshop the preceding day). The next Executive meeting is scheduled for 19 July.

Ian Powell, Executive Director

Dr Jeff Brown, President

Angela Belich, Assistant ED

Ian Powell, Executive Director