This copy of ASMS Direct focuses on:
1. December issue of The Specialist.
2. New ASMS Health Dialogue on SMO Commission.
3. Update on the shift of emphasis in government policy over devolution of secondary care services
4. Applications sought for appointments to ministerial advisory committees.
5. Season greetings and national office shutdown.
Over 2700 public hospital service workers will be striking for four hours this Friday (27 November) to protest at what they describe as a “wage freeze that is being imposed on them” by DHBs and the government. Orderlies, food service workers, cleaners and security staff who are members of the Service and Food Workers Union will be striking between 11a.m-3pm on Friday at all public hospitals from Kaitaia to Invercargill.
On 5 October the Minister of Health Tony Ryall released the following media statement on Samoa:
Health Minister Tony Ryall says as the demand for emergency surgery in Samoa lessens and the focus shifts to recovery, public health staff are now being flown in to work on minimising the impact of infectious and communicable diseases.
"We are advised there is a strong demand for on-going wound care and a growing need for mental health staff to support grieving communities.
The Horn Report (Ministerial Review Group) – new powerful bureaucracy proposed
The Horn Report recommends that the government create a new powerful bureaucracy, the National Health Board (NHB), which, in summary, would be similar to the disbanded Health Funding Authority (of the late 1990s) in terms of funding DHBs (an important background difference is that population based funding for DHBs did not apply then).
The report of the Ministerial Review Group (also known as the Horn report) to the Minister of Health is a mixed bag. The review group was handpicked by Hon Tony Ryall, including its influential chair, Murray Horn (banker, Business Roundtable member and former Treasury head). The review team commenced work early this year and its report was forwarded to the Minister by 31 July and publicly released by him earlier this month. Its 170 recommendations are currently being considered by government. Cabinet is expected to firm up on its response to these recommendations in around six weeks’ time.
The mixed bag nature of the Horn Report was summarised in the previous ASMS Direct. There will be a more detailed analysis in the forthcoming issue of The Specialist.