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Dear Member
We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 1st issue of ASMS Direct for 2010. We hope that members had a refreshing summer (if summer is the appropriate term to describe some of the weather) before facing up to what is expected to be a challenging year. I have just returned from a holiday of nearly three weeks in Egypt and one in England and have concluded that the ideal lifestyle is one based on Egyptian ancient history, Egyptian weather and English toilets. This copy of ASMS Direct focuses on an historic agreement reached between the ASMS and the Independent Practitioners Association Council (IPAC).
1. Historic ASMS-IPAC Joint Statement.
2. Joint ASMS-IPAC media statement.
3. Informal discussions on national DHB MECA negotiations.
1. Historic ASMS-IPAC Joint Statement
Historically ASMS and IPAC (an organisation of primary care networks and general practice teams) as organisations have been a little wary of each other. This goes back to the 1990s when, in a more commercial era, some more entrepreneurial IPAs were promoting primary care control of secondary care financial budgets (sometimes called fund-holding). Much water has subsequently passed under that bridge and the organisations have further evolved. Late last year the ASMS received an informal approach from IPAC for dialogue to which the ASMS responded enthusiastically. Direct discussions quickly led to the realisation that in fact we had much more in common than we previously thought and that there were powerful reasons to establish a close collaborative relationship. As the starting point and scene setter the following joint statement was signed and publicly released today. It is signed by ASMS President Dr Jeff Brown and IPAC Executive Chair Dr Bev O’Keefe. The statement is printed below:
IPAC and ASMS jointly affirm:
The necessity for all professionals across the spectrum of patient care to work together in the interests of individual patients.
The necessity for all professionals across the spectrum of care to work together for groups of patients, to design systems and pathways that bridge home to health centre to hospital care.
The necessity for all organisations representing professionals working together to transform the system, to provide equitable access to health care, in the best place at the best time by the best individuals and teams.
In jointly affirming these necessities, IPAC and ASMS will work together to promote clinical leadership and governance throughout the New Zealand health system such as shared access and shared initiatives between primary and secondary care.
The essence of the statement is a commitment to promoting improved coordination and integration across the spectrum of care based on clinical leadership and clinical governance along with shared access and initiatives. The focus is on collaboration rather than power relationships and fiscal levers. Although it is only a small part of what the joint statement covers, both the ASMS and IPAC hope that it will help shape and guide approaches in the business case development of the ‘expressions of interest’ process currently underway in several DHBs.
2. Joint ASMS-IPAC Media Statement
Below is a joint media statement released today by the ASMS and IPAC announcing the above joint statement:
The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists and the Independent Practitioners Association Council have reached an historic agreement to work together to promote clinical leadership and governance in the New Zealand health system.
This agreement is significant because of who it links in clinical leadership of the health system. The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists represents salaried senior doctors and dentists, most of who work in public hospitals and related secondary services. The Independent Practitioners Association Council represents general practice networks of teams and organisations working in primary care. Between them they cover much of the health system.
Even though New Zealand has by international standards a highly performing health system, the public sees gaps and inequities, and rightly expects better. They expect its different parts to be better coordinated. We are committed to transform the system by promoting clinical leadership and governance such as through shared access and shared initiatives between general practice and public hospitals.
We expect that the government will welcome and support our initiative. It has also called for health professional collaboration and leadership in recognition of the enormous potential benefits that can be achieved.
3. Informal National DHBs MECA Discussions
Although formal negotiations have yet to commence, both the ASMS and DHBs have taken the initiative in holding informal discussions about the forthcoming re-negotiation of the national DHB MECA which expires on 30 April (but which continues in force after that date until a replacement is negotiated). The discussions have been with the 21 DHBs higher level employment relations strategy group (not to be confused with their formal negotiating team) convened by Northland Chief Executive Karen Roach. They included a useful meeting held in December with a further meeting scheduled for next week. Although the tone has been constructive the discussions are not covering the substantive terms and conditions of employment issues that will eventually become the focal point. The DHBs appear to be conscious of the fact that their conduct in the last negotiations contributed significantly to the acrimony and don’t wish to repeat this negative and corrosive experience.
Members are encouraged to read the front page article in the December issue of The Specialist on the ASMS’s strategic direction if you have not already done so.
Best wishes
Ian Powell
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 
