Key Health Organisations reach historic agreement over Clinical Leadership and Governance
Joint ASMS/IPAC Media Statement
3 February 2010
“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,” said Dr Jeff Brown, President of the ASMS and Dr Bev O’Keefe, Executive Chair of IPAC, today. Drs Brown and O’Keefe were referring to the release of an agreement today approved by their respective governing national bodies.
“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” concluded Drs O’Keefe and Brown.
