Health Workforce Report a Step In the Right Direction
The Public Service Association supports the approach outlined in the Health Workforce Advisory Committee report released
today, Richard Wagstaff, National Secretary of the PSA said today.
“We support the strategic approach taken by the Committee. We have had a decade of no planning for the health workforce
and now we have to try and put that right. The way forward is not precise planning for numbers but to take a strategic
approach to tackling the deep seated problems within the health workforce.” Richard Wagstaff said the identification of
issues such as workplace culture, the need for good human resource policies, and the link between the education and
health sectors were examples of the positive moves contained in the report.
He expressed, however, his disappointment that the report failed to tackle the issue of student debt and to recognise
the contribution of unions.
“Unions clearly have a role in working with employers in the health sector to help tackle these issues and the report
should have recognised that.”
“We are looking forward to working with the Health Workforce Advisory Committee in the focus groups they have proposed.
We represent a wide range of different groups such as allied health and clerical workers and hope that their interests
and contribution will be recognised.”
“The PSA will also be working with District Health Boards NZ, individual district health boards and employers, and with
the government. We look forward to the Minister’s response to the recommendations.”