HealthCare NZ moves to Dunedin
Southland health care workers are facing uncertainty, the Public Service Association says.
This comes after HealthCare NZ decided to move administration services to Auckland and Dunedin to remove duplication across the business.
In a statement, HealthCare NZ says it has made the decision after talking with staff.
The proposal to move services was strongly opposed by Gore members of the Public Service Association who led a national wave of protests in February.
Its initial proposal involved cutting 200 jobs and establishing a national call centre in Auckland as a response to minimal funding increases.
PSA National Secretary Kerry Davies said about 30 of these jobs would be retained under the new proposal.
‘‘The company continues to be vague with workers about its timeline,’’ she said.
‘‘The new operating model is scheduled to go live on 29 June, but documents sent to staff say ‘these dates are subject to change’,’’ Davies said.
Healthcare NZ is a private company funded by ACC, district health boards, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development to offer in-home and community support and services.
HealthCare NZ chief executive Vanessa Dudley said: ‘‘The current funding circumstances facing our business are a serious concern to our Board. For years contractual funding from funding agencies has seen very limited increases; many contracts are now very tight.’’
Dudley said the new structure offered better flexibility and efficiency, which was essential to the sustainability of the business.
HealthCare NZ would not be closing any branches or reducing frontline clinical staff, support workers, or the services they deliver, she said.
Dudley said details regarding staff numbers and costs would remain confidential.
Administration work will now be managed by national service centres in Auckland and Dunedin to remove duplication across the business.
PSA’s Kerry Davies said the company had not shared any details about the changes with the association and she was unsure whether any Southland workers would need to move to Dunedin.