Review slams Ministry of Health, demands changes
The Ministry of Health has come under fire in a critical review over leadership failings and shortcomings in patient care.
The Performance Improvement Framework Review began in 2016 to improve areas including leadership development, management and organisational development.
The report highlighted failings in the way healthcare remained inaccessible to the most vulnerable in the community and the need for the ministry to respond to technology and systems that provided a more personal “anytime, anywhere” style of treatment.
Health Minister David Clark slated it as an indictment on the previous Government’s nine years of neglect.
“Many of the issues highlighted in this report were also identified in the 2012 PIF Review. It’s clear things were going from bad to worse under the previous Government,” said Clark.
“We need a strong, stable and high- performing ministry leading our health and disability sector. The challenge for the ministry’s new leadership will be to deliver just that.”
Jonathan Coleman, the former Health Minister and National’s health spokesman, said he did not agree with all parts of the SSC report.
“There’s always been tension between the Ministry of Health and the sector. These are tough challenges and I think Dr Clark is about to find out just how tough the portfolio really is.”
The review said the ministry’s challenge was to use its stewardship role to lead the health and disability system and improve lifetime health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders.
In response the ministry said it would focus on better directing investment to address inequity and improve people’s lives.