Mental health ‘ignored’

There are calls for a last-minute change to government health reforms to include a national mental health strategy.

National Party mental health spokesperson Matt Doocey said there had been no explanation as to why mental health was ‘‘invisible’’ in the Pae Ora (healthy futures) reforms.

Doocey and Mental Health Commission chief executive Karen Orsborn are calling for Parliament to change the bill, so it requires a national mental health strategy.

This suggestion has already been rejected at the Pae Ora select committee, which has been tasked with hearing submissions and reporting back on the legislation aimed at reshaping the health system. The Pae Ora Bill merges all 20 of the district health boards, under Health NZ, and establishes the Māori Health

Authority. It will also require the minister of health, with Health NZ, the Ministry of Health and Māori Health Authority, to work together to achieve certain strategies.

These strategies are: New Zealand Health, Hauora Māori, Pacific Health, Health of Disabled People and Women’s Health. On top of these, the bill requires that a general government policy statement be issued every three years. The statement will act as a guide for what the minister of health sees as most urgent.

The select committee majority said adding further strategies ‘‘could result in certain populations having too much or too little focus on them’’.

It said submissions had asked why there was no rural, mental health or queer health strategy requirements.

But the committee didn’t suggest these be included because, it worried, there would be ‘‘an over-emphasis on producing strategic plans rather than on innovative service design and provision’’.

Doocey said the reforms effectively ignored mental health.

‘‘We have got half a dozen strategies already listed in the bill and they are clearly there because the Government has prioritised these strategies – I am concerned why mental health is not prioritised,’’ he said.

‘‘We are having a once in a generation restructure of the health system and it is hugely confusing why there is no reference to mental health.’’

Doocey has written to all parties, asking them to support an amendment to the bill which would add a statutory requirement for a mental health strategy.

He has proposed two amendments, one to require that the minister of health consult the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission when setting health policy.

His other proposal is for the commission to develop a mental health and addictions strategy, alongside the other five strategies, for the wider health sector.

The commission, which officially launched last year, already issues an annual monitoring report of health and addiction services. Its first monitoring report, issued late March, delivered damning observations on the speed of change and treatment of Mā ori patients.

It said promised reforms of mental health, which the Government budgeted $1.9 billion for in 2019, had not yet led to any meaningful improvements. Orsborn said the commission asked the select committee to include a requirement for a mental health strategy but was told there was nothing stopping the minister from focusing on mental health in other strategies.

‘‘It is hugely confusing why there is no reference to mental health.’’

Matt Doocey National Party MP