Health NZ has confirmed the elimination of 377 roles across five of its departments: Hauora Māori services, Pacific health, procurement, planning and funding, and auditing.
Fiona McCarthy, Health NZ’s acting head of human resources, stated that these changes are part of the organisation’s “ongoing effort toward a sustainable future for New Zealand healthcare”.
However, due to ongoing legal action by the Public Service Association (PSA), some changes remain on hold.
Although the final decisions affecting Hauora Māori services, audit, assurance and risk, and Pacific health will be implemented immediately, the changes involving planning, funding and outcomes, as well as procurement and supply chain services, have been temporarily paused pending the legal challenge.
Despite the legal action, McCarthy said, “We decided to release these decisions out of concern for the length of time our staff have been waiting for these change processes to conclude.”
“Some staff have been waiting since last year, and, with consultations finished in February, we felt it was fairer to all staff to release the decisions now to give people greater clarity over what our thinking is and what it might mean for them.”
“We will continue to work with the PSA to try and resolve the legal proceedings during the coming weeks.”
“We appreciate these are difficult times for those concerned, and a range of support is available,” she added.
In February, the Public Service Association (PSA) filed legal proceedings with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) against Health NZ over several proposed restructures. The PSA argued that these restructures breached multiple legal obligations, such as the Code of Good Faith for the public health sector, the Employment Relations Act 2000, collective agreements and Te Mauri o Rongo – NZ Health Charter.
In a statement released on Thursday, PSA said it “remains strongly opposed to all job cuts at Health NZ which are being rushed through regardless of their impacts on frontline health services. It’s all about saving money in the short term, not supporting our health system.”