By EUGENE BINGHAM
Health boards to be established by the Government will have only limited autonomy, with constraints put on them to prevent some centres getting better healthcare than others.
While the new boards will be able to assess the needs within their populations, they will be restricted by a national strategy and a funding regime designed to distribute money equitably.
"People ought to have a very uniform delivery of health services with regional variations in the way they are delivered," the Minister of Health, Annette King, said yesterday.
"There needs to be an orderly process through which plans are put up. That is important if you are going to improve delivery of services and make it more equitable around New Zealand."
Mrs King yesterday announced details of how the Government intends advancing its health reforms, including releasing a timeline showing the Health Funding Authority will be disbanded by November.
This month, the minister will begin making appointments to the existing Hospital and Health Services Boards, public health companies such as Auckland Healthcare. The 22 boards will undergo a transition phase before becoming fully fledged district health boards complete with a mix of elected and appointed members by November next year.
The Medical Association welcomed the fact boards would have to measure themselves against a national strategy.
"We were very anxious about a lot of local differences," said chairwoman Pippa MacKay. "Differences in delivery because of certain ethnic groupings are fine."
Dr MacKay said the association would seek to have input into the national strategy, which will set targets for key areas such as immunisation and performance standards for issues like waiting times.
Boards will have to measure themselves against the strategy, and work within the funding distributed through a population-based formula.
Opposition spokesman Wyatt Creech said the strategy sounded like a "bunch of pious, high-minded statements. What we need are policies that deliver better health outcomes."
National would fight the changes through Parliament, and Mr Creech expected the Government would not be able to meet its deadlines.
He feared money set aside for health services would end up being spent on the restructuring.
The Director-General of Health, Karen Poutasi, said the changes would be made within existing budgets.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
Afternoon quiz: Which capital city is closest to the equator?
Test your knowledge with the Herald's afternoon quiz.