The Government is "focused on making sure we provide excellent aged care to our citizens," Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman told the Bay of Plenty Times yesterday following allegations aged-care facilities were being run like factories and faced chronic staff shortages.
Dr Coleman was at Tauranga Hospital on part of a whirlwind tour of district health boards around the country.
Concerns were raised last week by Angela Neil of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation which represents about 400 aged-care workers in the Bay of Plenty who compared conditions to "a factory".
Alistair Duncan of the Food Workers Union, that represents about 3400 caregivers nationwide, said short staffing in aged-care facilities was a "time bomb waiting to explode on some of the most vulnerable people in New Zealand".
A meeting was held on Thursday in Tauranga to discuss issues and compile an evidence based report that would be sent to the minister.
Excellent aged care was a priority, Dr Coleman said although he could not comment about conditions for workers in the industry.
"It is an important issue and something that concerns the community. I can't really talk too much about pay and conditions because there is a major legal case under way at the moment."
All facilities were audited and had to comply with a set of standards, checks and spot checks, he said. However demand for services would increase as the population aged.
"It is something the government spends a lot of time and money on. There were increases in the last budget for the rest home subsidy as well as a number of issues around the care of older people, so it is something that has not only focus but also the dollars to back it."
The Bay of Plenty District Health Board had received an extra $127 million over the last six years and had performed well, Mr Coleman said.
"Obviously there has been some building work with the new cancer treatment centre and Kathleen Kilgour Centre ... I have been looking through the facilities and I am impressed with what I am seeing today."
The biggest issue the region faced was the area it covered and the need to deliver more into primary care services to keep people out of the hospitals, Dr Coleman said.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board chairwoman Sally Webb said the minister had spoken to about 20 clinicians who gave him a good overview.
They had also talked about health targets and financial performance, she said.
"Health is always challenging and there is a need out there that isn't necessarily met quickly ... but we do our best to provide services in a timely manner."