The Prime Minister has expressed confidence in Health Minister Annette King despite the appointment of a group of top health advisers.
The group, made up of the heads of five of the health sector's specialist colleges and unions, will meet Mrs King regularly.
A spokesman for Mrs King and Prime Minister Helen Clark said it was an advisory group and did not signify wider concern.
"You want people in the sector who can give a bit of reference for you, a bit of informal feedback," Helen Clark said.
She believed the problems in health were more of perception than reality and said the Government had not done a good job in getting its side of the story across.
Mrs King still retained her confidence.
Last week Mrs King announced an advisory group of Public Service Association national secretary Richard Wagstaff, College of Midwives national director Karen Guilliland, Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Ian Powell, Nurses' Organisation chief executive Geoff Annals and College of GPs chief executive Claire Austin. The group is to meet her monthly.
Mrs King said the group would give her an "on the ground feel" of the health sector from people who dealt with the health workforce.
- NZPA
PM stands by Health Minister
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.