Latest news with #CodeofGoodFaith
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
PSA Strongly Opposes Decisions Released By Health NZ – Further Dismantling Of Our Public Health System By Government
Press Release – PSA The union filed these legal proceedings in the Employment Relations Authority in February because several proposed restructures breached the Code of Good Faith for the public health sector, the Employment Relations Act 2000, collective agreements … The PSA strongly opposes final decisions released by Health New Zealand for the following teams: Procurement, Supply Chain and Health Technology Management (PSC&HTM), Planning, Funding and Outcomes, and Audit, Assurance & Risk. 'These decisions include the possible loss of specialists procurement, auditing and health innovation and improvement,' Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi national secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, said. 'The possible loss of these roles has been forced on Health NZ by the Government imposing cuts to our health system that will affect patients. We call on Government to stop these endless cuts to our health system. 'This is why we are still fighting this in the Employment Relations Authority, which is why this will not be implemented until the Authority has heard and determined the matter or the PSA and Health New Zealand have settled it by agreement.' The union filed these legal proceedings in the Employment Relations Authority in February because several proposed restructures breached 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. 'We'll be making it clear to all our members that legal action is still going ahead and we strongly oppose these Health NZ changes.' Last month, the PSA agreed a settlement with Health NZ stopping the restructuring of the National Public Health Service and two directorates in the Planning Funding and Outcomes business unit: Data and Analytics, Community Mental Health Funding and Investment, and Data and Digital Services. Litigation remains in place for Planning Funding and Outcomes (Former Service Improvement and Innovation functions): Te Whatu Ora Improve; Evidence, Research and Clinical Trial; Operations; Population Health Gain; Consumer Whanau Voice; Former Office of the Chief Executive (OCE): Strategic Planning and Procurement Supply Chain and Health Technology Management. Earlier today, the PSA also announced further litigation against Health NZ to stop another round of cuts to their Audit, Assurance and Risk, People and Culture, Finance Stage 1, and Communications and Engagement teams.
NZ Herald
15-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Health NZ confirms 377 roles cut, despite ongoing legal challenge
Of those, Thursday's announcement relates to 377 roles. Health NZ acting head of human resources Fiona McCarthy said the changes were part of its 'ongoing effort toward a sustainable future for New Zealand healthcare'. While implementation of the final decisions for Hauora Māori services, audit, assurance and risk and Pacific health would begin immediately, the changes for planning, funding and outcomes and procurement and supply chain services were paused for now, because of the legal challenge. 'Notwithstanding this legal action, 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,' she said. '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.' Thursday's announcements regard: Hauora Māori services Pacific health Procurement, supply chain and health technology management Planning, funding and outcomes (the former service improvement and innovation teams) Audit, assurance and risk For all five services, senior leaders met with their teams and affected individuals to talk through the decisions and any next steps, McCarthy said. 'We appreciate these are difficult times for those concerned and a range of support is available.' Union vows to fight on The total number of jobs being cut was not yet clear, said the union. A spokesperson said there would be no change in some areas, until the legal challenge was resolved. PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the union 'strongly opposes' Health NZ's final decisions. 'These decisions include the possible loss of specialists procurement, auditing and health innovation and improvement,' she said. 'The possible loss of these roles has been forced on Health NZ by the Government imposing cuts to our health system that will affect patients. 'We call on Government to stop these endless cuts to our health system. 'This is why we are still fighting this in the Employment Relations Authority, which is why this will not be implemented until the authority has heard and determined the matter, or the PSA and Health New Zealand have settled it by agreement.' Advertise with NZME. In February, the union filed legal proceedings in the Employment Relations Authority over several proposed restructures on the grounds they breached 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. 'We'll be making it clear to all our members that legal action is still going ahead and we strongly oppose these Health NZ changes.' Last month, the PSA agreed a settlement with Health NZ to stop the restructuring of the National Public Health Service and two directorates in the planning, funding and outcomes business unit - data and analytics, community mental health funding and investment, and data and digital services. Earlier on Thursday, the PSA also announced further litigation against Health NZ to stop cuts to their audit, assurance and risk, people and culture, finance stage 1, and communications and engagement teams.
Otago Daily Times
15-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Health NZ confirms 377 roles cut
Health NZ has confirmed job cuts at five of its departments, including Hauora Māori services, Pacific health, procurement, planning and funding, and auditing. However, ongoing legal action by the Public Service Association (PSA) mean some changes were still on hold. Last month, it was reported more than 2400 jobs were on the line at Health NZ, with about half of them currently vacant. Of those, Thursday's announcement relates to 377 roles. Health NZ acting head of human resources Fiona McCarthy said the changes were part of its "ongoing effort toward a sustainable future for New Zealand healthcare". While implementation of the final decisions for Hauora Māori services, audit, assurance & risk and Pacific health would begin immediately, the changes for planning, funding and outcomes and procurement and supply chain services were paused for now, due to the legal challenge. "Notwithstanding this legal action, 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," she said. "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." Thursday's announcements regard: Hauora Māori services Pacific health Procurement, supply chain and health technology management Planning, funding and outcomes (the former service improvement & innovation teams) Audit, assurance & risk For all five services, senior leaders met with their teams and affected individuals to talk through the decisions and any next steps, McCarthy said. "We appreciate these are difficult times for those concerned and a range of support is available." Union vows to fight on The total number of jobs being cut was not yet clear, said the union. A spokesperson said there would be no change in some areas, until the legal challenge was resolved. PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the union "strongly opposes" Health NZ's final decisions. "These decisions include the possible loss of specialists procurement, auditing and health innovation and improvement," she said. "The possible loss of these roles has been forced on Health NZ by the Government imposing cuts to our health system that will affect patients. "We call on Government to stop these endless cuts to our health system. "This is why we are still fighting this in the Employment Relations Authority, which is why this will not be implemented until the authority has heard and determined the matter, or the PSA and Health New Zealand have settled it by agreement." In February, the union filed legal proceedings in the Employment Relations Authority over several proposed restructures on the grounds they breached 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. "We'll be making it clear to all our members that legal action is still going ahead and we strongly oppose these Health NZ changes." Last month, the PSA agreed a settlement with Health NZ to stop the restructuring of the National Public Health Service and two directorates in the planning, funding and outcomes business unit - data and analytics, community mental health funding and investment, and data and digital Services. Earlier Thursday, the PSA also announced further litigation against Health NZ to stop cuts to their audit, assurance and risk, people and culture, finance stage 1, and communications and engagement teams.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
PSA Strongly Opposes Decisions Released By Health NZ - Further Dismantling Of Our Public Health System By Government
The PSA strongly opposes final decisions released by Health New Zealand for the following teams: Procurement, Supply Chain and Health Technology Management (PSC&HTM), Planning, Funding and Outcomes, and Audit, Assurance & Risk. "These decisions include the possible loss of specialists procurement, auditing and health innovation and improvement," Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi national secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, said. "The possible loss of these roles has been forced on Health NZ by the Government imposing cuts to our health system that will affect patients. We call on Government to stop these endless cuts to our health system. "This is why we are still fighting this in the Employment Relations Authority, which is why this will not be implemented until the Authority has heard and determined the matter or the PSA and Health New Zealand have settled it by agreement." The union filed these legal proceedings in the Employment Relations Authority in February because several proposed restructures breached 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. "We'll be making it clear to all our members that legal action is still going ahead and we strongly oppose these Health NZ changes." Last month, the PSA agreed a settlement with Health NZ stopping the restructuring of the National Public Health Service and two directorates in the Planning Funding and Outcomes business unit: Data and Analytics, Community Mental Health Funding and Investment, and Data and Digital Services. Litigation remains in place for Planning Funding and Outcomes (Former Service Improvement and Innovation functions): Te Whatu Ora Improve; Evidence, Research and Clinical Trial; Operations; Population Health Gain; Consumer Whanau Voice; Former Office of the Chief Executive (OCE): Strategic Planning and Procurement Supply Chain and Health Technology Management. Earlier today, the PSA also announced further litigation against Health NZ to stop another round of cuts to their Audit, Assurance and Risk, People and Culture, Finance Stage 1, and Communications and Engagement teams. Precious PSA statements:
Otago Daily Times
23-04-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
PSA, Health NZ settlement saves 200 roles
The Public Service Association (PSA) says a settlement with Health New Zealand (HNZ) over the agency's proposed restructure of its Data and Digital and Pacific Health teams has saved around 200 roles from being cut. HNZ said it was pleased with the settlement and said final decisions on the change processes would be issued in the coming weeks. The union took HNZ to the Employment Relations Authority in February, arguing that its proposed restructures had breached the Code of Good Faith for public health, the Employment Relations Act and Te Mauri o Rongo - NZ Health Charter. PSA's national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said she was pleased the union's legal action had prompted the reversal of some damaging cuts. "This is ultimately all about patient care. Both teams play critical roles in ensuring the health system delivers for patients and communities and supports clinicians to do their job, so it was important changes were made. "But it shouldn't have taken legal action for Health NZ Te Whatu Ora to listen to what health workers were telling it about the risks to patient care and community health," she said. Fitzsimons said 175 roles had been added back to the Data and Digital team, who were responsible for looking after the nation-wide IT systems and ensuring clinicians could access patient records 24/7. In Pacific Health, she said HNZ had agreed to a smaller reduction of 22 roles, compared to the 50 it originally proposed. "This is not ideal, but the unions feedback was taken on board, including retaining regional partnerships and protecting some crucial administration roles. "In addition, some workers, previously facing redundancy, will be redeployed elsewhere in the health system so they can carry on their important work," Fitzsimons said. HNZ said it was pleased it had reached an agreement with PSA on these two change proposals, and the union had agreed to halt legal proceedings for the Data and Digital and Pacific change processes. "Health NZ has heard the views and concerns expressed by staff and has committed to enabling as many staff as possible to be retained or redeployed into roles in these teams and elsewhere in the organisation," its interim chief human resources officer Fiona McCarthy said. However, HNZ said it was unable to confirm the number of roles saved as decision documents were still being finalised. Meanwhile, HNZ was still being challenged at the ERA for its proposed restructure of its procurement and supply chain business unit, and its systems improvement and innovation team. Fitzsimons said they were seeking legal advice on whether to also challenge HNZ's restructure of four other teams - communications and engagement, finance, audit assurance and risk, and people and culture.
