Media Release

3 September 2008

Taskforce proposes measures to address barriers to workforce change in primary care

In a report released today, a twelve-member taskforce recommended five measures to address barriers to the effective use of the primary health care workforce.

The Workforce Taskforce’s report to the Minister of Health outlined proposals to:

• review funding to enable innovation
• resolve issues of capital investment for the providers of primary health care
• provide professional leadership and governance
• improve training in primary health care, and
• develop a consistent national framework and programme for continuous quality assessment and improvement

“The recommendations complement initiatives that we, the Ministry of Health and district health boards, are already implementing to make best use of the current workforce and improve the delivery of primary health care services,” Health Minister David Cunliffe said.

“These are part of a wider set of measures to help us to respond to emerging challenges such as the increased incidence of chronic disease, an ageing population and increasing mobility of health professionals.”

The Workforce Taskforce’s report Working Together for Better Primary Health Care is available on the Ministry of Health’s website:http://www.moh.govt.nz.


ENDS

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