New Zealand primary health care policy and the role of a non-government organisation

2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Glensor
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Health Care Policy ◽  
National Level ◽  
District Health ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Government Organisation ◽  
Intersectoral Linkages

I was asked to make the presentation this paper is based on1 following the collaboration between La Trobe University and Health Care Aotearoa over several years. La Trobe is the home of the Quality Improvement Council, of which Health Care Aotearoa is a member. That Council has been one of the international partners who have given validation and inspiration for us in Aotearoa/New Zealand in the field of community-based primary health care. My own background, as a Methodist minister for 20 years, followed a life-transforming year as an 18-year-old volunteer in Sarawak in 1969, and exposure internationally to struggles for social justice. In recent years I have become more directly involved in political engagement, at both the local body and national level, as an expression of my understanding of community development and health. I am Chairman of one of New Zealand?s 21 District Health Boards and am relishing the opportunity to lead a regional health organisation as it builds intersectoral linkages, embraces excellence in the delivery of health services, and addresses issues of disparities in health outcomes. I continue to be involved in national leadership of a number of non-government organisations (NGOs), and am taking a leading role in building a new national entity that can encompass the whole non-government organisation sector in New Zealand. All this work arises directly from the experiences and insights described in this paper.

How the Institutional and Policy Context Shapes the Establishment of Nurse Practitioner Roles and Practice in New Zealand’s Primary Health Care Sector

2020 ◽  
pp. 152715442096553
Author(s):  
Sue Adams ◽  
Jenny Carryer
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Nurse Practitioner ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
District Health ◽  
Policy Context ◽  
Primary Health

The implementation of the nurse practitioner (NP) workforce in primary health care (PHC) in New Zealand has been slow, despite ongoing concerns over persisting health inequalities and a crisis in the primary care physician workforce. This article, as part of a wider institutional ethnography, draws on the experiences of one NP and two NP candidates, as they struggle to establish and deliver PHC services in areas of high need, rural, and Indigenous Māori communities in New Zealand. Using information gathered initially by interview, we develop an analysis of how the institutional and policy context is shaping their experiences and limiting opportunities for the informants to provide meaningful comprehensive PHC. Their work (time and effort), with various health organizations, was halted with little rationale, and seemingly contrary to New Zealand’s strategic direction for PHC stipulated in the Primary Health Care Strategy 2001. The tension between the extant biomedical model, known as primary care, and the broader principles of PHC was evident. Our analysis explored how the perpetuation of the neoliberal health policy environment through a “hands-off” approach from central government and district health boards resulted in a highly fragmented and complex health sector. Ongoing policy and sector perseverance to support privately owned physician-led general practice; a competitive contractual environment; and significant structural health sector changes, all restricted the establishment of NP services. Instead, commitment across the health sector is needed to ensure implementation of the NP workforce as autonomous mainstream providers of comprehensive PHC services.

Diffusion of the primary health care strategy in a small district health board in New Zealand

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 17-26
Author(s):  
Heather Robertson ◽  
◽  
Jenny Carryer ◽  
Stephen Neville ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Health Board ◽  
District Health ◽  
Primary Health

scholarly journals Integrating NCD into Primary Health Care in Thailand: a Mix Method Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuition Tuangratananon ◽  
Sataporn Julchoo ◽  
Mathudara Phaiyarom ◽  
Warisa Panichkriangkrai ◽  
Nareerut Pudpong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
National Level ◽  
District Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
District Hospitals ◽  
And Control ◽  
Village Health

Abstract BackgroundIn response to an increased burden from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), primary health care (PHC) is advocated as an effective platform to support NCD prevention and control. This study aims to assess Thailand’s PHC capacity in providing NCD services, identify enabling factors and challenges and provide policy recommendations for improvement.MethodsThis cross-sectional mixed-method study was conducted between October 2019 and May 2020. Two provinces, one rich and one poor were randomly selected and then a city and rural district from each province were randomly selected. From these four sites in the two provinces, 56 officers from PHC centres were sampled purposively for a self-administrative questionnaire survey on their capacities and practices related to NCD.A total of 79 participants from Provincial and District Health Offices, provincial and district hospitals, and PHC centres who involved with NCD participated in focus group discussions or in-depth interviews.ResultsStrong health infrastructure, competent staff, though not matched with increased workload, and secured budget boost PHC capacity to address NCD prevention, control, case management, referral and rehabilitation. Community engagement through village health volunteers improves NCD awareness, enrols in screening and improves adherence to interventions. Collaborations between provincial and district hospitals in providing resources and technical support improve NCD capacity of PHC centres. In addition, village health volunteer, a crucial link between health sector and community, is key in supporting NCD control. Additionally, inconsistent national policy directions and uncertainty related to key performance indicators hamper progress in NCD management at the operational level.ConclusionPHC centres play a vital role in managing NCDs prevention and control. However, adequate human and financial resources and policy guidance are required to improve PHC performance in managing NCDs. Implementing best buy measures at national level provides synergies for NCD control at PHC level.

Understanding the general practice nursing workforce in New Zealand: an overview of characteristics 2015–19

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Hewitt ◽  
Nicolette F. Sheridan ◽  
Karen Hoare ◽  
Jane E. Mills
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Nursing Workforce ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Role Confusion

Limited knowledge about the nursing workforce in New Zealand general practice inhibits the optimal use of nurses in this increasingly complex setting. Using workforce survey data published biennially by the Nursing Council of New Zealand, this study describes the characteristics of nurses in general practice and contrasts them with the greater nursing workforce, including consideration of changes in the profiles between 2015 and 2019. The findings suggest the general practice nursing workforce is older, less diverse, more predominately New Zealand trained and very much more likely to work part-time than other nurses. There is evidence that nurses in general practice are increasingly primary health care focused, as they take on expanded roles and responsibilities. However, ambiguity about terminology and the inability to track individuals in the data are limitations of this study. Therefore, it was not possible to identify and describe cohorts of nurses in general practice by important characteristics, such as prescribing authority, regionality and rurality. A greater national focus on defining and tracking this pivotal workforce is called for to overcome role confusion and better facilitate the use of nursing scopes of practice.

Primary Health Care Policy Interview Guide

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary P. Finlayson ◽  
Nicolette F. Sheridan ◽  
Jacqueline M. Cumming ◽  
Sandra Fowler
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Policy ◽  
Care Policy ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Interview Guide
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