Historic moment for health care in New Zealand

Dame Annette King has been confirmed as the inaugural independent Chair of a new Federation of primary health care providers and representative agencies which has been formed following a high level summit held in Wellington on Friday 16 February 2018.

“The overriding focus of establishing this wide reaching Federation is to provide an inclusive platform for health and care integration with the people of New Zealand at the heart of its objectives.’ says Dame Annette King.

“Securing the collaboration of all the sectors which make up primary health care is a historic moment for patient-centred, multi-disciplinary health care in New Zealand.”

70 of New Zealand’s primary health care leaders came together representing PHOs, pharmacy, midwifery, allied health, nursing, doctors, NGOs and others in a move widely considered overdue by those across the sector.

Under Dame Annette King’s leadership, an Establishment Board is being created and will be responsible for setting-up the initial governance arrangements, priorities and work plan of the Federation. The initial objectives are expected to include:

• Advocating for models of care that are best for people and best for the system
• Supporting members to partner with health practitioners, NGOs and health consumers in the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of integrated health care services
• Presenting a united voice for the sector working together to create solutions and share innovation
• Being the ‘go to’ place for external stakeholders for primary health care advice and expert opinion
• Being known as a credible and capable Federation to lead and implement innovation and system change
• Signaling clear values of partnership and equity from the outset, the Establishment Board will include representation on behalf of Maori health leaders, pharmacy, allied health, midwifery, nursing, and NGOs as well as PHOs covering some of the highest need and most rural communities from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

The Federation’s workplan will commence immediately.