Popcorn Panel: ‘Commissioning possible: A Māori health agency’

This Popcorn Panel is sponsored by He Ako Hiringa

Grab some popcorn and hit the couch; The Health Media is starting 2021 with a Popcorn Panel looking at how a Māori Health Authority vested with commissioning power might work, and the potential impact on primary care’s frontline.

Join the editor of New Zealand Doctor|Rata Aotearoa Barbara Fountain, her co-host former RNZCGP president Jim Vause and panellists: Māori health services consultant Sharon Shea, National Hauora Coalition chief executive Simon Royal and health policy researcher Tim Tenbensel for an hour on Zoom. They’ll be taking questions from the audience about what commissioning might look like and what it could mean for primary care.

Last year in our inaugural series “The Popcorn Panels: Chatting about the Simpson report”, one panel considered the possibility of a Māori health commissioning agency.

This panel moves that idea along to look at options for how this might work and what it will mean for primary care practitioners.

This first panel for 2021 will be held on Wednesday 27 January starting at 7pm. The panels are free to attend but it is necessary to register at https://www.thehealthmedia.co.nz/popcorn-panels

This Popcorn Panel is sponsored by He Ako Hiringa, a clinical education programme with an equity focus. To learn more go to www.akohiringa.co.nz

Jim Vause (co-host)

Jim Vause (Kai Tahu and Kati Mamoe) retired from general practice last year after 44 years in practice. He is a past President of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, Medical Web Editor for WONCA (the World Organization of General Practice Colleges) and was the last chairperson of the New Zealand Guidelines Group (NZGG). He has been a blog writer for New Zealand Doctor|Rata Aotearoa for over a decade. He is now the paper’s occasional medical correspondent and is a clinical advisor to The Health Media.

Sharon Shea

Sharon Shea (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hako) was chair of the Māori advisory group to the Health and Disability System Review panel. She is co-owner of Māori consultancy Shea Pita and Associates working in health, whānau ora and the social services sectors. Her governance experience includes PHOs and DHBs and she is currently interim chair of Bay of Plenty DHB. Sharon was a signatory to the alternate view published in the report of the Health and Disability System Review panel, which called for a more ambitious structure to address Māori health issues.

Tim Tenbensel

Tim Tenbensel is associate professor in health policy at The University of Auckland and an enthusiast for health systems. He is a regular contributor to New Zealand Doctor | Rata Aotearoa.

Simon Royal

Simon Royal (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāpuhi, Parehauraki, Te Whānau o Haunui) is chief executive of National Hauora Coalition, a role he has held since 2009. Prior to joining NHC, Simon was chief executive of Auckland PHO Waiora Healthcare. Simon is a named claimant in the Waitangi Tribunal claim investigating grievances relating to health services and outcomes for Māori (Wai 2575)

The Popcorn Panels – what are they

The Popcorn Panels were launched in July 2020 to provide a different way of getting people together to talk in an informal setting – the couch at home. With the COVID pandemic introducing more people to video conferencing, The Health Media’s managing editor Barbara Fountain saw an opportunity for people to get together to chat – maybe over a bowl of popcorn – or simply listen as folks discussed current issues.