Response to NZMA

In response to the statement by Lesley Clarke, chief executive of the NZ Medical Association, in New Zealand Doctor – 10 October 2018, Jennifer Pelvin chair of Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand[1], believes it is unquestionably the role of the responsible authorities to be part of workforce planning. Responsible authorities are the logical and appropriate bodies to collect data because of their intimate knowledge of the health professions they regulate. Having a full range of demographic information including, age, gender and ethnicity must all be put into the mix when considering short and long term planning needs.

Of course, the issues around privacy must be well managed, says Pelvin, and there is no suggestion in the proposed legislative changes that any individual’s data will be used for any other purpose than workforce planning.

The responsible authorities are as close as one can get to knowing and understanding workforce data. Without that workforce data the Ministry of Health cannot make informed decisions regarding where to make funding and training investments.

For the last ten years the needs of allied health professionals have been woefully neglected. Of the $185 million Health Workforce NZ allocates to post-entry training, less than 1% of this finds its way into the allied health professions. The majority of the funds are directed to postgraduate training for nurses, midwives and those in medical or general practice.

It is very pleasing to see the Ministry taking steps to appoint a Chief Allied Health Professions Officer to join their Executive Leadership Team says Pelvin. This may be turning point for the underrepresented allied health professions who work across secondary care, primary care, education, corrections and in many other community settings.