Tuesday, 08 November 2022 12:55

Good and bad for rural in plan

Written by  Leo Argent
HTRHN chair Fiona Bolden is disappointed that rural health only received one page of specialist attention in the 108 page document. HTRHN chair Fiona Bolden is disappointed that rural health only received one page of specialist attention in the 108 page document.

The Ministry of Health has recently released the Te Pae Tata/Interim Health Plan mapping out the health sector's work programme over the next two years.

Rural communities will be able to determine their own geographical areas to be defined as a 'locality'. This clarification will provide some reassurance that rural communities' needs can be planned specifically for that rural grouping, instead of rural communities and their needs being subsumed within an adjacent urban population.

Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network (HTRHN) says that while rural health getting its own brief section in the report was encouraging to see, they are disappointed that rural populations are not listed under the chapter on priority populations.

Chief executive Dr Grant Davidson notes that the significantly poorer health outcomes of rural populations is a key reason for their inclusion as Priority Populations. Rural health outctomes significantly traile those of their urban counterparts and rural Māori, being up to 200% worse off.

"The principal issue facing rural health is a lack of trained health professionals," Davidson explains.

"While the plan does recognise this shortage and chair Rob Campbell's introduction promises a sustaianable and fit-for-purpose workforce, what it fails to provide is any detail on how this sustainable workforce will be delivered, especially in our rural and remote areas."

HTRHN chair Fiona Bolden also expressed disappointment to Rural News that despite comprising a quarter of the population – and being listed as a priority population – rural health only received one page of specialist attention in the 108 page document. For comparison, Māori health received seven pages.

The section on rural, states that rural areas have lower incomes and a higher number of children, elderly and Māori compared to urban – all three demographics known for extra healthcare needs. A Workforce Taskforce has been established to prioritise a national work programme to address workforce pipelines and staffing shortages.

Nevertheless, there are upsides to the plan. Hauora Taiwhenua says that the Interim Health Plan is strongest for rural people in ensuring health data systems in the future will use the Geographical Classification for Health. This is something Hauora Taiwhenua had been pushing hard for and will mean that health data can be differentiated according to the rurality of the person being treated.

Bolden told Rural News that the flexibility of locality planning and support of telehealth services was a positive note in the report.

“The health system will now be able to be held to account for equitable outcomes for rural people in areas such as cancer diagnosis and treatment rates, access to primary care, people living with chronic health conditions, and more,” Davidson adds.

Bolden added that: “Pay parity for rural nurses and GPs and allowing rural students to train in doctors or nurses in urban areas will need support.”

Rachel Haggerty of Health NZ told Rural News that the definition of rural and how it is used to inform healthcare planning is part of the work Te Whatu Ora has been undertaking to ensure accurate understanding of rural health needs.

More like this

Soaring food costs take toll

New research suggests that the cost of groceries, which has skyrocketed over the past six years, is making it virtually impossible for families on benefits to feed their children healthily.

Eat more fruit, stay healthy

Nutritionists are urging Kiwis to kickstart their day with a piece of fresh fruit to help improve their health and wellbeing this autumn.

Talking rural health

As the National Rural Health Conference 2024 approaches, Fiona Bolden, chair of Hauora Taiwhenua, and Grant Davidson, chief executive of Hauora Taiwhenua, talk about the conference's significance in addressing rural healthcare challenges.

Funding secured for rural GP recruitment

Relocation funding is now available through Te Whatu Ora to support the recruitment of international general practitioners applying to work in rural primary care practices.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

National

Winter grazing warning

Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.

ANZ defends farm lending rates

The country's largest lender to the agriculture sector says it's not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.

Machinery & Products

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo…

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter