Source: PSA
– Proposed cuts a risk to health recruitment
– Funding constraints see proposals to reduce security focus
The Government’s demands for savings in health mean Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand is proposing to cut 338 People and Culture roles – at a time it when is struggling to recruit people to provide health services for New Zealanders.
In a change proposal released today Health New Zealand says it is looking to reduce its People and Culture services from 1632 roles to 1294 roles a net reduction of 21% or 338 roles, (some of which are vacant).
Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says People and Culture services are vital to ensure there are enough health workers and the workers are supported, kept safe, paid properly and kept well.
“The People and Culture services ensure health workers who feel safe and supported so they can deliver the best possible health care to New Zealanders,” Fitzsimons says.
“These cuts are just another way the Government’s unfocussed reckless drive for savings will impact the healthcare New Zealanders receive,” Fitzsimons says.
“The PSA is seeking legal advice as to whether it would also challenge this change proposal in the Employment Relations Authority,” Fitzsimons says.
One of the biggest areas for cuts will be the Recruitment and Attraction function, which could see a net 126 roles go.
“These cuts make no sense when the delivery of health services is being held back by unfilled vacancies right across an extremely stretched health system,” Fitzsimons says.
The change proposal says the reduction in recruitment is based on implementing a new recruitment technology system, which is expected to take 12 months to roll out.
“This is a risky way to proceed. We understand the new technology hasn’t yet been put out to tender and its planned roll out would happen after Health New Zealand implements significant cuts to its Data and Digital team.
Two other areas that keep staff and patients safe and assist staff return to work after injury or illness are facing cuts:
– Occupational Health, which will see a net loss of 27 roles
– Health & Safety and Resilience, which will see a net loss of 55 roles.
The Organisational Culture and Development function, responsible for staff education and development and improving organisational culture, faces a net loss of 35 roles.
Another area for concern raised by the change document is the proposal to “significantly reduce” core parts of the security function that protects staff, property and operations.
The Protective Services function in the People and Culture team, which provides expert leadership and advice on security, is facing a loss of a net three roles.
The proposal says the challenge for the function is the move from a “guards and gates model” to a “proactive, risk-based approach”.
“Given resourcing constraints we are proposing to significantly reduce core components of a basic protective security function. We anticipate that initiatives like security incident response, corporate security, and regional support would be scaled back to critical cases,” the change proposal says.
“The allocation of resources and reassessment of priorities with this function does present several risks which require careful management of the work programme and best utilisation of advisory activity,” the proposal says.
Fitzsimons says the proposed changes to security and protection are ominous.
“The proposals underline that at a time of increased attacks on health workers there is an urgent need for more investment in security and protection, as there needs to be in the health system generally.”
