Podcasts about dhbs

We ended last week with some hopeful noises from the health sector. Minister Simeon Brown was praised by academics and commentators for his increased funding for nurse practitioners, advanced training for nurses and increased training for doctors who come from overseas. He also announced an increase in the numbers of doctors we train here. Then, on Friday he announced the health plan which sees Lester Levy replaced by a board. Five targets were announced, all focusing on speedier healthcare and outcomes. And to chew through the waiting lists, the minister talked about utilising private facilities. At this point I think it's important to think about where we are. Labour tried to reduce the DHBs from over twenty to four and the Māori health authority. Even though the right wing had been complaining about the inefficiency of too many boards for years, when a left-wing government does it it's branded as a socialist central government takeover. After $50 million dollars was spent pursuing the four mega board we appear to be right back where we started. Except we're not. Lester Levy has been cutting the workforce, and the workforce feels hollowed out. We have more funding than ever and yet it didn't keep pace with inflation. And to cope with the waiting lists that have built up over the decade, patients are being directed to the private system. The upshot is that the public system is slowly withering. While it's a good time to be a shareholder in a private health facility. We seem to be heading towards a two-tier health system. One for those with money and one for those without. And increasingly if you don't have health insurance, you're playing a waiting game about who will see you first. St Peter or the surgeon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former Health New Zealand chair says a lot of the estimate issues we're seeing carry over from the DHBs. The health service has reported a $1.1 billion deficit – lower than the $1.76 billion it was initially signalling. The revised deficit was revealed at yesterday's review of the Ministry of Health, and has prompted backlash from opposition MPs. Former Chair Rob Campbell told Ryan Bridge that Health New Zealand's trying to pull together figures from the previous system. He says the main people in control have been the Ministry of Health and Treasury, which haven't had any changes made to them in this respect. Campbell says that Health New Zealand, the Commissioner, and whoever's involved in its organisation, can't staff-cut and staff-restrict costs to make this better. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister says he's confident people aren't being booted from hospital waitlists so Health New Zealand can meets targets. A letter obtained by RNZ reveals some referrals from a Palmerston North orthopaedic clinic are being knocked back, due to a lack of resources. Shane Reti says checks are in place to ensure targets aren't gamed. He says Health New Zealand is investigating the letter. "As the 20 DHBs came together, there were a lot of different protocols - bringing them all into one place is what they're looking to do, but certainly, that is not the policy." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The press conference yesterday for Health New Zealand - Boy, Oh boy, what a doozy. So they've appointed Lester Levy as the commissioner, the CEO Margie Apa was there alongside him. She's been in the job two years, that's how long the organisation's been set up for. They're overspending $130 million a month. We know that — that can be nothing more than mismanagement if you take Levy's word for it. He says they don't need more money. They basically just don't know how to spend efficiently within the organisation as it stands. So, that's mismanagement short and simple start to finish. And the whole thing for me was a farce. They said we need to push into the regions, that's where the decision making is made. What? Isn't that what we said we didn't need? We needed more centralisation, we needed a national service and now we're going out to the regions again. Why did we spend all this money to set this organisation up? It's so frustrating to listen to. They also said we're never going to achieve the proper transition from the DHBs to this new organisation in two years. Are you serious? Imagine a private business changing its operating model and two years in saying, oh, the change hasn't worked but it's still early days, it just wouldn't happen. And then there was this levy who sits on a whole bunch of boards and knows what he's talking about, casually said that their spending controls and checks and balances are not up to scratch. "Internal and management controls are much weaker than I would have expected. So we have spending problems all over the show". What an absolute cluster. I hate to be negative, I really do, I know it's early in the morning. Just a simple we request from me, let's make sure that when we appoint boards and executives that they actually know what they're doing, they can read a spreadsheet. Good luck Lester, I think you'll need it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Health Minister is vowing not to undertake major structural change to the health system, with the exception of disestablishing the Māori Health Authority.  The health system reforms, including the scrapping of the 20 DHBs and replacing them with Te Whatu Ora, was widely criticised by National in Opposition.  Shane Reti told Mike Hosking that the sector is tired.  He says the College of GPs have told him if he makes major changes, they'll fight him, so there'll be a period where they stabilise things and provide a clear direction of travel.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Maori Health Authority is already tracking behind government commitments. The Hauora Maori Advisory Committee report shows Te Aka Whai Ora underspent by about $66 million in its first financial year. National's Health Spokesman Shane Reti told Mike Hosking that he's surprised how bad things are. He says only Maori staff were transferred over from the old DHBs, instead of picking people who had the skills needed. However, the Government says this isn't true. They say transfers from the old DHB's and Manatu Hauora included transfers of business units and functions like the Maori Health Directorate and some of the Commissioning functions. These business units have both Maori and non-Maori staff.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Education Minister Jan Tinetti joins Q+A to discuss a wide range of issues in the sector. Author Emily King looks at how New Zealand produces food. Finally, Te Whatu Ora Health NZ CEO Margie Apa reflects on one year since DHBs were scrapped.

It's been one year since Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora replaced DHBs. In that time, have things improved in the health system? Health NZ boss Margie Apa reflects on how things are going.

Victoria discusses two recent big developments involving pharmacy retailers - The move to scrap a $5 prescription charge and a victory by independent pharmacies in their case against Countdown supermarkets. A key argument the independents made was that the DHBs had been wrongly swayed by Countdown pharmacies' policy to waive the government's $5 prescription fee on most medicines. What does this mean for the sector and for the likes of Chemist Warehouse. Victoria also looks at commercial property trends. BusinessDesk investigations editor, Victoria Young

Covid-19, flu, RSV and other respiratory illnesses are on the rise as we inch towards winter, so Te Whatu Ora launched its winter preparedness plan this week with the aim of easing the pain for already overstretched hospitals.  The government argues its reforms unifying the 20 DHBs have allowed it to better prepare. The plan promises to bring the health system closer to people - into the home, pharmacies and rest homes - but the opposition and health workers alike worry there's too few frontline workers to staff it.  In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Anneke Smith considers the government's health plan and the workforce challenge it faces.

I am so disappointed to hear Rob Campbell finally admitting that the health system is in crisis. He said it this morning in a round of interviews talking about his speech last night, which was all about him slamming the health reforms. He said the new health system is in a "crisis situation".   Yes, it is in crisis. We can all see that. So why didn't he say that when he was still in charge of the health system?  He had so many opportunities. In fact, he was on this show on the first of November and we asked him if the health system was in crisis. We asked him repeatedly. And he did everything to avoid just saying “yes”. He said “oh look, we've got a number of crises”. And “debating” whether it's a crisis “is not really the point” and “inflammatory language doesn't really help”. But he wouldn't say: “Yes, it's in crisis.” But that is exactly when he should've admitted it, because then he could've fixed it. It's no good him admitting it now, he's been sacked from his job. He's just a civilian like the rest of us. Him admitting it is a crisis is only slightly more valuable than you admitting it is a crisis, because neither you nor he can fix it from the outside.  You know, most of what he says is true. From what I hear from others involved in the health system and the scrapping of the DHBs, there are people in the system who deliberately tried to slow the reform down to save their own jobs. Yes, there are too many managers who are rubbish at their jobs and the reform was a half-baked idea. But he should've had the courage to say this stuff before he got the sack, because then the minister would've listened to him and we would've listened to him.  Unfortunately now, he might right, but he might also just be bitter. So much fewer people are listening. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is being urged to chuck our health reforms on its policy bonfire. The Prime Minister yesterday announced cuts to multiple transport initiatives, to free up funds for the cost of living crisis. Orion Health's executive director says the now-completed merging of District Health Boards into Te Whatu Ora should be next. Ian McRae says DHBs weren't perfect, but were locally led. He says the best example is Canterbury's quick response after the earthquake but now local decision making has disappeared.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year has seen the beginning of a complete overhaul of the health system, from our hospitals to primary care, and everything in between. Rob Campbell is the chair of Te Whatu Ora / Health New Zealand which was established in July, along with the Maori Health Authority. He is tasked with bringing 20 DHBs together, including 80,000 staff and more than 200,000 staff in funded agencies, with a focus on reducing inequity, while eliminating duplication, waste, and bureaucracy. But the challenges are myriad: chronic staff shortages, burn out, IT systems that don't talk to each other, GPS and primary health care professionals who say the funding system is broken and tens of thousands of patients waiting months for surgery. What has been achieved so far, what is the road ahead and when will we see change?

In this year's budget, the Government said it has increased Pharmac's funding by 43 percent over the last 5 years. To get that huge increase, the Government simply took money from the DHB Hospital Medicine budget and gave it to Pharmac, according to new data from NZIER. The NZIER Principal Health Economist, Sarah Hogan, is among the people who have been looking into this. "There has been a little bit of new money going into Pharmac to fund new medicines and other things that fall under the combined pharmaceutical budget, but most of the increase we've seen has been the transfer of medicines that were purchased by DHBs for use within hospitals." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nurses have held rallies around the country over what they say is pay disparity between community nurses and their counterparts in hospitals. Their union says nurses who work in primary care such as GP clinics and for Plunket, are being paid much less than Te Whatu Ora nurses. Aanei te kai ripoata a Krystal Gibbens.  

Some doctors have serious concerns about the lack of transparency coming from Te Whatu Ora / Health NZ, after the closure of District Health Boards. Previously, the DHBs had an open door policy and shared papers prior to meetings. Te Whatu Ora's board chair, Rob Campbell, dismissed the concerns when talking to Morning Report yesterday. Lower Hutt gastroenterologist and former member of the Hutt Valley DHB Dr Richard Stein is dismayed at those comments. He spoke to Corin Dann.

The Health Minister is standing firm on Health New Zealand's lack of public meetings. The organisation does not allow the public or journalists to attend its monthly board meetings or view meeting agendas - unlike the 20 district health boards it replaced. National has condemned what it calls the reduction in transparency. But Andrew Little told Mike Hosking any loss of transparency is negligible as DHBs used to exclude the public from much of their meetings anyway. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand is shutting out the public from its monthly board meetings. Chair Rob Campbell has defended the decision, saying the former DHBs were required by legislation to have open meetings but also had private ones. Jan Tinetti has hinted at changes to how kids are taught how to read. Appearing on TVNZ's Q+A, she made clear her support of reverting back to phonics (sounding out the letters to make the word) like New South Wales has. Trevor Mallard has said that he would accept a knighthood if offered one. Despite his republican leanings, Mallard made the comments in an interview when discussing his Dublin appointment. The Government has made changes to the cost of living payments ahead of the second one coming this week. Revenue Minister David Parker made changes to the scheme after Auditor-General John Ryan slammed the first round in a letter to Inland Revenue Commissioner Peter Mersi. Hayden Munro and David Farrar joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on The HuddleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From our water supply to our polytechnics, we're eschewing regional control for a more centralised approach. Why?

District Health Boards around the country were never directly consulted about whether international nurses should be left off the list for super fast residency visas. The government has repeatedly said it consulted with the health sector, including district health boards, over the decision not to include nurses in the 'green list' But in documents revealed to our immigration reporter Gill Bonnett , that appears not to be the case.  Immigration reporter Gill Bonnett has been looking into this.

Neale, Brigitte and Kathryn discuss a range of issues on the political agenda, including Jacinda Ardern's business trip to Australia this week straight off the back of her northern hemisphere visit which netted an FTA with Europe. Also, changes are coming to donations law - will it increase transparency or make people less likely to donate? And goodbye DHBs, hello Health NZ, we look at the new system that's been launched as the health sector comes under extreme pressure. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of Capital Government Relations. Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government.

Neale, Brigitte and Kathryn discuss a range of issues on the political agenda, including Jacinda Ardern's business trip to Australia this week straight off the back of her northern hemisphere visit which netted an FTA with Europe. Also, changes are coming to donations law - will it increase transparency or make people less likely to donate? And goodbye DHBs, hello Health NZ, we look at the new system that's been launched as the health sector comes under extreme pressure. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of Capital Government Relations. Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government.

Andrew Little has got to be having a laugh if he's trying to pretend he didn't know our health system was going to melt down like it is at the moment.Because that's essentially what his office is trying to do. They're claiming they didn't know about a letter that was sent a year ago warning of exactly this.In that letter, the DHBs asked the Government to fix the immigration system so they could get overseas workers in and so they wouldn't lose migrant staff back overseas.Otherwise our staff shortages would become ‘critical' and they would have to steal staff from planned surgeries and move them to dealing with winter illnesses.All those things they warned about are happening right now.We haven't got enough nurses. We're 4000 short.Migrant doctors and nurses have gone home because they weren't given residency, hospitals up and down the country don't have enough staff, patients up and down the country are experiences hours and hours long wait times.But Andrew Little's office reckons they weren't copied in to the letter and they only found out about it in May when the letter was released.That does not wash.Does the Minster not read the newspaper?He didn't need a letter to tell him this was happening.Just open the Herald or any other news website.July last year: Migrant doctors caught in limbo weigh up their future in NZ.February this year: Migrant doctors lured overseas as immigration woes mount.June last year: Nursing shortage: Starship Hospital workers 'commonly end up in tears', 'make mistakes' as understaffing takes its toll.February this year: Hospitals consistently understaffed, nurses overworked – report.March this year: Desperately-needed medical workers leaving New Zealand due to visa difficulties.November last year: Calls to ease path for overseas-trained health workers in NZ.October 2020: Serious health workforce burden looms: Experts say more migrant workers needed.August last year: Calls for medical staff to be prioritised for residency: 'We need to look at it like an emergency.We all knew this was coming and we're not even health experts.We just read the news and care about the country.Both of those things you'd hope the minister does as well.In any case, as the Nats have pointed out, the letter is copied to Amy Wilson Acting DDG Health Workforce at the Health Ministry.She's a senior staffer.So unless Andrew Little's not reading the news AND not talking to his officials he must've known.I can see why he's trying to plead ignorance because the counterfactual is worse.That is that he did know and he did very little to stop it. But that's probably more likely the truth, isn't it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Minister Andrew Little is being accused of spending too much on reform, rather than access to healthcare.The country's 20 DHBs warned the Government a year ago of "critical workforce issues", calling it an "unsustainable situation".They wrote to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, warning some overloaded hospitals were at "code red".National Party Health spokesperson Dr. Shane Reti told Mike Hosking the minister failed to act on warnings from the sector.He says the letter's gloomy prognosis has now come true.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GP clinics opened their doors for free visits over the weekend, funded by the DHBs in Auckland and Wellington. While it's taking some of the strain from overloaded emergency departments, it means GPs are shouldering yet more of the load. Medical Director of the College of GPs Dr Bryan Betty talks to Nick Truebridge.  

GPs say they're at breaking point, and a recent funding offer from the outgoing DHBs and interim Health New Zealand is "insulting and insufficient". Primary Health Organisations have been in negotiations over a capitation percentage increase, which is the principal mechanism that sets the funding of general practice. GPs who are part of a PHO receive a base level of funding per patient visit and are allowed to charge a co-payment. Every year, GPs do more than 20 million consultations with patients, funded with around one billion dollars from the goverment. But family doctors say they're stretched to breaking point, and the three per cent increase that has been offered is way off the mark. Kathryn speaks with Dr Samantha Murton, President of the College of General Practitioners.

A North Shore doctor says he is waking up at 4am worried about his patients after working gruelling 12-hour shifts seeing up to 62 patients a day."I'm burnt out and I've already been in tears ... the whole health system is falling to bits," medical director at Northcare Accident & Emergency Peter Boot told the Herald.His comments come as hospitals across the country have been inundated with people fighting Covid and other winter bugs. GPs were also seeing an overflow of patients diverted from overwhelmed emergency departments (EDs) due to long waits.New data, released under the Official Information Act, revealed nearly 3000 patients waited longer than six hours to be treated at New Zealand's busiest ED last month.The target is for 95 per cent of ED patients to be admitted, discharged or transferred within six hours.Last week, the Herald reported a "healthy" 50-year-old women died with a brain bleed after allegedly being told by staff at Middlemore Hospital's ED there would be an eight-hour wait before she was examined, sparking an urgent review. Health Minister Andrew Little acknowledges the huge workload of GPs and says it is not sustainable. Photo / Mark MitchellBoot said Monday was the busiest day he had experienced in his nearly 40-year career."It's terrible, it's very, very tough. However I come from a family of doctors and we are not quitters," Boot said.Lately, Boot had started work at 7am and didn't leave the clinic until 7pm. On Monday, he saw 62 patients with many coming from ED where the wait times were unbearable.To perform "safe proper medicine" a GP should be seeing about 20 patients a day, he said."It is very bad."He said some people couldn't see their own GPs because doctors were tired and had "given up during Covid" or were frightened of dealing with respiratory illnesses."There isn't enough doctors and they are just overrun and don't have any more appointments.""I've had to cancel my last three lots of leave and I usually wake up about 4am thinking about my patients and the scary issues at the moment."Broadcaster Toni Street took her injured child to Boot's clinic to treat a head wound on Monday.Yesterday, she thanked the overwhelmed medical staff and revealed to the Herald her son was Boot's 58th patient that day and the doctor had been close to burnout.The OIA figures show Middlemore Hospital's ED managed only 68 per cent of patients within six hours last month, leaving 32 per cent (2791) waiting longer than the target treatment time.Delays at the South Auckland ED had worsened dramatically since last winter when 79 per cent of patients were managed within six hours, still below target.However, Health Minister Andrew Little disputed the data, saying ED wait times fluctuated and it was impossible to establish a pattern from one month."One month data does not tell a picture about the system as a whole. Winter is a particularly bad time, they have bad months as suddenly a lot more people turn up. We have a huge surge at the moment."The Ministry of Health would work with "problematic DHBs" to help ease patient overflow when concerning trends were identified, he said.Little acknowledged that GPs were working "extraordinary hours" which wasn't sustainable.He suggested GPs may need to reassess their workloads.For instance, "whether someone with a muscle strain but is otherwise healthy and fit needs to see a GP or if they could go straight to physiotherapist."Little also suggested a person who was feeling "fluey" but was otherwise healthy could be seen by another health professional like a nurse practitioner. National's health spokesman Shane Reti says a comprehensive plan is needed for after-hours care. Photo / Mark MitchellNational's health spokesman Shane Reti said the OIA data showed the longest a patient waited at Middlemore ED last...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Overworked, understaffed and under extreme pressure. That's not just the situation at Middlemore Hospital but also at almost every other DHB in the country, with a massive influx of patients suffering winter illnesses arriving at the same time as staff are going off sick. Ruth Hill reports.

The biggest health overhaul in a generation is just one step away from becoming law.The Bill which will see the 20 DHBs replaced by Health NZ, alongside a Māori Health Authority, has passed its third reading in Parliament 77 votes to 42.The Act comes into force next month.Health Minister Andrew Little told Mike Hosking $75 million has been spent on making the change so far.He says setting up Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority take time but all the machinery is there ready to go.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has signed an historic free trade deal with the European Union, after four years of negotiations. It's the biggest healthcare change in a generation the country's DHBs are out, and a new central agency has taken over. Corrections has been breaking the law by gassing prisoners in their cells with pepper spray.

Christchurch Hospital is putting off planned surgery as it deals with "extremely high levels of acutely unwell people". Compounding the problem is staff shortages because of Covid. It's an issue shared by several DHBs around the country ahead of the official start of winter tomorrow. Soumya Bhamidipati reports.

A new pay offer could see allied health professionals get paid more than a KFC worker, according to their union. The workers are basically everyone outside of doctors and nurses. Last week about 10,000 of them went on strike over stalled paid negotiations with the DHBs. But the latest pay offer has been made public in this afternoon and PSA organiser Will Matthews is here to talk through the details.  

An extra $350 in the back pockets of more than two million New Zealanders is what the government is promising in Budget 2022. The surprise cherry on top of today's budget is aimed at easing the pain of sky high inflation, hitting the household finances. But the lion's share of the cake goes to health with a record $11.1 billion, as the government presses ahead with its plan to scrap DHBs and replace them with a central agency. Finance Minister Grant Robertson wanted a balanced budget so did he get it right. Here's our deputy political editor Craig McCulloch.

Health was a centre piece of the budget - capturing more than eleven billion dollars in funding as the Government presses ahead with its plan to replace DHBs with a centralised health service. Health Minister Andrew Little spoke to Morning Report.

National's health spokesperson Shane Reti says Hutt Valley District Health Board is not the only one with major building problems. It's been revealed that the DHB's main block has been rated at 15 percent of the National Building Standard, and it could be emptied for safety reasons. Dr Reti says seven other DHBs have buildings with similar, and worse, compliance issues. He spoke to Susie Ferguson.

District Health Boards aim to restart pay talks this week.Allied health workers including dental therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and anaesthetic technicians have walked off the job.Emergency care is still available.An 11th-hour offer by the DHBs to stop the strike was turned down and labelled as a kick in the guts by the Public Service Association.Health Minister Andrew Little told Mike Hosking it's not a simple pay dispute.“The difficulty with this group of members, there's 10,000, is that it straddles about 70 different occupations. Some of them are paid reasonably well at $130,000-$150,000 sort of range, some of them are paid very low.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allied health workers are taking a stand against poor pay.Workers from 70 professions are awaiting a pay offer from DHBs after a recent recommendation from the Employment Relations Authority. From today, they'll work only their rostered hours and take scheduled breaks but are threatening bigger action next week. Occupational therapist Dianna told Mike Hosking a significant number of workers have already left the sector.“It is very hard to recruit to those positions. There's a complex situation, but part of the issue is the low pay and the overwork and the undervaluation that the workforce is under currently.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waikato nurses who put their hand up to help in MIQ, say they aren't able to get their old jobs back.The nurses who previously worked at Waikato Hospital, understood they'd be able to return to their roles after their MIQ work was done.While other DHBs redeployed their nurses on a secondment basis, those at Waikato DHB were given new permanent positions.Nurses' Organisation Chief Executive Paul Goulter told Mike Hosking it's a shocking situation.“I'd have thought, right across all the DHBs, they'd welcome these people back with open arms and pop them straight back on the roster.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has shared which regions have been selected as the first 'locality networks' of the new health system. It's exactly a year since the government announced it would scrap the country's 20 DHBs for a new entity - Health New Zealand. Health Minister Andrew Little was in Horowhenua today to explain how local voices will fit in the new system. Our political reporter Anneke Smith was there.

Experts back the "cautious" call to stay in the red Covid setting at least until Easter as, while cases are declining, Auckland still leads the country in hospitalisations per capita.Meanwhile, hospitality representatives say they are "gutted" and question why there has been no movement given low transmission rates at venues.But with the health system near bursting point, experts warn everything possible needs to be done to avoid another "wave" of Omicron, as seen in other countries, with winter arriving and the border reopening likely to reintroduce a range of infectious diseases.From today controversial vaccine passes will no longer be required, and Government-enforced vaccine mandates will be limited to the health and disability, aged-care, Corrections and border workforce sectors.Ahead of Monday's traffic light decision had been hints of a further loosening of restrictions in a move to orange and removing indoor gathering limits, and at least for Auckland where cases were well past the peak.The reasoning had been a steady decline in daily Omicron cases - down 36 per cent from two weeks ago - hospitalisations beginning to slow and high vaccination coverage coupled with natural immunity gained from infection.But while case numbers in Auckland had slowed each of its three DHBs remained with the three highest hospitalisation rates per capita in the country, with Counties Manukau at the top with 134 patients.Auckland made up close to half of the 734 current hospitalisations - a large drop from about 600 a few weeks ago, but still at the high end of pre-outbreak models."The trends are all in the right direction but with the hospitals still under pressure it makes sense to be cautious," Covid-19 modeller Michael Plank said."A move to orange might not cause a second wave in itself, but it could increase it a little or prolong that decline."It comes as doctors and nurses have been raising concerns in recent weeks about the pressures on the stretched health system, with the added issue of staff contracting the virus themselves.Plank said greater caution was also needed with the border reopening to more Kiwis from overseas, along with international visitors progressively from April 12, with potential for other infectious diseases.A major tool remained the vaccine, he said, with still about a million eligible people yet to get their booster shot, which was highly effective at reducing severe illness from Omicron and pressure on the health system.Public health expert Dr Collin Tukuitonga said that given international evidence of multiple waves of Omicron it made sense to stay at red a little longer."It is about how we can protect best the health system. Those hospital numbers are not as acute but even so, that is still a lot."The system is under stress, and hospitalisations are just one indicator. There are many cases treated by GPs, nurses in the community and through Māori and Pasifika providers."Tukuitonga said the border reopening would likely see the reintroduction of "bugs from the past", such as influenza, adding extra pressure."The big problem would be if we got another wave coinciding with flu in the winter."Meanwhile, many hospitality sector representatives have expressed disappointment at the ongoing gathering limits.Hospitality NZ chief executive Julie White said she was at a loss as to how that decision had been made, given the Government had already admitted that hospitality venues were not considered vectors of the virus."The Prime Minister said two weeks ago that they now have the data that shows our venues aren't the vectors that are spreading it. It's down to around 6 per cent [of all transmission]."We're at a loss as to why we're not moving."Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Auckland's hospitalisations remained above highest modelled scenarios. Photo / Mark MitchellThe...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big questions are being raised over whether hospitals are accurately reporting their massive spending on often highly paid contractors. There's a warning the health reforms could make the public reporting worse National says the Auditor General should investigate. Phil Pennington reports. The Office of the Auditor General says it audits DHB annual reports but not other specific information they provide to select committees. It says DHBs are not required to separately disclose expenditure on contractors and consultants. The Health Reform Transition Unit says there is a genuine need for contractors and consultants It says ensuring accurate and transparent reporting back is already a priority in the public sector and a centralised system will support standardised approaches.

An Auckland nurse says a bonus being offered to already tired nurses has been snapped up but left nurses even more exhausted. Nurses, midwives and others employed by the region's district health boards have been given an extra $500 allowance on top of their normal pay for extra shifts overnight. A nurses' union delegate at Waitemata DHB, Di McCulloch, says the payment is about to end but it shows the DHBs know how critically short staffing is. She spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Questions to Ministers TAMATI COFFEY to the Minister for the Environment: What changes has the Government made to urban planning rules in Rotorua? NICOLA WILLIS to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner's statement that "Conditions are ripe for a wage price spiral", and is he confident that in 2022 New Zealanders' wage growth, as measured by the labour cost index, will exceed inflation, as measured by the CPI? GREG O'CONNOR to the Minister of Police: What reports has she seen regarding efforts by Police to disrupt organised crime? JAN LOGIE to the Minister of Health: Does he believe the DHBs' approach to the current negotiation with allied, scientific, and technical health workers will improve job satisfaction and retention among the 70-plus groups represented in that negotiation? JO LUXTON to the Minister of Tourism: What announcements has the Government recently made about supporting the tourism sector? Dr SHANE RETI to the Minister of Health: How many of the 300,000 at-risk young people have been vaccinated in the measles catch-up campaign announced in July 2020, and what other non-COVID vaccination efforts are there, if any, to protect New Zealanders this winter? NAISI CHEN to the Minister for Broadcasting and Media: What recent announcements has the Government made about strengthening public media? ERICA STANFORD to the Minister of Immigration: Does he stand by all his statements and actions on immigration? SHANAN HALBERT to the Minister for Maori Development: What reports has he seen on cadetships? MELISSA LEE to the Minister for Broadcasting and Media: How much has he been advised the merger of TVNZ and Radio New Zealand will cost, and how much ongoing taxpayer funding, if any, will the new public media entity he is creating receive? NICOLE McKEE to the Minister of Police: Does she stand by all her statements and policies regarding firearms? RACHEL BOYACK to the Associate Minister of Housing (Homelessness): What recent report has she seen on the progress of the Homelessness Action Plan?

The Nurses Society says Auckland hospital staff are under an extreme burden - as Covid ravages staffing numbers. Nurses, midwives and other support staff at the three DHBs are being offered a $500 bonus for every night shift they work - to try to combat the shortages. Director David Wills told Mike Hosking the added money shows how desperate the DHBs are for staff. He says while it's not business as usual in any part of the health service - it's been particularly difficult for the metro DHBs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A RAT race is on as tens of thousands of people try to source Rapid Antigen Tests amid the growing omicron outbreak. RATs are now the primary testing method and kits are available at retail outlets, or free through DHBs for those who are symptomatic or close contacts. But with reports of some people on-selling the tests - and community testing centres dealing with aggressive behaviour from people demanding kits - health officials are at pains to point out there are plenty to go around. Nita Blake-Persen reports.

Friday's planned strike by thousands of Allied Health workers at public hospitals nationwide has been called off. The PSA pulled the plug on the day-long strike from 6am, and a strike planned for March 18, following a last minute Employment Court decision. The court said the industrial action is illegal because it was over an equal pay claim. District Health Boards spokesperson Keriana Brooking spoke to Susie Ferguson.

PSA organiser Will Matthews says his organisation is 'really, really dismayed' by a legal attempt by district health boards to thwart planned strike action over stalled wage talks. The union is planning to strike from 6am on Friday. On Thursday the Employment Court will consider, under urgency, a last-minute injunction filed by DHBs to prevent strike action. The court's expected to release its decision later on Thursday allowing limited time for the union to communicate with its members. Matthews spoke to Corin Dann.

The Employment Court will meet under urgency on Thursday to consider an injunction to stop a planned strike by Allied Health workers at public hospitals tomorrow. The injunction was lodged by District Health Boards, who want the union, the Public Service Association, to lift the strike notice. DHBs argue the strike would bundle pay equity and wage issues together, and at a bad time, during Omicron. Allied health workers reject this, saying the DHB employers have had plenty of time before now to address the issues. DHB spokesperson Keriana Brooking spoke to Susie Ferguson

Hospital, community and outpatient services could be postponed for 24 hours if a planned strike by Allied Health workers goes ahead. District Health Boards have asked the Employment Court to stop Friday's strike, in which around 10-thousand PSA members are expected to participate. The boards argue facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority is already set down for Monday and Tuesday. Hawke's Bay DHB Chief Executive Keriana Brooking told Mike Hosking it's vital staff continue working during these unprecedented times. “I think with the acceleration of Omicron, particularly over the past week, we really need to stop and we're asking PSA to rethink that action.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes the appointment of New Zealand's first Aged Care Commissioner will provide a voice for the sector.Carolyn Cooper, former Managing Director of Bupa Villages & Aged Care, has been appointed as the inaugural commissioner.Radius Care Managing Director Brian Cree says the industry is full of hard-working people.He told Mike Hosking they're dealing with systemic issues.“It's chronically underfunded. We can't get enough nurses into the country, we can't pay them the same as the DHBs because we're not funded enough.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.