Media Release
17 February 2015 (for immediate release)
A time to act: 7 actions which will help sustain the New Zealand
health service for future generations
The PHO Alliance has this week presented the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Jonathan
Coleman, with a copy of its new publication A time to act, setting out 7 actions which will
help sustain the New Zealand health service for future generations.
“Our health service is one of the greatest in the world. But we have an ageing
population living with more long-term conditions, increasing incidence of obesity, the
challenge of technological advancement and rising public expectations, all of which are
combining to place unsustainable pressures on hospitals, general practices and aged
care providers” says PHO Alliance chairman, John Ayling.
The actions set out in A time to act are based around the two areas of:
 Reprioritising funding and services
 Removing barriers to access and eliminating perverse incentives
Dr Andrew Miller, PHO Alliance Executive Committee Member, GP and chair of Manaia
Health PHO in Northland, says that the actions are based on the concept of
„aggregation of marginal gains‟ and ask some challenging questions.
“Whilst we have a great primary care system, we know we cannot meet rising demand
using the same models of care and provision as we do now. We need to address those
areas of the current system which are failing to keep pace with demand and are failing
to address the unacceptable inequalities being experienced by our most vulnerable and
high-needs patients.”
John Ayling says some of the proposed actions will require bravery to implement given
that they confront an established way of thinking and established practice. However, he
says “improved patient outcomes must stand above existing arrangements and
organisational barriers. Now is the time to act for those communities and families most
at need.”
A time to act: 7 actions which will help sustain the New Zealand health service for future
generations is available to download from the PHO Alliance website here:
www.phoalliance.org.nz
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Philip Grant, Executive Officer, PHO Alliance
[email protected]
Tel: 022 131 8393
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Note to editors:

The PHO Alliance is a consortia of member PHOs working together to share learning, share
best practice and support better outcomes for patients

The PHO Alliance members encompass some 1.2 million New Zealanders living in some of
the most deprived communities from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

The PHO Alliance was formally established in September 2006 to provide national
leadership on key issues affecting the Primary Health Care Strategy and Primary Health
Organisations in New Zealand

The PHO Alliance guiding principle is that: “Improving health outcomes for all is best
achieved through a combination of clinical leadership and community involvement”

The PHO Alliance Vision is to be the hub for the development, exchange and promotion of
policies and strategies which advance the objectives of the Primary Health Care Strategy
through its member PHOs

The PHO Alliance operates what is believed to be a unique governance and operating
model on behalf of members. This includes the following key principles:




The PHO Alliance provides a specifically Primary Health Care focused national body
The PHO Alliance runs on a low-cost membership model which adds significant
additional value through the collective „in-kind‟ contributions made by Members
The PHO Alliance incorporates strong „on-the-ground‟ community representation
from PHO Board members with a broad skill-set and a degree of independence from
provider organisations
The PHO Alliance Executive Committee consists of:
 John Ayling, chair
 Dr Denis Lee, chair of East Health Trust and GP
 John Hunter, chair of Nelson Bays PHO
 Ian Macara, chief executive of WellSouth Primary Health Network
 Allan Marriott, chair of Rural Canterbury PHO
 Dr Andrew Miller, chair of Manaia Health PHO and GP
 Liz Stockley, chief executive officer of Health Hawke‟s Bay
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