Health NZ plans cuts to clinical roles in top half of North Island

Almost 100 frontline health workers will need to reapply for their jobs in a major restructure at hospitals in central New Zealand, the nation's largest union says.

Health NZ announced proposed changes at its Te Manawa Taki region, which comprises Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Tai Rāwhiti.

Under the change, 126 roles were being disestablished, 30 of which were already vacant.

And 108 roles were being created, meaning an overall loss of 17 clinical roles.

Health NZ has said most people affected will be able to be "redeployed" into new roles.

But the PSA union said they would have to reapply for the jobs with no guarantee of success, and possibly lower pay.

Union secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said it "beggars belief" that Health NZ is prioritising a restructure of frontline roles during a time of crisis in the health system.

"This is another huge change dressed up as efficiency, but what they are doing is cutting roles and wages because the government is refusing to provide hospitals with the funding they desperately need," she said.

The hospitals with impacted staff included Waikato, Tauranga, Taranaki Base, Gisborne, Whakatane, Hāwera, Taumaranui, Te Kuiti, Thames and Tokoroa Hospitals and Rhoda Read Continuing Care, Fitzsimons said.

Health NZ said clinical staff providing direct care to patients would not be impacted by the change proposal.

The region's Hospital & Specialist Services was consulting with staff on a proposal for a strengthened and consistent clinical and operational leadership design across the districts, said spokesperson Cath Cronin.

There were currently 3152 full-time equivalent operational and leadership roles in place, she said. This would increase to 3192.

The proposal would enable effective local decision-making to improve patient care and experience across the region, Cronin said.

Health NZ engaged with staff and unions late last year when developing the proposal, she said, and their continued feedback was critical in informing the final model before any decisions were made.

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