On this page you'll find information outlining the system achievements for primary and community care as part of the health system reform implementation roadmap.
Horizon 1 – Financial year 2022-2024
- National strategic networks established to enhance universal service design across the lifespan, including living, ageing, mentally and starting well
-
Responsible organisation: Health New Zealand
Context
Strategic networks have been designed to work alongside the National Clinical Networks to guide the national system design activity. They will take a population health outcomes approach and seek to enhance health access and outcomes across the lifespan from pre-conception through to end of life. At the heart of the networks will be redesigning systems of care that address our Te Tiriti obligations, whilst also addressing Māori equity and equity across other population groups.
What will be achieved
Establish five national strategic networks to support the priority areas:
- Pae ora | Better health in our communities (led via the national public health service)
- Starting Well
- Living Well.
- Mentally Well
- Ageing Well
More information
- Review contracting arrangements to support new models of care & service
-
Responsible organisation: Health New Zealand
Context
Current contracting arrangements are not efficient and effective. Contract arrangements need to enable service delivery to meet identified priorities, and must avoid duplication, be more consistent, and enable more streamlined engagement and contract management for larger care providers with nationwide service delivery footprints.
What will be achieved
Completion of the review for all current contract arrangements for models of care and health services as well as identifying opportunities to improve these (for example, with standardised terms and conditions). This will be supported by a plan to create and transition to new contracting arrangements for services.
More information
- National Rural Clinical Telehealth implemented
-
Responsible organisation: Health New Zealand
Context
Over 700,000 New Zealanders, live in rural parts of Aotearoa. This rural population has a greater percentage of children, older people and Māori compared to urban areas. Compared to urban populations, people living rurally, particularly Māori, Pacific and those on lower incomes, face inequitable access to care. Poorer access to health services relates to barriers around costs, socioeconomic deprivation, geography and distance, transport and telecommunication limitations, and the design of services.
What will be achieved
National clinical telehealth services will be expanded for rural communities to increase local access, connectivity and continuity of care for the local community and workforce. Clinical telehealth services provided to rural communities will be reliable and deliver sustainable afterhours access.
More information
- All locality plans agreed
-
Responsible organisation: Health New Zealand
Context
Localities will play an important role in the primary and community health care system, the wider health system, and in social sector integration. They are a key mechanism that assist with understanding local needs and aspirations, and enabling Health New Zealand to organise, coordinate and respond in an effective way.
What will be achieved
Localities defined and locality plans developed according to planning requirements and schedules. Each locality will have a plan in place that determines hauora priorities. Local communities and whanau have been enabled to influence the design, funding and delivery of their local health care services through the development of these plans, including:
- Role and function of localities within primary and community and wider health and social support systems agreed
- Locality borders determined
- Locality plans completed and agreed by Te Whatu Ora, Te Aka Whai Ora and the relevant IMPB
- Locality plans set out the priority outcomes and services for the locality
- All parts of Aotearoa are covered by a locality by July 2024
- A list of all localities (including their geographical areas) is made publicly available
More information
Achieved 2022-23
- Review of Primary & Community Care settings and arrangements
-
Responsible organisation: Ministry of Health
Context
The majority of New Zealanders access the health system through their local primary and community health care services, however it fails to deliver effectively for many people. Designing our system to deliver effective prevention is also critical to building a financially sustainable system given the range of challenges in the health system context and broader environment, including demographic, climatic, and economic change.
What has been achieved
Agreement to the design features that will underpin primary and community healthcare in Aotearoa will result in a framework for localities and the policy parameters for developing localities, to support the implementation of locality plans.
More information
Horizon 2 – Financial year 2024-2027
- Pacific networks established
-
Responsible organisation: Health New Zealand
Context
Local health providers will be networked together so that people with more complex needs are better able to access different parts of the health system. Provider networks will include service providers, including kaupapa Māori and Pacific providers, working together to deliver better care for whānau regardless of how they first access services. For Pacific communities, this needs strengthening.
What will be achieved
Pacific networks are established and funded, building on existing Pacific networks. New networks will be developed where there are current gaps, which include churches and other community groups, to develop, support and implement the engagement framework.
More information
- Primary options for acute care (POAC) in place
-
Responsible organisation: Health New Zealand
Context
Implementation of options arising from the review of Primary Options for Acute (and Ambulatory) Care (which provides a strategic path for a nationally aligned programme).
What will be achieved
Introduction of a nationally aligned programme for primary options for acute care is in place to support patients and whānau in the community to avoid hospital admission (Phase 1: One-off regional uplift for acute POAC for winter 2023 in selected areas, Phase 2: Wider national uplift of POAC from October 2023).
More information