The Influencers: Peter Townsend

A win for us all

Changes as a result of The Health and Disability System Review are advancing, so far pretty much within the original timeframe specified.

The end of June sees the demise of the District Health Boards across New Zealand Aotearoa, concurrent with momentum gaining in the new entities – The Maori Health Authority and Health NZ.

Initially most existing local activities will be rolled into these new entities so there will be no radical change in health delivery.

Change is coming. That means it will be critical to ensure that while we all embrace the changes and opportunities for better co-ordinated, improved, and more equitable health outcomes, we do not lose those unique parts of the Canterbury health system that have served us so well.

In Canterbury we have a reputation for developing and adopting innovative health support systems. Doing some things differently has served us well through the major challenges we have faced, especially in recent years.

A variety of unique initiatives have enabled our health system and our dedicated health workers to perform at a very high level. Innovation is very much at the core of the national reforms, and my hope is that as change occurs, the unique capabilities that have evolved in Canterbury can be protected and populated across the whole New Zealand Health ecosystem. That will be a big win for all.