National Cardiac Clinical Network Welcomed

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ATTENTION: HEALTH REPORTER

MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,
THURSDAY 16 JULY 2009

“Formation Of National Cardiac Clinical Network Welcomed; Senior Doctors Advocating Clinical Networks For Years”

“Health Minister Tony Ryall’s announcement of the formation of the National Cardiac Clinical Network is strongly welcomed by senior doctors,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.

“We have advocated national and regional clinical networks for some years following ground-breaking advances overseas, particularly New South Wales. Clinical networks based on health professional leadership and with the authority to recommend decisions on resource provision between district health boards (regionally and nationally) considerably enhance the ability to improve quality, access and cost effectiveness.”

“In a country the size of New Zealand our DHBs are too small to provide all the services their populations require. Clinical networks can overcome this by providing collaboration and coordination between DHBs based on health professional expertise.”

“To be effective clinical networks will depend on New Zealand having comprehensive publicly provided health services because they help prevent the networks from being undermined by fragmentation and competing private profit requirements. The development of the cardiac network and others should strengthen our public hospital capacity to meet the needs of the communities they serve.”

“This initiative commenced under the previous Labour led government and was taken to the next logical step by the current National led government. The point of continuity has been the Ministry of Health which deserves commendation for its support and coordinating role. This is a good example of the Health Ministry becoming more operationally focussed in its work” concluded Mr Powell.

Ian Powell

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ENDS

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