Health Campus Aims To Cure Health Worker Shortage

MEDIA RELEASE 3 December 2009

Health Campus Aims To Cure Health Worker Shortage

Waitemata DHB is planning a Health Campus for education, research and innovation to support the training of health professionals in the district.

The objective of the initiative is to build on existing education and research strengths and also foster new centres of excellence.

The proposed campus would include a new education and research centre at North Shore Hospital and be linked with tertiary education institutions, other DHBs and primary and community care providers to create a district-wide network.

The University of Auckland, AUT University, Unitec and Massey University all support the project.

Waitemata DHB chair, Dr Lester Levy, said: “As the largest DHB in New Zealand, it is important that we take the lead in education, research and innovation. This virtual and physical Health Campus will help address the shortage of health professionals in Auckland and help Waitemata DHB attract and retain the best people.”

The project is proposed to be in three phases. The first of these is to strengthen current education and research activities in the district, including those at Waitakere and North Shore hospitals. The second phase is to involve primary care and the third phase will be to develop an education, research and innovation centre at North Shore Hospital. This will be linked with tertiary education institutions, other DHBs and community-based activities including primary care and Waitakere Hospital to form the network.

Dr Dale Bramley, Waitemata DHB’s general manager, planning and funding, and project sponsor, explained: “Initially we will build on our existing community-based training activities including the training centre at Wellsford. We will also be integrating all our internal learning and research activities and linking them with education partners and their activities, so that we have a joined-up approach to education and research.”

The technology infrastructure used for the network will enable remote tele-learning and it may also be possible to use it for tele-medicine in the future.

Iain Martin, Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health at the University of Auckland, said: “Internationally, the university-hospital model fosters both service and research excellence. Through this collaboration with the Waitemata DHB, we are aiming to significantly increase the number of medical students and other health professionals being trained to address very real workforce shortages and to provide a unique opportunity for students to experience a range of rural, urban, community hospital based care settings. The result must be better equipped health professionals who can deliver better service and care for patients”

Professor Max Abbott, pro vice-chancellor and dean of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences at AUT University, said: “meeting workforce needs and enhancing health service efficiency and effectiveness are major challenges facing the health sector. This new initiative will help address these issues and support the DHB mission to ‘make a healthy difference.’ It will assist the University to greatly expand graduate numbers across the spectrum of health professions and stimulate workforce innovation, inter-professional learning and research and collaborative practice.”

Wendy Horne, executive dean of The Faculty of Social and Health Sciences at Unitec Institute of Technology, said: "Unitec has recently co-located all its health science and social practice education to its Waitakere Campus in Henderson which is close to Waitemata DHB's Waitakere Hospital site. This development will greatly enhance collaborative opportunities with this Health Campus imitative. The initiative will enable Unitec to work alongside the DHB and other tertiary education providers to address health and social development workforce shortages in north-west Auckland and to contribute to improving the health and well-being of local communities."

John Raine, regional chief executive at Massey's Albany campus, said: "Massey University is committed to excellence in teaching and research, and to providing an industry-relevant and quality learning experience for its students who can respond appropriately to community health needs. Working collaboratively with Waitemata District Health Board's Health Campus will further strengthen Massey University's capability in delivering to health consumer and health service needs. The health campus is also an excellent opportunity for us to help to reduce the shortage of health professionals, and to advance the skills of the health workforce."

ENDS

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