Patients now the focus of the health system

Patients will be at the heart of New Zealand’s health system under legislation passed by Parliament today that strengthens accountability, reduces bureaucracy, and keeps the focus on delivering better healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

"The Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Act makes it clear that the health system exists to serve patients. It strengthens accountability, restores a focus on delivery, and ensures every part of the system is working towards better health outcomes for New Zealanders.

"It puts patients at the heart of the health system by making timely access to quality healthcare a core purpose of the Act and requiring health entities to deliver measurable results."

Mr Brown says the legislation is a key part of the Government's work to improve health system performance after years of poor outcomes.

"The previous law was too focused on bureaucracy instead of patients. It created confusing expectations through vague principles and a health charter that did not once use the word 'patients', while mentioning unions 11 times.

"New Zealanders expect the health system to deliver timely, quality care, not more process and paperwork. This legislation puts that expectation into law."

The legislation supports the Government's focus on putting patients first, including by:

establishing a new purpose for the Act to ensure patients receive timely access to quality health services.
requiring all health entities, including Health New Zealand, to give effect to the Government's health targets.
repealing the health sector principles and the New Zealand Health Charter, replacing them with a clearer focus on achieving measurable outcomes for patients.

Mr Brown says the changes correct a system that had lost focus on delivery.

"The previous Government scrapped health targets, centralised decision-making, and removed accountability while every major health target went backwards. Patients waited longer for emergency care, elective treatment, and specialist appointments.

"We have restored health targets because they drive performance, transparency, and accountability, and we have backed them with record investment in health and stronger support for our frontline workforce.

"That focus is already delivering results. Emergency department wait times are coming down, more patients are being seen and treated faster, childhood immunisation rates are improving, and we're investing in new hospitals and primary care so New Zealanders can access care sooner and closer to home.

"This legislation provides the framework for a more accountable and effective health system – one that delivers for New Zealanders and keeps patients at the centre." ...