Health NZ wants to cut four chief medical officer roles

By Phil Pennington, RNZ Health New Zealand (HNZ) wants to reduce the number of chief medical officers, from 18 to 14 nationwide, while also promising not to cut front-line medical roles. The senior doctors’ union says this will lead to a reduction in critical clinical leadership roles overseeing safe patient care in hospitals around the country. The proposal is to cut the four roles by integrating the small health regions of South Canterbury, Wairarapa, the West Coast and Whanganui into neighbouring larger ones, and merging the Lakes and Bay of Plenty regions’ leadership.

The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) union said some chief medical officers’ jobs would grow in size, while others’ jobs would disappear..