May 03, 2024
Patient care critical as cost cuts sought
Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau is looking for $8 million in savings to meet the Government’s $80 million cost-cutting drive – without cutting services.
The chief medical officer Andrew Connolly says it won’t be easy, but it’s looking at things like smarter rostering at Middlemore Hospital.
He says the unification of district health boards into Te Whai Ora Health New Zealand allowed for increased use of national purchase agreements, which can also lower costs.
“I think the staff will understand the country’s pretty short of cash and that health will never have everything it needs but there is a lot of good will to look at things where we can save money without affecting patient care,” Dr Connolly says.