Bay of Plenty Health Workers Face Uncertainty Under Te Whatu Ora Restructure Proposal

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora’s Midland Region has begun consulting staff on a major restructuring proposal that could affect dozens of roles across the Bay of Plenty and wider central North Island, prompting concern from unions while health leaders insist frontline patient care will not be impacted.

The proposal covers the Midland region’s Hospital and Specialist Services (H&SS), including services at Tauranga Hospital and Whakatāne Hospital, as well as hospitals across Waikato, Tairāwhiti and Taranaki.

According to Health New Zealand, the proposed changes are designed to create a more consistent clinical and operational leadership structure across the region.

Midland Executive Regional Director Cath Cronin said the proposal would not result in cuts to patient-facing clinical staff.

“Patient-facing clinical staff will not be impacted by a change proposal put forward by Health New Zealand’s Midland Region.”

Cronin said no staff in clinical-facing roles providing direct patient care were proposed to be disestablished.

“Instead, the changes focus on operational and clinical leadership roles that are proposed to strengthen quality of care and clinical coordination across teams.”

She said the proposal would support local decision-making while maintaining local services.

“The proposal will enable effective local decision-making to improve patient care and experience across the region.”

“Clinical care and services would continue to be delivered locally and within existing budgets.”

Health New Zealand said it had engaged with staff and unions during development of the proposal and that consultation was ongoing.

“Feedback from staff and unions remains critical in informing the final model before any decisions are made. We thank staff for their valuable feedback and input so far.”

However, the Public Service Association (PSA) says the proposal amounts to significant job losses and could negatively affect healthcare delivery.

The union says 96 existing roles across the four districts are proposed to be disestablished, while 30 vacant positions would also be removed. Although 108 new roles would be created, the PSA says the changes would result in a net loss of 17 positions, with affected staff required to apply for newly created roles.

PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons criticised the proposal, saying: "At a time of crisis in our underfunded health system, it beggars’ belief that a major restructure of so many frontline health roles is a priority.”

“All this will do is force more work onto fewer people and destabilise local health teams. It ultimately impacts care patients receive.

The PSA said workers affected by the proposal include psychologists and counsellors, physiotherapists, administrators, social workers and staff working in cancer support services.

“This is another huge change dressed up as efficiency, but what they are doing is cutting roles and wages because the Government is refusing to provide hospitals with the funding they desperately need,” she said.

The union is seeking legal advice on the proposal and has not ruled out legal action.

“These are frontline workers being cut, essential workers who care for people at some of the hardest times in their lives,” Fitzsimons said.

The PSA also argues the proposal comes amid wider workforce pressures across the health sector.

“Health workers are already at their limit after three years of cuts disguised as restructures - all this will do is push people out of the profession or onto a plane across the ditch.”

Among the Bay of Plenty facilities listed as affected are Tauranga Hospital and Whakatāne Hospital, where staff are now being consulted on the proposal.

The union has formally objected to the four-week consultation period, arguing it is insufficient for a restructuring of this scale. It has requested more detailed information from Health New Zealand and an extension to the consultation process.

No final decisions have been made. Health New Zealand says staff feedback will be considered before any changes are confirmed.