Six months ago Health Workforce NZ (the Clinical Training Agency Board) was formed to address the issues faced in health sector workforce development. Its aim is to provide a single, coordinated response to improving our ability to train, recruit and retain our health workforce. The need for this agency has become more critical as graduates of many health disciplines leave New Zealand and the health needs of our population increase.

The recently appointed board, chaired by Auckland Medical School's Professor Des Gorman, is a collection of committed health professionals with diverse backgrounds. Some initial key areas of focus for 2010 have now been established and will be rolled out from January 2010.

"We need to deliver health services more effectively. A commitment to significant and long-term changes to workforce planning needs to be made over the entire health sector to ensure a sustainable and equitable health system. Innovative ways of providing healthcare services for a growing and aging population need to begin to be implemented now," said Professor Gorman.

An innovation already approved will see the first demonstration site to test potential for the introduction of the Physician Assistant role. This will begin with Counties Manukau DHB trialling a model that works well in many other countries including the USA, Canada and Britain. This is a joint initiative between the four northern region DHBs and the University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. Physician Assistants are trained in a medical environment with a two year post-graduate programme and work under the specific direction and delegation of senior doctors. The doctor always remains responsible for the overall management of the patient.

Making greater use of mid-level practitioners like Physician Assistants is one possible strategy for meeting growing health service demands. Overseas, Physician Assistants have contributed to better health outcomes through improved access for patients and reduced waiting times. Professor Gorman believes that the Physician Assistant role also provides the potential to grow our health workforce and to provide new opportunities for those wishing to join the health workforce or change their practice. "We believe the trial will help to determine whether Physician Assistants can deliver these benefits to NZ," he said. Two Physicians Assistants from the USA will begin the trial toward the middle of 2010.

Another area identified for further development is the medical Post Graduate Year 2. This is the year when doctors are typically registered and it can also be the time where their expertise is lost either overseas or into locum positions. This means it may be difficult for them to source advice regarding professional development and receive mentoring. From the end of January 2010 there will be increased input into Post Graduate Year 2 Doctors. Career guidance, professional development and mentoring will be formalised to make sure these doctors are well supported and can be retained in the NZ health workforce.

"Innovation is the only way forward if we want to secure a health service for all New Zealanders into the next generation and beyond. Our ability to plan and be open to new ways of doing things will mean better, more accessible health care now and sustainable health care into the future," according to Professor Gorman. The two initiatives outlined are just the beginning of a change which will see a health workforce which stays in New Zealand and is specifically trained to meet the needs of New Zealanders," he concluded.