10861 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

10861 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter October – December 2023 to ‘Develop design standards for Aotearoa health facilities, contributing to and building on the Australasian Health Facility Guidelines’ under section 3.7 ‘Strengthening our system enablers’ within Te Whatu Ora’s Te Pae Tata: Interim New Zealand Health Plan 2022?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that during the October – December 2023 quarter, Health New Zealand progressed the development of its Design Guidance and Assurance Framework by creating process documentation which supports the ongoing review and development of the standards. Work included establishing processes for seeking expert reference group nominations, and continuous improvement process to ensure lessons learnt. In addition, investigations were underway in the quarter to increase standardisation opportunities through New Zealand-specific repeatable standard components, and by developing design guidance notes covering building services engineering, seismic design, and fire design.