39056 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

39056 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter January to March 2024 on the recommended focus area ‘What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter January to March 2024 on the recommended focus area ‘Te Aho o Te Kahu to work in partnership with Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, Māori Health Authority Te Aka Whai Ora and Ministry of Health Manatū Hauora to develop an operating model that ensures Te Aho o Te Kahu is consulted to provide subject matter expertise and advice in an agile and timely manner. This would apply to cancer-specific services, as well as services that are critical to, but broader than, cancer treatment such as pathology and laboratory, imaging, allied health and palliative care’ under ‘System-wide solution 2: National system leadership’ in the Cancer Control Agency ’Cancer Services Planning’ document?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that Cancer Control Agency - Te Aho o Te Kahu are often approached by parts of the health sector to provide subject matter expertise, though this has not always been consistent. During this quarter, Cancer Control Agency worked with key partners across the sector to ensure consistency in the consultation process and I am further advised that this work has led to an improvement in consultation practices.