80570 (2024). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Associate Minister of Health

80570 (2024). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Associate Minister of Health: What steps has she taken, if any, to alleviate significant workforce pressures in the aged care sector, including addressing pay disparities between aged care nurses and those in publicly funded hospital roles, as noted in the Sapere report published on January 16, 2024?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that a $200 million per annum pay disparity initiative has enabled hundreds of providers in the funded health sector (including aged residential care providers) to increase pay rates for thousands of eligible nurses and aged care workers. I am further advised that on 1 July 2024, Health New Zealand increased the funding of aged care facilities by 3.2% to help them meet cost pressures, including wage pressures. The Government is committed to supporting pay equity for all workers, including those in the aged care sector. However, it is the responsibility of employers to negotiate employment terms. I am further advised that Health New Zealand released the Health Workforce Plan which identifies two key areas where Health NZ will focus its efforts in order to address our workforce shortages, they are: • Changing how we deliver care, through shifting to new models of care and service delivery approaches, • Improving supply by training more health workers locally, getting better at recruiting from overseas, and doing more to retain our people.