Ros Pochin, Chair of the AoNZ National Committee, wrote to Te Whatu Ora Commissioner Professor Dr Levy expressing strong concern about a proposal to reduce the Digital Services Group at Te Whatu Ora by nearly 50 percent. The proposal would result in very significant loss of data and digital capacity and capability, including work to improve interoperability between parts of the system within and between hospitals across the country, with a likely impact on patient safety and quality of care. RACS commented on the ad hoc change process underway, the need to take a clinical governance approach to such changes, and the poor change management processes which are increasingly destabilising staff in the organisation.
RACS recommended suspending the process until a better case for change is developed.