What is the changing role of allied health professionals in New Zealand’s evolving healthcare landscape?

One of the most pressing workforce challenges New Zealand faces is in health, an issue that has been with us for a long time, and will probably continue for a while longer. Shortages of health workers reduce access to care, increase waiting times and reduce patient safety. They can even increase avoidable deaths. Our attention needs to be diverted towards the low hanging fruit. One of the avenues we can follow is to broaden the scope of practice for some health workers. The potential for broadening health workers’ roles has been discussed several times in the past. We have certainly made progress, but more needs to be done. 

A recently published annual review of Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau by the Parliament’s health select committee.The report states: “We believe that the district has a shortfall of 127 GPs already, and with population growth, this situation could worsen. The future of primary care cannot be solely dependent upon attracting more GPs to work in south Auckland."

The physiotherapy specialty for example, has noted that there is capacity for physiotherapists to see more people now, while primary health care was under pressure. The problem is that it is not funded. Physiotherapists along with a number of other allied health professionals are an important tool in the health workforce toolbox. The physiotherapy workforce is relatively young, with 65% aged 44 or younger. In comparison, 32% of general practitioners are aged 44 or younger. So, investment in a relatively young physiotherapy workforce could have long-lasting returns.

Quite simply stated, a transdisciplinary approach to healthcare addresses the demand and supply factors to improve social and economic outcomes, including wellbeing, for New Zealanders. The ACC-led Escalated Care Pathway is a collaborative pathway that brings together a team which includes physiotherapists, surgeons, and occupational therapists. This multidisciplinary team is responsible for assessing and developing an individualized patient-centered plan. If accepted onto the pathway, services are fully subsidized by ACC and there is no direct cost to the patient. 

Allied health professionals, like chiropractors, podiatrists and psychotherapists, are underused and could make a much more significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders. Bold funding as well as cultural and information changes will be key to delivering this approach. A report from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research identifies the need for professional silos to be broken down and much greater collaboration between providers.

It might be worthwhile to begin with answering the transdisciplinary riddle: What is it that you do and you need to do and only you can do, as opposed to what is it that you do, that needs to get done, but you do not necessarily need to do?