Tamati Coffey Labour List MP

Help is on the way with our Labour Government taking new steps to boost the health workforce and ease pressure on our local health system.

Since we came into office in 2017, we've made building our health workforce a priority. Thousands more doctors and nurses are now working in the system and more nurses are being trained. We've also changed immigration rules to make it easy for health workers to come here.

However, with the worst flu season ever and Covid-19 putting pressure on systems, we know we need to do more. So, I'm excited that our Government has announced new initiatives to grow our health workforce.

We're making it easier and cheaper for international health workers to get professional qualifications recognised. We're providing up to $10,000 to support overseas nurses with registration costs and covering international doctors' salaries during induction courses and training internships. We're establishing a one-stop recruitment service within Health New Zealand, to make it easier for health workers to move here and find jobs.

We're also focused on our homegrown workforce. We're providing financial support to help NZ nurses get re-registered. We're training more doctors, nurses and radiographers, and encouraging our many volunteer Covid-19 workers to consider a health career.

Initiatives like these weren't possible under the old structure with 20 district health boards all working separately. I know there isn't a quick fix, but these measures will help ensure we have more health workers here in the Western Bay to look after us and our families when we need it the most.