Launch of the Health Practitioner's Handbook

Speech notes for Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Darren Hughes - launch of the Health Practitioners Handbook, Horowhenua Health Centre, Levin

Rau rangatira maa,
tenei te mihi ki a koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te ra.
Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

It’s my pleasure to be here today to announce the launch of the Health Practitioner’s Handbook.

I would like to thank you all for attending today.

Designed to make doctor’s jobs easier, the Health Practitioner Handbook provides health practitioners with an exhaustive reference guide to Work and Income processes. It contains information on medical certification in relation to health-related benefits, assistance and services.  

The handbook also has a basic outline of the Ministry of Social Development’s processes, answering many of the questions raised by health practitioners about the Ministry, its staff, processes, forms, benefits and entitlement.

I’ve had a read through the Handbook, and I think I’ve even learned a few things about the processes of Government and the assistance available to people! It even contains relevant contact phone numbers and definitions of roles – something I know health practitioners are going to find handy.

A quick reference table lists all the ways a client might present, along with the assistance they might be eligible for. This will make it much easier for a health practitioner to know exactly what steps to take next. It’s all about making the flow of information seamless and accurate – from client, to health practitioner, to government agency.

There are even some examples to give health practitioners clear indications of what can be done to assist those who need help.  The type of costs that are covered are also listed, so health practitioners can make sure their clients are receiving their full entitlement.

Copies of the handbook will be distributed to General Practitioners, Midwives, medical practices, public and private hospitals and Primary Health Organisations. The handbook will be particularly useful for new doctors who will not have had experience with Work and Income or the social security system.  We’re also adding a PDF version of the handbook to Work and Income’s publication page on its website.

This handbook is representative of the Government’s commitment to working with health practitioners to make their jobs easier. We want to improve the quality of information used to determine benefit eligibility, and the quality of information used to provide appropriate support and services.  Improving the quality of that information means doctors need to be clear on the level of detail we require. When doctors know exactly what is required from them, it speeds up the process. It’s an important step in this partnership process – acknowledging that we’re all working together to make a difference in the lives of New Zealanders.

In fact, this handbook could not have been produced without extensive partnership from the healthcare sector. In particular, the Ministry worked closely with the Primary Care Reference Group (formerly the General Practitioners Reference Group).  This advisory group provided feedback on the content of the Handbook and the type of information that would be useful for health practitioners.

Their work, and the Health Practitioner Handbook are part of the government’s Working New Zealand programme. This programme focuses on getting the right support and services in place to help people prepare for, make the transition to, and stay in work.

The Government is taking this approach because we know that work is important for social and economic wellbeing. We know that most people want to work and can with the right support. At a time when employers are keen to find suitable workers, we have the opportunity to improve the quality of life for even more people by assisting them into suitable, sustainable employment.

Many people who suffer from a health condition or disability appreciate the social, financial and emotional value of being in employment. Our focus is on providing effective support to keep them in work and making sure that they are better off.

As a health practitioner you can often best support a person by taking action that will encourage them to retain their job or move towards employment. The Handbook helps makes this process easier for you.

In considering whether to certify a person’s ability or inability to work, it is important to take into account:

- The nature of the person’s medical condition or disability and how long it is likely to last

- Functional limitations which result from the person’s condition

 -Psychological, social and environmental factors which impact on the person

- Any reasonable modifications to the person’s work place that might enable them to continue working or return to work earlier

- Any conditions that could assist the person into work – such as part-time work, regular hours each day, regular days each week or the avoidance of certain activities

- Treatment, interventions or support that could reduce the duration of the person’s condition or the impact of  their disability

- Any opportunities for the person to retrain or use their current skills in a different job

The Handbook makes it clear and easy for health practitioners to play this role of partnership – to work with their clients to get the best possible result for them. This result is not just about ensuring clients receive the entitlement they are eligible to, but also about helping them work out what is possible for them with regards to work.

Another important step in this partnership process is the provision of information workshops for designated doctors. Designated doctors are engaged by Work and Income to provide case managers with independent clinical advice.  This advice is used to determine a person’s medical eligibility for benefit.  Work and Income has identified the number of doctors we require for each region and have invited selected designated doctors to continue working with us.

Designated doctors will be offered information workshops put on by Work and Income. The workshops will provide an opportunity to further develop sustainable working relationships with one of Work and Income’s key partners. 

Workshops will be led by Regional Commissioners and supported by the Principal Health Advisor, Dr David Bratt or Senior Advisor, Dr David Rankin.  This approach will ensure regions are involved in the workshops and ongoing relationship management with local designated doctors is maintained.  It is anticipated that regional health advisors, regional disability advisors and health and disability co-ordinators also attend the training workshops.

This Government is committed to supporting and assisting those who need it most – and this Handbook is evidence of this. It’s written in fairly plain English, it’s clearly laid out, and it covers every possible angle so that no one will miss out on what they’re entitled to. Health Practitioners now have one comprehensive source to turn to when they’re unsure of what help is available for one of their clients, or what needs to be done to secure that assistance. It means everyone knows exactly what is required.

We couldn’t have produced this handbook without input from the health sector, and I want to thank you for all your queries and suggestions.