Assisted Dying Service - March 2023 Update

In this edition:

• Assisted Dying – Mate Whakaahuru Forum: One Year of Service 2022

• Yearly Reporting Update

• Function Transfer

 

Assisted Dying – Mate Whakaahuru Forum: One Year of Service 2022

Manatū Haoura (Ministry of Health) successfully hosted a workforce forum on 26 and 27 November 2022 in Wellington to mark the first year of the Assisted Dying Service.

The forum provided an opportunity for people from the health and disability sector to come together to share their experiences of the assisted dying service and look ahead to the ongoing development of the service. The setting provided a safe space for practitioners to have open discussions, network with their peers and meet the Assisted Dying Secretariat kanohi ki te kanohi. It also provided attendees with an opportunity to give feedback on the service to date.

The forum included presentations, panel discussions and practical breakout sessions presented by both Manatū Hauora and guest speakers. These included the Human Rights Commission, Te Apārangi: Māori Partnership Alliance, assisted dying service providers and practitioners from other end of life care services such as palliative care. The post event survey feedback was very positive and supportive of the event.

 

Yearly Reporting Update

The Ministry is preparing its first annual yearly assisted dying service report.  The Ministry is aiming to publish the report by the end of March 2023 on their website.

 

Functions Transfer

Aotearoa New Zealand’s health and disability system is being transformed to create a more equitable system and achieve better health and wellbeing outcomes for all New Zealanders. 

What does this mean? 

As part of these reforms, some functions have been transferred from Manatū Hauora to Te Whatu Ora, particularly those with an operational focus. 

Some clinical advisory and operational functions from the Regulatory Assurance Functions (Assisted Dying and Abortion Services) transferred to Te Whatu Ora on 6 March 2023.  

This transfer will not impact service delivery, and key contacts will remain the same.  

Functions will be shared across the two organisations in line with the broader health transformation to improve service delivery for all who reside in New Zealand. 

Over the coming months, websites will start to look a little different. You may be redirected to a new look website managed by either Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand or Manatū Hauora (Ministry of Health).