World Healthcare Professionals Day to spotlight the entire industry

The Department of Health’s head of allied health professions believes the sector will become even more crucial as New Zealand’s healthcare system evolves.

Thousands of allied health professionals are celebrated today as New Zealand celebrates World Allied Health Professionals Day – an opportunity to celebrate the people working in the 43 professions that make up New Zealand’s paramedic health.

Today is also an opportunity to raise awareness of how these professions contribute to the health and disability sector in New Zealand.

“We have over 30,000 hardworking professionals in this sector – it is one of the largest collective professions in the health and disability sector. Every day they are on the front lines treating patients inside hospitals and in primary and community care settings, ”says Dr Martin Chadwick.

“Every day working for and on behalf of the industry, I experience a real sense of passion and dedication for our allied health professionals.

“Allied Health is made up of a wide range of professionals with different backgrounds and skills. Sometimes allied health professionals are the only health care providers that some patients will see for treatment.

“Since COVID-19 arrived on the scene, we have seen an increase in the demand for paramedical health services and we have seen these services have to adapt to meet the demands in the face of changing alert levels” said Dr Chadwick.

“We know that as the future of healthcare evolves, patients’ attention will increasingly turn to healthcare facilities in the community and primary care, not in the hospital.

“The value of Allied Health is evident as professionals continue to provide services that prevent deterioration and hospitalization, safeguard your health and wellness, and preserve your independence. “

Earlier this year, the ministry’s chief allied health professions office released Allied Health: Leading Digital and Data-Driven Health and Disability Services, to describe the role professionals will play in managing data and digital health services and disability.

“COVID-19 has seen much of our workforce work differently and under immense pressure, but we know Allied Health is uniquely positioned to maximize the health and well-being of New Zealanders while being able to provide increasingly equitable services.