News article
The Ministry of Health Manatū Hauora has just published the Ngā Paerewa Implementation Evaluation.
The independent report, by Malatest International, has found that health and disability providers, auditors, and other key stakeholders were generally positive about the implementation of the Ngā paerewa Health and disability services standard NZS 8134:2021 (Ngā Paerewa) by HealthCERT, the team responsible for implementation within the Ministry.
The key findings of the evaluation report were generally upbeat and reported approvingly on HealthCERT’s accessibility and responsiveness.
The Designated Auditing Agencies (DAAs) reported that regular meetings facilitated coordination and support, fostering positive relationships. Fulfilling Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations emerged as a key aspect of implementation.
Ngā Paerewa was created following a review of three health and disability standards between 2019 and 2021. Ngā Paerewa includes more person- and whānau-centred assessment criteria and a greater focus on supporting providers to meet Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.
As stewards of the health and disability system, the Ministry is responsible for ensuring hospitals, rest homes, residential disability care facilities and fertility providers offer safe and reasonable levels of service for people as required under the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001. The HealthCERT team does this via requiring these providers to be certified against Ngā Paerewa.
Over 900 different providers are certified against Ngā Paerewa, which includes fertility services, primary maternity centres, hospices, overnight hospital inpatient services (public and private), aged residential care and residential disability (physical, intellectual, sensory, and mental health) services. Ngā Paerewa is also used by home and community, abortion, and assisted dying services to promote quality and safety.
You can read the Ngā Paerewa evaluation report here: