24 May 2024

Select Committee aged care inquiry to begin by July

1:34 pm on 24 May 2024
Sam Uffindell stands up speaking to media, with a silhouette of King's College in the background.

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The government has confirmed the Health Select Committee will carry out an inquiry into aged care, which was committed to in the NZ First-National coalition agreement.

The National Party's Health Select Committee chair Sam Uffindell confirmed the move on Friday, saying the inquiry would look into current and future capacity, support for early onset neurological disorders, and ensuring "appropriate asset thresholds for sustainable services".

He noted the Ministry of Health was also beginning the second phase of its own review into the aged care funding and service model, "however, the select committee inquiry will have a focus on the early onset provision and could provide valuable insights to support a funding model change".

Uffindell said the inquiry would begin before 1 July, and could be expanded in scope over time.

No details on terms of reference or final deadline were included in the government's media statement.

NZ First MP Jenny Marcroft said the party was pleased to see progress on the commitment.

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