About the national mortality review function

Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission has established a national mortality review function comprising:

• a National Mortality Review Committee (NMRC)
• subject matter experts appointed to provide expert advice on NMRC’s mortality review workstreams
• a National Mortality Review Function Management Group (a division of Te Tāhū Hauora).

The purpose of this function is to review and report on mortality through the collection, analysis and review of mortality data on specific classes of death with the aim of preventing future premature death and promoting continuous quality improvement.

The ability of Te Tāhū Hauora to establish this function is supported by legislation.  

Role of the National Mortality Review Function Management Group

 The National Mortality Review Function Management Group is the engine room of the national mortality review function at Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission. The group’s work includes supporting the National Mortality Review Committee (NMRC), subject matter experts and local review function.

The National Mortality Review Function Management Group is responsible for:

• ensuring Te Pou – Māori responsive rubric and guidelines are embedded in all aspects of mortality review
• collecting and collating mortality data
• applying mortality review methods
• engaging with relevant stakeholders
• coordinating and supporting local review within Te Whatu Ora localities
• coordinating and developing NMRC outputs, including written reports, fact sheets, webinars and submissions
• supporting the implementation of the NMRC decision-making tool
• monitoring the uptake and progress of recommendations
• ensuring the NMRC and subject matter experts are supported in their analysis and interpretation of the information generated.  

Staff of the National Mortality Review Function Management Group comprise former members of the mortality review committee secretariat.

Meet the new director

Don Matheson is the director of the National Mortality Review Function Management Group.

Don has had an extensive career in health and holds a deep interest in health systems, especially the role they play in addressing health inequities. He has led and managed change across health in both Aotearoa and internationally, in primary care settings, public health and integrated care. He is an experienced leader and adept at navigating stakeholder relationships.

As a public health medicine specialist, Don has provided policy advice to the World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health and was the New Zealand government’s lead policy advisor on public health from 2000 to 2008, when he was Deputy Director-General, Public Health at the Ministry of Health. During that period, alongside the Māori Health Directorate, he led the Ministry’s response to addressing health inequities.

Don is currently on an advisory group for Kia Puāwai, which is exploring how new knowledge being generated by kaupapa Māori research can be translated into transformative outcomes for communities, whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori.

 To contact the National Mortality Review Function Management Group, please email nmrmg@hqsc.govt.nz.