Hundreds of jobs could be on the line at Te Whatu Ora, as it works to streamline teams that provide corporate or back office roles to better support frontline care.

The health agency is consulting on a proposal to cut up to 16-hundred jobs.

Te Whatu Ora says it's moving ahead with the next phase of changes,  so it can be as prepared as possible for winter.

Auckland University Medical Emeritus Professor Des Gorman told Andrew Dickens while restructure is needed, he's doubtful it will happen. 

"There's no question there needs to be a reduction in the back office. But I've never seen a health bureaucracy meaningfully reduce its size," he said. 

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