Portfolio: Health

Minister welcomes World Smokefree Day

Admin — Thu, 31 May 2012 02:47:00 +0000

Tariana Turia | Health

Associate Minister of Health, Hon Tariana Turia, has welcomed World Smokefree Day today, a time to reflect and promote the message of smoking cessation “Quit now. It’s about whanau.” Mrs Turia said “We have made significant progress towards our agenda of becoming Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 at a political level, and today is about remembering the journey of our whanau, and individuals who are on the pathway to giving up smoking.” ...

Aukati Kai Paipa Provider Workshop

Admin — Thu, 31 May 2012 02:45:00 +0000

Tariana Turia | Health

Setting the scene: Improving results for our people Tena tatou katoa It is with the greatest pleasure that I am here today, to celebrate World Smokefree Day and in particular to encourage us all to embrace its theme – “Quit Now. It’s about Whānau”. I am a firm believer in te hunga wairua. And so last night, as I sat at dinner opposite a smokefree advocate, I heard a story which I knew was meant for us all to hear. ...

Govt will consider HRC aged care recommendations

Admin — Sun, 27 May 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Jo Goodhew | Health

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew says the Government will carefully consider the Human Rights Commission’s report on their inquiry into equal employment opportunities in aged care. The report focuses on the terms and conditions of employment of the thousands of workers who provide care for older people in New Zealand, as well as the quality of aged care generally. ...

Record ED success

Admin — Sun, 27 May 2012 01:30:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the latest National Health Targets results show record success for emergency departments throughout the country. Hospital EDs are treating patients faster than at any time since the targets began in 2009. “More than half the district health boards are now achieving the target of 95 per cent of patients getting admitted, discharged or transferred from an ED within six hours,” Mr Ryall says. ...

Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products) Amendment Bill

Beehive — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:12:00 +0000

Tariana Turia | Health

I move that the Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. At the appropriate time the Bill will be referred to the Finance and Expenditure Committee. I want to first of all mihi to those visionaries who began the journey of smokefree legislation almost two decades ago. The Smokefree Environments Act in 1990 was one of the major turning points in New Zealand’s tobacco control history. ...

Health receives largest increase in spending

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:24:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Budget 2012

Health receives the largest increase in government spending in the Budget, with $435 million available to help fund cost pressures and new initiatives in 2012/13, Health Minister Tony Ryall says. “Despite tight financial times, the Government is spending $14.12 billion in 2012/13 on health – the biggest investment ever,” he says. “This demonstrates the National Government’s commitment to protecting and growing our public health services.” ...

$68m for more operations, scans and tests

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:23:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Budget 2012

Budget 2012 is delivering a further $68 million of operating funding over the next four years to maintain the record levels of elective surgery achieved under the National-led Government, and to further reduce waiting times for patients. “This Government has achieved huge increases in the number of people getting the operations they need,” Health Minister Tony Ryall says. “District health boards are now performing 27,000 more elective operations a year – 500 extra operations a week – compared to 2008. ...

$33m more for improved cancer services

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:22:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Budget 2012

Budget 2012 is delivering an additional $33 million in operating funding over the next four years for better and faster services for cancer patients, Health Minister Tony Ryall says. This includes funding for dedicated nurses, who will coordinate care and support for individual patients throughout the course of their cancer treatment. “Being diagnosed with cancer is a difficult time for patients and their families,” Mr Ryall says. “This more personalised service will mean better treatment and a less stressful experience for patients. ...

Tobacco excise rise part of wider programme

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:51:00 +0000

Tariana Turia | Budget 2012

Tobacco excise taxes will increase by 10 per cent a year on 1 January in each of the next four years as part of a wider government programme to prevent young people from taking up smoking and encourage existing smokers to quit, Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says. This will be in addition to the annual inflation-indexed increases in tobacco excise, and follows a 40 per cent increase in excise since April 2010. ...

Fund to improve health of Pasifika communities

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:50:00 +0000

Tariana Turia | Budget 2012

A new $6 million Pacific Innovation Fund will help improve the health of Pasifika people, Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says. “The fund recognises the need to design responsive services across health, education, housing, justice, social services, employment, and lifestyle. “The fund, to be invested over four years, is aligned to the vision of Whanau Ora for Pasifika people,” Mrs Turia says. “This fund will support Pasifika people to develop Pasifika solutions to the issues they face as distinct communities.” ...

$4.5m deficit funding for West Coast DHB

Beehive — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:43:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Health

The Government has approved a $4.5 million cash injection for West Coast District Health Board for the 2011/12 financial year. Health Minister Tony Ryall says "This is a one-off payment so the board can pay its day to day bills without always going into overdraft. “The district health board are changing how they do things to improve their financial performance and provide better services for patients. This includes sharing resources with Canterbury DHB to and reducing costs for outsourced personnel such as locums. ...

$4.5m deficit funding for West Coast DHB

Admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 03:08:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Health

Many keen for green prescribing

Admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:43:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Health

The benefit to patients from following doctors’ orders for regular exercise is highlighted in a publication launched today by Health Minister Tony Ryall. “Last year GPs and practice nurses issued 32,028 people with a Green Prescription to become more physically active, an increase of 5,868 people since 2008. Over 80 per cent of GPs in the country have issued Green Prescriptions. ...

Keynote Address to the National Problem Gambling Provider Forum

Admin — Tue, 22 May 2012 23:40:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Health

Good morning and thank you for the invitation to speak today at your national provider forum. I would like to begin by acknowledging and thanking the Salvation Army’s National Co-ordination Service for organising this event. I would also like to acknowledge Major Campbell Roberts personally. I understand that he is to speak later in the programme on social justice and addictions. This is one of several social policy areas in which he has worked for many years, and I am sure his presentation will be a thoughtful contribution. ...

Eminent surgeon to lead new trauma network

Beehive — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:45:00 +0000

Judith Collins | ACC

One of New Zealand’s most senior clinical leaders, surgeon Mr Ian Civil, has been appointed Network Clinical Leader of a new Major Trauma National Clinical Network. The new network is a joint initiative between ACC and the Ministry of Health. It aims to ensure that the very best level of care is provided consistently across New Zealand to severely injured people. ...

New member appointed to Waikato DHB

Beehive — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:22:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the appointment of Deryck Shaw to the Waikato District Health Board (DHB). Mr Shaw is currently Chair of Lakes DHB. “I am pleased to appoint Mr Shaw to the Waikato DHB Board. He has strong governance and strategic planning experience. Mr Shaw is a director of APR Consultants, providing strategic advice for private and public sector organisations. He also has over 15 years’ experience in governance, including his current positions as Chair of Lakes DHB and Deputy Chair of the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. ...

Immunisation target in sight

Beehive — Tue, 22 May 2012 01:55:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Health

The latest quarterly results for the Government’s immunisation health target shows five district health boards, Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay, MidCentral, Lakes and Southern, have reached the 95 per cent result. “Nationally we have achieved 92 per cent coverage which is a great improvement from 2007 when only 67 per cent of two year olds were immunised on time,” says Health Minister Tony Ryall. ...

Positive start to bowel screening pilot

Admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:26:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Health

Five bowel cancers and five cancerous polyps have been detected in the first few months of the four year bowel screening pilot at Waitemata District Health Board. Health Minister Tony Ryall, who is visiting the Bowel Screening Coordination Centre in Takapuna today, says international evidence shows that a screening programme can significantly reduce the number of people who die from bowel cancer, through early diagnosis and treatment. ...

Budget 2012: $144m more for disability support

Beehive — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:16:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Budget 2012

Budget 2012 will make available $143.7 million over the next four years to improve the lives of people with disabilities. ...

Keynote Address to the National Kia Piki te Ora Māori Suicide Prevention Conference 2012

Admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:29:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Health

I am very pleased to be here today in place of Hon Tariana Turia, who sends her best wishes. She makes a very strong, passionate and positive contribution to all aspects of health care as they affect Māori, and I acknowledge her for that. Among my responsibilities as Associate Minister of Health are mental health and suicide, which is a second reason why I am pleased to be here today. This is an important hui – a hui about survival in every aspect of the word. ...

Budget 2012: $101m for surgery, cancer services

Beehive — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:39:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Budget 2012

The Budget next week will provide $101 million of extra funding over the next four years for more elective operations and scans, and improved cancer services, Health Minister Tony Ryall says. In a pre-Budget announcement with Prime Minister John Key, Mr Ryall said the extra Budget funding would invest in four new initiatives. “This is part of our commitment to deliver more and better frontline health services where they are most needed, while ensuring we responsibly manage the Government’s finances,” Mr Ryall says. ...

Budget 2012: Prescription charges help fund Health

Beehive — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:33:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Budget 2012

Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced the Government will increase the $3 prescription charge to $5 per item up to a maximum of 20 items from 1 January 2013. The savings will be reinvested in the health sector. “The National-led Government is committed to protecting and growing public health services,” Mr Ryall said at a pre-Budget announcement with Prime Minister John Key. ...

International Nurses Day

Beehive — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:52:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Health

With International Nurses Day tomorrow, Health Minister Tony Ryall thanks all nurses for the important contribution they make to the health of New Zealanders. “Nurses are hugely valuable and are part of the backbone of our health service. There are currently just over 49,000 nurses practising in New Zealand. The theme for International Nurses Day this year is ‘'Closing the Gap: From Evidence to Action.” ...

More productivity = More operations

Beehive — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:55:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Health

More patients will get operations sooner as a result of a $7 million investment announced by Health Minister Tony Ryall. The funding of $7 million will expand productivity programmes led by surgeons, anaesthetists, theatre nurses and other health professionals to improve quality and reduce delays for patients having operations. ...

Budget 2012: Taking on rheumatic fever

Admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:29:00 +0000

Tariana Turia | Budget 2012

The Government’s campaign to stamp out a third world disease reached Porirua today with a new school throat swabbing programme - part of a $24 million five-year campaign to reduce rheumatic fever. Launching the expanded throat swabbing programme at Holy Family School in Porirua with Prime Minister John Key, Associate Health Minister and Māori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said the Government was determined to significantly reduce this serious disease. ...

Strong clinical leadership in new maternity programme

Admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 23:15:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Health

Maternity services continue to improve thanks to strong clinical leadership by health professionals. Health Minister Tony Ryall is today visiting Bay of Plenty midwives to discuss the Maternity Quality and Safety workshops that have taken place across the country over the past few months. “Safer maternity services are a priority for the Government – that's why we’ve put an extra $103 million over four years into improving maternity services. ...

More operations, more operating theatres for Middlemore Hospital

Beehive — Thu, 03 May 2012 04:37:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall has congratulated Counties Manukau District Health Board for doing two and half thousand more operations a year than three years ago. Minister Ryall has also given the DHB the official go ahead to build more operating theatres to provide even more services for patients. ...

Improving productivity in the public health service

Admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 01:21:00 +0000

Tony Ryall | Health

A new toolkit to assist district health boards to further reduce waiting times and improve the quality of elective surgery has been launched by Health Minister Tony Ryall. “District health boards have been making great progress increasing elective surgery for patients performing 27,000 more operations now compared to numbers in 2008. But there’s still room for improvement. “Elective surgery, such as hip and other joint operations, cataracts and grommets, improves the quality of a person’s life by relieving pain and restoring ability. ...

Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Smokefree Rockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats

Beehive — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:06:00 +0000

Tariana Turia | Health

Prime Minister, Ministerial colleagues; distinguished guests Twenty five years ago, a first year teacher fresh out of teachers college, sat in his music prefab and dared to dream. Day after day students would find their way to his room; letting out their frustrations on the drum kit; picking up the trumpet and having a blast. For some of them, teachers just didn’t seem to get them. For others, the only thing that interested them at school was playing around with sound. ...

More dementia treatment available in Ashburton

Beehive — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:15:00 +0000

Jo Goodhew | Health

More local Mid Canterbury people suffering from dementia will be cared for in their local community following an extension and refurbishment to an aged care hospital unit officially opened today by Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew. “This community investment adds another 10 bed dementia unit to the existing 12 psychogeriatric and 15 long stay hospital beds already in the Tuarangi resthome and hospital,” says Mrs Goodhew. “We are living longer and sadly that also means that the number of older New Zealanders with dementia is increasing. ...