Health News & Articles
New Zealand Launches Top Up Campaign for Better Mental Health
1 day ago | 133 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey introduced a national Top Up campaign promoting everyday actions to enhance mental health using the evidence-based 5 Ways to Wellbeing. The initiative aims to encourage proactive behavior change for better mental wellbeing across various settings. The campaign, developed in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, aligns with the Government's Mental Health Targets by emphasizing prevention and early intervention while also improving support services.
Tags: Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey Top Up campaign 5 Ways to Wellbeing New Zealanders mental wellbeing preventative actions mental health issues Mental Health Foundation VMLExpanded Cancer Treatment Services at Taupō Hospital Bring Care Closer to Home
1 day ago | 81 viewsChemotherapy services at Taupō Hospital have expanded to two days a week, doubling operating days for the first time in over 20 years, in response to increased demand driven by government investment in cancer medicines. The investment has enabled broader access to advanced treatments like Keytruda, benefiting patients in Taupō and surrounding areas. Specialist nurses from Rotorua travel to Taupō to administer treatments, reducing travel time and easing the burden on patients and their families, with plans to further expand services to meet growing demand and improve access to cancer care in the region.
Tags: Taupō region chemotherapy services Taupō Hospital Health Minister Simeon Brown cancer patients Pharmac Keytruda immunotherapy drug specialist nurses Rotorua.Health Minister Reports Significant Reduction in South Island Neurosurgery Wait Times
3 days ago | 170 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown highlights the significant reduction in neurosurgery wait times in the South Island, emphasizing the importance of timely access to specialist care for serious brain and spinal conditions. The number of patients waiting for neurosurgery has decreased by 22% and those waiting longer than four months has dropped by 45%, reflecting positive progress in patient care. The government's focus on reducing waitlists, investing in surgical teams, and ensuring timely specialist care demonstrates a commitment to improving healthcare accessibility for all New Zealanders.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister neurosurgery South Island patients waitlist healthcare surgery New Zealanders specialistsRural Health Roadshow Gathers Momentum in Kaitaia with Ministers Doocey and Patterson
3 days ago | 155 viewsAssociate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson are conducting a rural health roadshow across New Zealand, currently in Kaitaia, to engage with rural communities and health professionals. The roadshow aims to gather feedback on the Rural Health Strategy, address healthcare challenges, and explore opportunities for improving access and outcomes in rural areas. The Government's commitment to strengthening rural health care includes increased funding for urgent and after-hours care, advancements in surgical services like total knee replacements in Kaitaia, and investments in mental health support through expanded services and the Rural Wellbeing Fund.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mark Patterson Associate Health Minister Rural Health Mental Health Rural Communities Rural Health Strategy Government Healthcare New ZealandersNew Zealand Supports Samoa in Dengue Outbreak: Providing Medical Assistance and Supplies
4 days ago | 187 viewsNew Zealand is supporting Samoa in addressing a severe dengue outbreak that has resulted in the deaths of five children, demonstrating the special relationship between the two countries. New Zealand plans to send a clinical team to Apia, provide medical supplies worth $300,000, and offer additional assistance as needed. Travellers to Samoa are advised to take precautions against mosquito bites and refer to the SafeTravel website for Dengue Fever prevention advice.
Tags: New Zealand Samoa dengue outbreak children Mr Peters clinical assistance medical supplies public health officials travellers Dengue Fever prevention.Improving Rural Health Access: Ministers Engage with Tūrangi Community
4 days ago | 186 viewsAssociate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson are engaging with rural communities in Tūrangi to improve access to care nationwide. The Rural Health Roadshow allows for direct feedback on the Rural Health Strategy implementation and testing of rural urgent care prototypes. The Government's Budget 2025 allocates $164 million to enhance urgent and after-hours care, benefiting rural and remote communities across New Zealand.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mark Patterson Rural Health Mental Health Tūrangi Rural Communities Healthcare Rural Health Strategy Budget 2025 New ZealandersNew Lower Hutt After Hours Medical Centre Enhances Urgent Care Access
5 days ago | 179 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown and Hutt South MP Chris Bishop inaugurated the new Lower Hutt After Hours Medical Centre on Connolly Street, emphasizing its importance for urgent healthcare in the area. The facility aims to alleviate pressure on hospital emergency departments by offering faster access to essential treatments like diagnostics and urgent medicines. The center, set to begin daytime urgent care services in December 2025, will provide expanded care with consulting rooms, triage rooms, radiology services, and pharmacy access, enhancing healthcare accessibility for the Hutt community.
Tags: Simeon Brown Chris Bishop Health Minister Lower Hutt urgent care medical centre healthcare New Zealand emergency department radiology servicesHealth New Zealand's Strategic Plan for Improved Health Outcomes 2024-2027
1 week ago | 323 viewsHealth New Zealand presented the New Zealand Health Plan to Parliament, as required by the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. The plan outlines how Health New Zealand will address the Government's health priorities from 2024 to 2027, focusing on improving health outcomes and access to care. It includes targets for faster cancer treatment, improved mental health services, reducing wait times, and enhancing the health workforce, with a clear emphasis on accountability and transparency for tracking progress.
Tags: Health New Zealand New Zealand Health Plan Parliament Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 Simeon Brown Government Policy Statement on Health 2024–2027 health targets mental health and addiction targets Elective Boost programme primary care.Pharmac's Cost Reductions for New Medicines: Minister Seymour's Positive Impact
1 week ago | 397 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour supports Pharmac's decision to lower the cost of certain funded medicines in order to allocate more funding for new medicines, emphasizing the critical impact of pharmaceutical funding on the lives of New Zealanders. The annual tender process allows Pharmac to save between $30 million and $50 million annually by reducing costs of existing medicines to fund new ones. Pharmac has implemented additional consultation steps in the tender process to gather feedback from patients, healthcare professionals, and advocacy groups, aiming for a more patient-centric approach in decision-making.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac medicines funding New Zealand annual tender generic competition patents consultation Natalie McMurtryImproved Access to Maternal Mental Health Support in Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Mid Central, and Wellington Regions
1 week ago | 289 viewsNew funding of $4.9 million will improve access to specialist mental health support for women and families during and after pregnancy in Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Mid Central, and Wellington regions. The investment aims to provide timely and appropriate care for those facing mental health challenges during pregnancy or postpartum, including support for birth trauma or stillbirth. This funding will create more roles in community-based specialist infant and maternal mental health services, ensuring more equitable access and reducing wait times for those in need of care.
Tags: women families mental health support pregnancy specialist care Mr Doocey maternal mental health investment access fundingGovernment's Initiative to Reduce Excise on Heated Tobacco Products for Smoking Cessation
1 week ago | 208 viewsAssociate Health Minister Casey Costello highlighted that the Government's reduction in excise on Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) aims to help more people quit smoking. The focus is on promoting public health by encouraging smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives like HTPs. The Ministry of Health is monitoring the impact of the excise change and has set up an expert advisory group to enhance regulations on all nicotine and tobacco products.
Tags: Government Heated Tobacco Products Smoking Casey Costello Ayesha Verrall Treasury Excise Duty Ministry of Health HTPs VapingOrthopaedic Surgery Waitlists Decline in Midland Region, Patients Getting Faster Care
1 week ago | 245 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown reports a 15% decrease in the orthopaedic surgery waitlist in the Midland region since November 2023, with the number of people waiting dropping from 3,125 to 2,668 between November 2023 and March 2025. The reduction in wait times has led to improved quality of life for patients, with fewer individuals waiting longer than four months. The government is investing in workforce expansion and surgical capacity to ensure 95% of patients receive treatment within four months by 2030, though there is acknowledgment that more progress is needed to further reduce wait times for orthopaedic patients in Midland.
Tags: orthopaedic surgery waitlist Simeon Brown hip knee issues treatment patients elective procedures health target progressNew Mental Health Accreditation Pathway Opens Doors for 330 Counsellors in NZ Public Services
2 weeks ago | 326 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey announces the removal of a workforce barrier for over 330 experienced counsellors in publicly funded mental health services through a revised accreditation process with Health New Zealand and NZAC. The strengthened accreditation pathway aims to address workforce shortages and increase timely mental health support for New Zealanders. The initiative is part of broader efforts to reduce vacancies, utilize underutilized workforces, and improve access to mental health services.
Tags: Matt Doocey Health New Zealand New Zealand Association of Counsellors workforce barriers mental health support workforce shortages Health NZ counselling primary mental health workforce peer support specialistsNew Outpatient Hysteroscopy Service at North Shore Hospital Enhances Women's Diagnostic Pathway
2 weeks ago | 300 viewsA new outpatient hysteroscopy service at North Shore Hospital combines specialist assessments and diagnostic procedures in a single visit, reducing delays and stress for women. This streamlined approach allows women to have both assessment and procedure in one appointment, leading to fewer hospital visits and quicker diagnoses, especially for those with suspected cancer. The initiative aims to improve the quality and timeliness of care for women undergoing gynaecological investigations and supports faster cancer treatment targets by expediting diagnosis and treatment initiation.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister outpatient hysteroscopy service North Shore Hospital women diagnosis specialist assessment diagnostic procedure cancer treatmentEnhancing GP Funding and Access for Kiwis: Government's New Health Initiatives
2 weeks ago | 417 viewsThe Government, led by Health Minister Simeon Brown, is enhancing access to healthcare for New Zealanders by focusing on improved funding for rural practices, faster GP access, and bolstering the GP workforce through training and retention initiatives. Changes to GP funding will better reflect patient needs by updating the capitation model to include factors like multimorbidity and socioeconomic deprivation, effective from July 1, 2026. A new national health target aims to ensure over 80% of people can see a primary care provider within one week, aligning with efforts to improve access to mental health services, while targeted investments in GP training seek to attract and retain more doctors, especially in rural and high-needs areas.
Tags: Government Kiwis doctor funding rural practices primary care GPs Simeon Brown health target GP access