Health News & Articles
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Empowering Communities: Updates on Family Violence Prevention and Child Welfare Initiatives
11 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1185 viewsThe Minister for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence and Minister for Children acknowledges key individuals and organizations in the field. Updates are shared on Te Aorerekura, the Oranga Tamariki Action Plan, and efforts to address trauma and prevent violence. The government is focused on improving multi-agency responses, workforce capability, and effective commissioning and investment processes to better support vulnerable children and families. Collaboration, communication, and social investment are emphasized to enhance service delivery and support community well-being.
Tags: Minister for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Minister for Children Marama Davidson Emma Powell Benesia Smith Claire Achmad Te Aorerekura Oranga Tamariki National Strategy on Family Violence and Sexual Violence Social Investment FundNew Zealand's Push for Suicide Prevention: Construction Industry Wellbeing Survey Launch
09 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1194 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey participated in the launch of the Construction Industry Wellbeing Survey on World Suicide Prevention Day, emphasizing the importance of changing the narrative on suicide to reduce stigma and encourage seeking help. New Zealand faces high suicide rates, with 617 suspected suicides last year, leading to increased investment of $16 million per year in the new Suicide Prevention Action Plan, which includes various health and cross-agency actions to enhance access to support and prevention services. The government is committed to providing timely support for those at risk of suicide, promoting wellbeing campaigns, establishing crisis recovery cafes, and funding peer support workers in emergency departments to strengthen suicide prevention efforts in New Zealand.
Tags: Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey Suicide Prevention Construction Industry Wellbeing Survey New Zealand Suicide Prevention Action Plan Suicide Rates SupportNew Zealand's 24/7 Digital Health Service: 21,000+ Consultations Delivered, Fast Access to Care
09 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1345 viewsThe Government's new 24/7 digital health service, launched in July, has provided over 21,000 consultations to 19,331 people across New Zealand. It is most commonly used when timely GP appointments are unavailable and has successfully treated 83.5% of patients without requiring an in-person GP follow-up. The service has made healthcare more accessible, especially for working-age adults and parents, reaching people in all communities and making a significant impact on daily lives by providing timely and quality care.
Tags: consultations digital health service Health Minister Simeon Brown New Zealanders GP appointment emergency departments healthcare parents digital serviceNew Zealand Government Boosts FASD Support and Prevention Efforts
08 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1082 viewsAssociate Health Minister Matt Doocey launched the Government's new approach to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), increasing funding and focusing on prevention, diagnosis, and support for affected families. The government raised the alcohol levy to $16.6 million annually, with $7.25 million allocated for targeted community-based assessment, prevention campaigns, support programs, workforce training, and increased resources for individuals with FASD. This initiative aims to address the long wait times for FASD support, improve understanding and recognition of FASD, and provide better assistance to families and individuals affected by the disorder.
Tags: Matt Doocey Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder FASD New Zealand Government Alcohol Levy Nurture the Future Within Health AdvocacyGovernment Exceeds Elective Boost Target: 16,005 Procedures Delivered, Wait Times Reduced
07 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1130 viewsThe Government has surpassed its initial Elective Boost target by delivering over 16,000 additional procedures, reducing patient wait times, as stated by Health Minister Simeon Brown. The procedures included hip, knee, and cataract surgeries, benefiting people of various ages and backgrounds across different regions of New Zealand. This achievement is part of the Government's plan to decrease elective treatment wait times, aiming to treat 95% of patients within four months by 2030, with ongoing efforts to further enhance healthcare accessibility.
Tags: Government Elective Boost Health Minister Simeon Brown procedures surgeries patients wait times Kiwis elective treatment New ZealandersSignificant Drop in Auckland Cardiology Waitlist Eases Patient Access to Specialist Care
05 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1361 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown notes a 25% decrease in the cardiology first specialist assessment (FSA) waitlist in Auckland since November 2023, with patient numbers dropping from 3,829 to 2,847 between November 2023 and March 2025. The reduction in wait times has been significant, especially for those waiting over four months, with a 73% decrease from 663 to 179. Progress has been made across all three Auckland districts, reflecting efforts to expand clinic capacity, improve systems for reminders and follow-ups, and streamline scheduling to reduce delays in booking appointments. The goal is to ensure that 95% of patients are seen within four months by 2030, with ongoing efforts to further reduce wait times and improve access to timely specialist care.
Tags: Auckland cardiologist Health Minister Simeon Brown cardiology FSA heart disease New Zealand patients waitlist clinical teamsNew Zealand Launches Refreshed Eating Disorder Strategy with $4M Boost
03 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1251 viewsNew Zealand's Mental Health Minister, Matt Doocey, launched a refreshed strategic approach to eating disorders, with a significant funding increase of over $4 million annually, totaling over $23 million. The strategy emphasizes a full continuum of care, including prevention, primary health care, early intervention, community services, and specialist and inpatient services. The funding package includes initiatives such as peer support, community-based support for families, capacity increase for specialist services, and expansion of prevention and early intervention support to better support those battling eating disorders.
Tags: Matt Doocey New Zealand eating disorders mental health funding strategy support services community preventionEmpowering Choice & Control: New Flexible Funding System for Disabled Community
02 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1164 viewsImprovements to the disability support system will provide disabled individuals, families, and carers with more choice and control over flexible funding starting early next year. The changes aim to address feedback for greater autonomy in decision-making and to create a more transparent and sustainable system. These adjustments, informed by extensive community consultations, will standardize assessment processes, develop personalized support plans through NASCs, and offer more clarity and certainty to users of flexible funding.
Tags: Disabled people families carers flexible funding disability support system Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston Independent Review NASCs Enabling Good LivesGovernment Launches First Crisis Recovery Café in Whanganui to Support Mental Health
02 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1234 viewsThe Mental Health Minister opened Whanganui’s new Crisis Recovery Café at Aunty’s Café, the first of six cafés being rolled out by the Government nationwide. These cafés, led by Balance Aotearoa and iwi providers, offer peer-led, non-clinical support for individuals facing mental health or addiction challenges in a community setting. The Government aims to reduce pressure on traditional crisis systems by providing faster access to support, increasing frontline workers, and enhancing crisis response through initiatives like crisis cafés and peer support specialist roles in emergency departments.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister Crisis Recovery Café Balance Aotearoa Te Oranganui Hāpai Mauri Tangata peer support specialist mental health plan Health NZ frontline workersNew Zealand Nurses Strike: Impact on Patient Care & Wait Times
01 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1290 viewsThe New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) union has decided to strike, leading to delays in healthcare services for thousands of New Zealanders, including cancellations of surgeries and treatments, delays in specialist assessments, and critical follow-up appointments. The strike is seen as a political move by the union, impacting patients already in pain and waiting for treatment, with concerns raised about transparency in the decision-making process. Despite the government's investments in nursing workforce salaries and benefits, efforts are being made to reduce wait times and prioritize patient care, urging the NZNO union to return to negotiations and prioritize patients over politics.
Tags: New Zealanders Care Nurses Organisation Simeon Brown Strike Health Minister Patients Nurses NZNO union WaitlistsWhangārei Hospital Initiates Procurement for Expanded Carpark to Enhance Access
25 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1508 viewsWhangārei Hospital is initiating a procurement process for additional and upgraded carparks to accommodate the ongoing redevelopment, addressing the current capacity challenges and growing demand. Health New Zealand is seeking a civil contractor to build a new carpark extension with 552 spaces to replace those lost due to construction and enhance overall capacity. Acting Health Minister Matt Doocey emphasizes the importance of easy access to health services and highlights the commitment to delivering a modern hospital for the community.
Tags: Matt Doocey Patients Families Whangārei Hospital Carpark Health New Zealand Construction Procurement Services GovernmentNew Zealand Approves Psychology Assistant Role to Boost Mental Health Support
20 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1568 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey welcomes the New Zealand Psychologists Board's approval of the Psychology Assistant role to enhance access to mental health and addiction support. The initiative aims to address workforce shortages by providing a career path for psychology graduates unable to enter clinical psychology programs. Psychology Assistants will work under supervision to expand support services, reduce vacancies, and improve mental health outcomes for New Zealanders.
Tags: Matt Doocey New Zealand Psychologists Board Psychology Assistant mental health addiction support workforce shortages clinical psychology programme mental health system mental health workforce Health NZ.New Zealand's Medsafe Achieves Record Approval Speeds for Life-Saving Medicines
19 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1518 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour highlights that Medsafe has been improving its efficiency in approving new medicines, with significant reductions in evaluation timeframes for both innovative and generic medicines. The implementation of initiatives like the Rule of Two and leveraging AI technology are expected to further expedite the approval processes. The focus is on ensuring faster access to vital medications for New Zealanders, with a commitment to a regulatory system that prioritizes timely approval without compromising safety.
Tags: Medsafe David Seymour New Zealanders pharmaceuticals Rule of Two AI Medicines Amendment Bill Bleriplex medicine Omjjaro TyrukoRevolutionizing Brain Tumour Diagnosis in New Zealand: Faster and Accurate Results with DNA Methylation Profiling
15 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1487 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown announces that over 100 New Zealanders have benefited from DNA methylation profiling, a groundbreaking diagnostic tool for brain tumour diagnoses at Auckland City Hospital. This technology allows for more precise and quicker identification of tumour types, leading to earlier treatment initiation. The service in Auckland is one of three in Australasia, providing faster access to advanced diagnostic technology locally, improving outcomes for patients and reducing costs associated with sending samples overseas for analysis.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister New Zealanders DNA methylation profiling brain tumours Auckland City Hospital diagnostic technology Kiwi patients cancer treatment diagnostic toolsTauranga Hospital Enhances Critical Care Services with New ICU and HDU Expansion
13 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1788 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown opened Tauranga Hospital's new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency Unit (HDU), completing a $21 million upgrade of critical care services for the Bay of Plenty. The upgrade increases ICU and HDU capacity from 10 to 16 beds on a dedicated floor, while the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) now has its own floor with potential to expand to 20 beds. The upgraded facilities aim to improve patient flow, reduce surgery delays, enhance coordination of cardiology services, and provide additional protection with negative pressure rooms.
Tags: Simeon Brown Tauranga Hospital Intensive Care Unit High Dependency Unit Critical Care Services Bay of Plenty Coronary Care Unit Cardiology Services Emergency Department Health Infrastructure