Health News & Articles
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New Digital Platform Te Puna Revolutionizes Breast Cancer Screening in New Zealand, Benefit for 135,000 Women
27 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 1866 viewsAround 135,000 women across New Zealand who are eligible but not currently enrolled for breast cancer screening will benefit from the successful national rollout of a new digital platform, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “The launch of Te Puna across the country is a major step forward for delivering faster and smarter screening services,” Mr Brown says. “Te Puna replaces an outdated legacy system with a modern, streamlined platform that makes it easier for women to enrol, book, and manage their breast screening appointments – helping more women get screened earlier.
Tags: New zealand Simeon brown Te punaNew Sir Mark Dunajtschik Mental Health Centre Construction Begins in Lower Hutt: Transforming Mental Health Services in Wellington Region
26 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2580 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey have today marked the beginning of construction on the new Sir Mark Dunajtschik Mental Health Centre in Lower Hutt. Joined by Hutt South MP Chris Bishop, the Ministers took part in a sod-turning ceremony to celebrate the start of a project that will transform mental health services across the Wellington region. “Today, I’m proud to announce the Government is investing $38 million in the construction of this world-class facility – alongside an extraordinary $50 million donation from Sir Mark Dunajtschik, who also generously donated $50 million towards the new Wellington Children’s Hospital in 2017,” Mr Brown says.
Tags: Chris bishop Health centre Hutt south Lower hutt Mark dunajtschi Mark dunajtschik Matt doocey New zealand Simeon brown Wellington Wellington children ’ s hospital ZealandNew Prescribing Changes for ADHD Treatment in New Zealand: Minister Doocey Welcomes Faster Access to Care
23 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2252 viewsMinister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has welcomed prescribing changes that will enable GPs and nurse practitioners to diagnose and treat adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). “I applaud Pharmac and Medsafe’s decision to widen prescribing rules for ADHD medicines from next February, this decision will give New Zealanders faster access to assessments and treatment,” Mr Doocey says. “This is a common-sense change that will make a meaningful difference in many lives of New Zealanders.
Tags: Matt doocey Mental health Ministry of health New zealand Pharmac and medsafeNew Zealand's Historic Funding Boost for General Practices: Improving Access to Quality Healthcare
23 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2840 viewsGeneral practices are set to benefit from the largest funding boost in New Zealand’s history – because frontline care starts with your local GP, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “This Government is focused on real results. When you are able to see your doctor or nurse earlier, you stay healthier and out of hospital.
Tags: Health new zealand New zealand Simeon brownStrong interest in new programme for overseas-trained doctors
18 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 1889 viewsA total of 180 overseas-trained doctors have expressed interest in a new Government-funded training programme aimed at boosting New Zealand’s primary care workforce, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand needs more doctors – particularly in primary and rural healthcare care settings – and this Government is taking action to make that happen,” Mr Brown says. “That’s why we’ve launched a new two-year training programme to support up to 100 additional overseas-trained doctors across the country.
Tags: Health new zealand New zealand Simeon brown WaikatoNew day stay unit at Starship Children’s Hospital will increase capacity
18 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2132 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown today officially opened the new Athlae Lyon Day Stay Unit at Starship Children’s Hospital, marking a major milestone in the ongoing redevelopment of New Zealand’s largest children’s hospital. “Starship plays a critical role in caring for our most vulnerable children, not just from Auckland but from right across New Zealand. It provides lifesaving care and specialist services that families depend on during some of the most challenging times they will face,” Mr Brown says.
Tags: “ starship Athlae lyon day stay unit Auckland New zealand Simeon brown Starship children ’ s hospitalNew board members appointed to the Health Quality & Safety Commission
18 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 3866 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown has today announced three new board appointments to the Health Quality & Safety Commission. The Health Quality & Safety Commission (HQSC) is a Crown entity responsible for improving quality and safety across the health and disability systems within New Zealand. “I am very pleased to welcome Dr Peter Watson, Taima Campbell, and Clare Perry to the HQSC board,” Mr Brown says.
Tags: Andrew connolly Aotearoa clinical trials trust Brownsc Campbell Cancer research trust new zealand Clare perry Clinical governance committee for Forte health ltd Hauraki health consulting ltd Health new zealand Health practitioners disciplinary tribunal Health quality & safety commission Jennifer parr Ministry of health New zealand Peter watson Simeon brown Taima campbellGovernment expands access to Melatonin and Psilocybin
18 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 1982 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour says the Government is delivering on its promise to cut red tape and give Kiwis greater access to more treatments, starting with melatonin and medicinal psilocybin. “Many New Zealanders have asked me why people can buy melatonin overseas but they can’t buy it from their local pharmacy. Medsafe has assessed this and decided there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be available on pharmacy shelves right here at home,” says Mr Seymour.
Tags: Australia David seymour Medsafe Melaton New zealand SeymourDelivering better orthopaedic care for Northland
18 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2183 viewsThe Government is delivering on its commitment to improve healthcare access across the country, with expanded orthopaedic services now reaching more patients in Northland, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealanders deserve timely, high-quality healthcare no matter where they live – and that’s exactly what we’re delivering for both urban and rural Northlanders,” Mr Brown says. In a major boost to orthopaedic services, Health New Zealand has welcomed three new orthopaedic surgeons to the Northland region.
Tags: Far north Health new zealand Kaitaia Kaitaia hospital New zealand Northland Northlander Simeon brown WhangāreData shows mental health access improving
17 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 1769 viewsMinister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has welcomed the latest quarterly results for the Government’s mental health and addiction targets, saying the access targets reflect real progress in delivering faster, more accessible support to New Zealanders. "I'm pleased to see that at a national level, 84. 3 per cent of people are accessing primary mental health and addiction services within one week, well above the 80 per cent target and well above the quarter one result of 80.
Tags: Health nz Matt doocey Mental health New zealand ZealandTargets continue to get health back on track
17 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 1787 viewsThe Government’s focus on restoring performance and accountability in the health system is delivering real outcomes for patients, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “The latest quarterly results show clear progress in putting patients first and delivering access to timely, quality healthcare for all New Zealanders,” Mr Brown says. In the latest quarter, from January to March, key improvements include: Shorter emergency department stays: 74.
Tags: Health new zealand New zealand Simeon brownNew Pharmac Chief Executive welcomed
16 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2042 viewsAssociate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed Natalie McMurtry as Pharmac’s Chief Executive. Natalie McMurtry will start as Pharmac’s Chief Executive on Monday 15 September, taking over from the Acting Chief Executive, Brendan Boyle. “For the first time, Pharmac has its own Minister.
Tags: Alberta Brendan boyle David seymour Natalie Natalie mcmurtry National coalition agreement New zealand Pharmac Seymour ZealandVapes stores go dark, disposable vapes banned
16 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 1841 viewsVaping law changes that take effect today ban disposable vapes and will make a noticeable difference to shop fronts and the marketing of vaping products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello says. “This coalition Government committed to tackling youth vaping, and we’ve made practical changes to reduce the appeal of vaping to young people and to target retailers who sell vapes and tobacco products to our youth,” Ms Costello says. “Today’s changes implement the final parts of legislation passed in December.
Tags: Casey costello Costello New zealandfree environments and regulated products amendment bill ZealandCrown manager appointed to drive delivery of New Dunedin Hospital
16 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2405 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown has today announced the appointment of a Crown manager to oversee the delivery of the New Dunedin Hospital Inpatient Building, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to ensuring the project is delivered successfully. “In late January, I confirmed the Government’s commitment to building the New Dunedin Hospital on the former Cadbury site – providing certainty to the people of Dunedin and the wider Otago and Southland regions,” Mr Brown says. “As part of that commitment, we are putting strong leadership in place to drive the next stage of this project.
Tags: Cadbury Dunedin Evan davies Government Health new zealand New dunedin hospital New dunedin hospital inpatient building New zealand Simeon brown SouthlandNew CT scanner to improve cancer services in Invercargill
16 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2075 viewsA new, state-of-the-art CT scanner is now operational at Southland Hospital, delivering a significant step forward for diagnostic services in the region, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “This new CT scanner is a game-changer for Invercargill and surrounding areas. It will provide faster, more accurate diagnosis for a wide range of conditions, including cancer and heart disease – meaning patients can start treatment sooner and with greater confidence.
Tags: Invercargill Simeon brown Southland hospital