Articles tagged with Health

Showing 15 of 384 articles

New Investment Boosts Physiotherapy Workforce for Faster Orthopaedic Care Access

30 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 998 views

Health Minister Simeon Brown announces new investment in physiotherapy workforce to improve access and reduce wait times for orthopaedic care. The Musculoskeletal (MSK) orthopaedic pathway, launched in August 2024, has already completed over 7200 first specialist assessments and 9500 follow-up appointments. By expanding the Advanced Clinical Practice Physiotherapist workforce and supporting postgraduate training, the initiative aims to increase assessment capacity, reduce unnecessary surgeries, and ensure 95% of patients receive timely care within four months.

Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister physiotherapy orthopaedic care New Zealanders Musculoskeletal (MSK) pathway Advanced Clinical Practice Physiotherapist Health New Zealand Auckland University of Technology University of Otago

National Mental Health and Addiction Services Performance in Review: Positive Progress and Targets Exceeded

30 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 964 views

Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey highlights positive trends in mental health and addiction services performance nationwide, with increased access to support and progress in meeting targets observed across various regions. The focus remains on not just meeting national targets but also addressing areas needing additional support, with a 10% growth in the frontline mental health workforce. The government's commitment is to deliver faster support, more frontline workers, and improved crisis response to ensure assistance is readily available for those in need throughout New Zealand.

Tags: Matt Doocey mental health addiction services Kiwis Whanganui district Central region South Island Southern district HNZ regional leaders Health NZ

Ministers Doocey and Patterson engage with Thames community to enhance rural healthcare access

30 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1109 views

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson are visiting Thames to engage with the local community and gather feedback on the implementation of the Rural Health Strategy. The main focus of the roadshows is to address concerns about healthcare access in rural and remote areas, with Budget 2025 allocating $164 million to enhance urgent and after-hours care nationwide, particularly in rural communities. The government is committed to strengthening rural healthcare, expanding the rural health workforce, and improving access to quality care for all New Zealanders, including those in rural communities.

Tags: Matt Doocey Mark Patterson Rural Health Healthcare Rural Communities Budget 2025 New Zealanders Mental Health Roadshows Rural Health Strategy

South Island Health Improvements: Faster Access to Care and Timely Treatments

29 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1054 views

Health Minister Simeon Brown highlights improved healthcare access in the South Island, with a focus on patient-centered care and meeting 2030 targets. Key improvements include faster cancer treatment, higher childhood immunization rates, and reduced emergency department wait times. Despite progress, efforts continue to reduce waitlists for elective procedures and specialist assessments, supported by increased health funding and a commitment to patient-focused care.

Tags: Canterbury Otago Southland Nelson Marlborough West Coast Simeon Brown healthcare patients South Island quarterly results

Improving Healthcare Access and Wait Times in Central NZ: Quarterly Progress Update

29 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1037 views

Health Minister Simeon Brown highlights improved healthcare performance in the Central region, emphasizing patient-centered care and access to timely treatment. Quarterly results show progress towards 2030 targets, with notable improvements in cancer treatment, childhood immunizations, and shorter emergency department stays. Despite achievements, efforts continue to reduce waitlists for elective procedures and specialist assessments, aiming to provide faster care and better outcomes for patients.

Tags: Wellington Manawatū Hawke’s Bay Wairarapa Simeon Brown healthcare patients treatment health target Central region

Midland Region Health Targets Hit Milestone: Faster Treatment & Shorter Waits in Gisborne, Bay of Plenty, Waikato,

29 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1004 views

Health Minister Simeon Brown notes improved healthcare performance in the Midland region, with focus on prioritizing patient care and achieving timely, quality services. Key improvements in the region include faster cancer treatment, increased childhood immunizations, and shorter stays in emergency departments. Despite progress, efforts continue to reduce waitlists for elective procedures and specialist assessments, supported by a significant government investment in healthcare to drive better outcomes and accountability.

Tags: Gisborne Bay of Plenty Waikato Lakes Taranaki Simeon Brown healthcare patients Midland region elective procedures

Health Minister Simeon Brown: Faster Access to Care for Northland and Auckland Patients

29 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1039 views

Health Minister Simeon Brown highlights improved healthcare access in Northland and Auckland, with quarterly results showing progress towards 2030 targets. Key improvements include faster cancer treatment, increased childhood immunizations, and shorter stays in emergency departments. Efforts to reduce waitlists for elective procedures and FSAs are also underway, with a record investment in health supporting these initiatives.

Tags: Simeon Brown Northland Auckland Health Minister healthcare patients Northern region Waitematā Aucklanders Northlanders

Health Minister Simeon Brown Highlights Improved Healthcare Access in New Zealand

29 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 981 views

Health Minister Simeon Brown highlights improvements in healthcare across New Zealand, emphasizing shorter waits and faster treatment for patients. Key achievements include faster cancer treatment, increased childhood immunizations, and shorter stays in emergency departments. The government's initiatives, such as the Elective Boost program, have led to more patients receiving timely care, but efforts to further reduce wait times and improve access to care continue.

Tags: Simeon Brown patients healthcare New Zealand Health Minister treatment access quarterly results improvements elective treatment

Strengthening Rural Health on the West Coast: Ministers Engage with Greymouth Community

29 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1020 views

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson are visiting Greymouth as part of the Rural Health Roadshow to address healthcare challenges in geographically spread-out communities like the West Coast. Budget 2025 allocated $164 million to enhance urgent and after-hours care, aiming to ensure 98% of New Zealanders can reach urgent care within an hour. The Government is dedicated to removing geographic barriers to healthcare access, focusing on strengthening mental health and rural healthcare outcomes for all New Zealanders, especially those in rural communities like Greymouth.

Tags: Matt Doocey Mark Patterson Associate Health Minister Rural Health Minister for Rural Communities Greymouth Roadshow Budget 2025 New Zealanders Mental Health

Transforming Prostate Cancer Care in Lower South Island: Advanced Practitioner Leads Innovative Approach

29 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1000 views

New Zealand's first Advanced Practitioner Radiation Therapist specializing in prostate cancer is revolutionizing care in the lower South Island, providing faster access to treatment, personalized support, and improved outcomes for men. The role allows for consistent patient support throughout the treatment journey and enables specialists to see more patients in need of care. The new approach is already demonstrating tangible benefits for patients and clinicians, with plans to extend the model to a wider range of urological conditions in the future to improve patient experience and ensure timely, quality healthcare.

Tags: Simeon Brown Prostate cancer Advanced Practitioner Radiation Therapist Health Minister New Zealand Treatment Care Patients Clinicians

Parent Boost Visitor Visa Applications Now Open for New Zealand Citizens and Residents | Up to 5 Years Stay

28 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1031 views

Applications are open for the Parent Boost Visitor Visa in New Zealand, allowing parents of citizens and residents to visit for up to five years, meeting health, financial, and insurance requirements. The visa aims to balance the desires of migrants with parents overseas for longer visits while protecting public services. Additionally, initiatives like smart skilled migrant residency pathways are part of efforts to attract talent, support businesses, and boost the economy.

Tags: Parent Boost Visitor Visa New Zealand Immigration Minister Erica Stanford visitor visa health system skilled migrant residency pathways talent attraction economic growth National ACT

Christchurch Hospital's State-of-the-Art Cardiac Lab Upgrade Enhances Care in South Island

27 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1060 views

The upgrade of Christchurch Hospital’s cardiac catheterisation laboratory is now complete, with three state-of-the-art labs providing advanced cardiac care services for the South Island. The new facilities offer improved technology, increased capacity, and enhanced resilience, ensuring faster access to treatment and better outcomes for patients across the region. This upgrade establishes Christchurch Hospital as a leading center of excellence in cardiac intervention, delivering cutting-edge care and safeguarding the heart health of New Zealanders in the South Island.

Tags: Christchurch Hospital cardiac care Simeon Brown electrophysiology James Meager heart intervention South Island healthcare technology patients

Health New Zealand's $65M Plan to Slash Diagnostic Wait Times by 75,000 Procedures

25 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1207 views

Health New Zealand's $65 million Diagnostic Improvement Plan aims to reduce wait times for critical diagnostic procedures like MRI scans and colonoscopies, with an additional 75,000 procedures to be delivered this year. The initiative, supported by targeted workforce growth, will expand access, reduce delays, and improve patient outcomes by ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment. The investment will increase in-house delivery and outsourcing of diagnostic services, complementing the $30 million investment in community-referred radiology to streamline patient access and alleviate pressure on hospitals.

Tags: Health Minister Simeon Brown Health New Zealand diagnostic procedures MRI scans colonoscopies colposcopies radiology procedures cardiac tests workforce growth

Rural Health Roadshow: Ministers Visit Te Kūiti to Enhance Healthcare Access and Services

24 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1148 views

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson are conducting the Rural Health Roadshow in Te Kūiti, the tenth stop on the tour. The roadshow aims to gather feedback from rural communities and healthcare providers to assess the Rural Health Strategy's implementation and identify areas for improvement. Te Kūiti hosts one of six rural urgent care prototypes, part of a national initiative to enhance rural healthcare services, supported by a $164 million investment to strengthen urgent and after-hours care across New Zealand.

Tags: Matt Doocey Mark Patterson Rural Health Te Kūiti Roadshow Rural Communities Healthcare Rural Health Strategy Budget 2025 New Zealanders

Pharmac Proposes Funding for Life-Saving Treatments: Minister's Positive Outlook

23 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 999 views

Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown are pleased with Pharmac's negotiations to increase access to medicines, recognizing the significant impact on New Zealanders' health and well-being. Pharmac's proposal includes funding for five new treatments for various conditions, potentially benefiting over 1,700 people in the first year and up to 4,000 by year five. The proposal aims to improve patient care by introducing quicker administration methods, saving hospital infusion hours and freeing up resources for other treatments, while also emphasizing the importance of public consultation in decision-making processes.

Tags: David Seymour Simeon Brown Pharmac New Zealanders medicines proposal treatments healthcare clinicians consultation