09 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1193 views
Associate 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.
08 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1262 views
The 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.
06 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1517 views
Health 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.
04 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1255 views
Health Minister Simeon Brown has urged Health New Zealand and ASMS to swiftly engage in binding arbitration to settle their dispute, which stems from an expired collective agreement despite previous efforts like mediation and bargaining. The ongoing strike actions by ASMS have disrupted care for numerous patients, with a potential future strike threatening more disruptions. The Government emphasizes the importance of providing timely and quality healthcare to all New Zealanders, and both parties must confirm their acceptance of arbitration by Friday 4:00 PM.
03 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1371 views
New 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.
02 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1363 views
The 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.
02 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1416 views
The 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.
26 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1443 views
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden launched the Approved Code of Practice for Forestry and Harvesting Operations to improve health and safety compliance in the forestry industry. The ACOPs are sector-specific guidelines developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders to reduce deaths and serious injuries in forestry operations. This initiative is part of broader health and safety reforms aiming to provide clear and practical guidelines for high-risk sectors, with plans to extend ACOPs to other industries like agriculture and construction.
25 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1634 views
Whangārei 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.
22 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1703 views
New Zealand's emergency services are implementing the Device Location Information (DLI) service to quickly locate individuals at risk without them having to call 111, enhancing response times in critical situations. The DLI technology allows emergency services to track mobile phones in emergencies, aiding search and rescue operations and assisting in health emergencies by locating individuals who may have fallen unconscious during a call. This new system streamlines the process by eliminating the need for manual requests to mobile network operators, ensuring quicker and more efficient emergency responses while maintaining privacy and transparency through rigorous authorization processes.
20 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1697 views
Mental 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.
16 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1619 views
Health 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.
13 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1902 views
Health 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.
11 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1887 views
The Government emphasizes timely, effective, and affordable healthcare for all New Zealanders, viewing health as an investment in societal well-being and economic productivity. Efforts are underway to streamline the medical devices system, address uncertainties, and enhance patient outcomes through strategic decision-making and collaboration between agencies. The goal is to drive innovation, improve access to new technologies, and ensure Pharmac evolves to support broader fiscal and societal objectives, ultimately aiming to deliver better care, increase efficiency, and secure a sustainable future for the healthcare system.
11 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1511 views
The Health Minister Simeon Brown announces a 36% decrease in the Northland waitlist for First Specialist Assessments (FSAs) since November 2023, emphasizing the importance of timely access to heart specialist care in detecting conditions early. The cardiology FSA waitlist in Northland dropped from 1,091 to 691 between November 2023 and March 2025, with a 68% decrease in patients waiting longer than four months. The reduction in waitlists is attributed to initiatives such as running cardiac clinics at rural hospitals, coordinating assessments to minimize visits, and expanding local services, reflecting a commitment to improving access to heart care in Northland.