13 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1539 views
Wellington Regional Hospital has installed a new SPECT-CT scanner featuring advanced imaging technology that provides faster, higher-quality scans with reduced radiation exposure, complementing an existing modern unit. This combined imaging technology enhances disease detection, diagnosis accuracy, and treatment monitoring for various patients, including those with cancer and children needing specialized imaging. The installation is part of a nationwide $108 million government upgrade to diagnostic imaging, which also includes refurbishing the scanning room to improve patient comfort.
12 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1235 views
Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome Pharmac's decision to fund access to five treatments, including for breast and lung cancer, starting from December 1, 2025. Pharmac's decisions include funding new subcutaneous options for existing IV medicines, two new medicines, and ongoing access to certain treatments. The move aims to make patients' lives easier, reduce strain on the health system, and provide better and faster access to cancer care in New Zealand, aligning with the government's focus on improving cancer management and ensuring better access to cancer medicines.
25 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1097 views
Health Minister Simeon Brown announces the installation of 35 upgraded dialysis machines and evening dialysis services in Waitākere, benefiting patients in West Auckland and on the North Shore. This initiative aims to improve access to critical dialysis services and offer more convenient treatment options closer to home. The upgraded equipment and extended operating hours will reduce travel time, increase flexibility for patients, and enhance the quality of care provided in the region.
30 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1223 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.
30 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1218 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.
29 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1201 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.
24 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1221 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.
17 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1357 views
A new nurse-led cystoscopy service at Dunedin Hospital is ensuring timely follow-up care for bladder cancer patients, with 290 patients seen since its launch in November 2024. This service, led by two skilled nurses, has successfully kept all 150 patients on the surveillance programme on track with their cystoscopies, completing 10 to 15 follow-ups weekly. The initiative not only improves patient access to care but also optimizes workforce utilization, allowing specialists to focus on more complex procedures and contributing to achieving faster cancer treatment targets.
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.
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.
11 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1520 views
The number of patients waiting for critical heart and lung surgery in Waikato has decreased by 70% since November 2023, with the waitlist dropping from 90 to 27 people. Health Minister Simeon Brown commends the progress, emphasizing the importance of timely access to healthcare for all Kiwis. The improvements are attributed to the dedication of frontline health workers in the region and the government's focus on reducing wait times for elective procedures to ensure quality healthcare for all New Zealanders.
29 Jul 2025
1 year ago
1928 views
Health 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.
26 Jul 2025
1 year ago
2868 views
A 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.
19 Jul 2025
1 year ago
2224 views
A new state-of-the-art cardiac catheterisation lab at Tauranga Hospital enhances diagnostic and treatment services in the region, replacing the old suite that had been in use since 2017. The upgraded facility offers advanced technology for cardiac care, reducing the need for patients to travel to other hospitals for complex procedures. With plans to increase operational sessions, the lab aims to provide a wider range of interventional services locally, improving access to quality healthcare and outcomes for patients in the Bay of Plenty and surrounding areas.