Articles tagged with Patients
Whanganui Hospital Dental Unit Gets Modern Upgrade for Better Patient Care
4 days ago | 77 viewsWhanganui Hospital's dental unit has been modernized and upgraded to provide a brighter, more accessible space for patients, with improvements including an enlarged waiting room and dedicated areas for IV sedation. The refurbishment aimed to enhance patient flow, safety, and accessibility, with improved wheelchair access and a new recovery space for sedation patients. The upgraded unit now features modernized dental rooms with new equipment to enable efficient and safe care delivery, reflecting the government's commitment to providing fit-for-purpose health facilities that meet community needs.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister patients dental unit refurbishment oral healthcare IV sedation wheelchair users modernised careRevolutionizing Health Workforce Regulation for Faster Patient Access
4 days ago | 127 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown announces changes to modernize health workforce regulation to improve patient access to care by reducing bureaucratic red tape and recognizing overseas qualifications more quickly. The changes aim to streamline regulation, increase accountability, and align New Zealand with Australia to speed up access to care and support new healthcare delivery models while maintaining patient safety. Patients will have a voice in ensuring regulators work towards improving access to care, and the changes will help attract, train, and retain the healthcare workforce needed to deliver timely, quality care.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister patients care regulation workforce access professionals New Zealand AustraliaGovernment Exceeds Elective Boost Target: 16,005 Procedures Delivered, Wait Times Reduced
1 week ago | 98 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
1 week ago | 173 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 teamsHealth Minister Urges Binding Arbitration to End Healthcare Dispute
1 week ago | 112 viewsHealth 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.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister Health New Zealand Association of Salaried Medical Specialists arbitration collective agreement strike action patients healthcare New ZealandersNew Zealand Nurses Strike: Impact on Patient Care & Wait Times
2 weeks ago | 210 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
3 weeks ago | 266 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 GovernmentRevolutionizing Brain Tumour Diagnosis in New Zealand: Faster and Accurate Results with DNA Methylation Profiling
1 month ago | 404 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 toolsInnovating Healthcare: Transforming New Zealand's Medical Devices System for a Stronger Future
1 month ago | 399 viewsThe 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.
Tags: health innovation medical devices Pharmac New Zealand technology patients government access outcomesSignificant Drop in Northland Heart Specialist Waitlist, Improving Access to Timely Care
1 month ago | 344 viewsThe 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.
Tags: Northland Health Minister Simeon Brown Heart disease New Zealand Cardiology Patients Waitlist Heart condition Rural hospitals Whangārei HospitalSignificant Drop in Waikato Waitlist for Heart and Lung Surgery: Health Minister
1 month ago | 257 viewsThe 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.
Tags: Waikato patients heart surgery lung surgery Health Minister Simeon Brown treatment waitlist healthcare surgery deliveryExpanded Cancer Treatment Services at Taupō Hospital Bring Care Closer to Home
1 month ago | 345 viewsChemotherapy services at Taupō Hospital have expanded to two days a week, doubling operating days for the first time in over 20 years, in response to increased demand driven by government investment in cancer medicines. The investment has enabled broader access to advanced treatments like Keytruda, benefiting patients in Taupō and surrounding areas. Specialist nurses from Rotorua travel to Taupō to administer treatments, reducing travel time and easing the burden on patients and their families, with plans to further expand services to meet growing demand and improve access to cancer care in the region.
Tags: Taupō region chemotherapy services Taupō Hospital Health Minister Simeon Brown cancer patients Pharmac Keytruda immunotherapy drug specialist nurses Rotorua.Health Minister Reports Significant Reduction in South Island Neurosurgery Wait Times
1 month ago | 581 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown highlights the significant reduction in neurosurgery wait times in the South Island, emphasizing the importance of timely access to specialist care for serious brain and spinal conditions. The number of patients waiting for neurosurgery has decreased by 22% and those waiting longer than four months has dropped by 45%, reflecting positive progress in patient care. The government's focus on reducing waitlists, investing in surgical teams, and ensuring timely specialist care demonstrates a commitment to improving healthcare accessibility for all New Zealanders.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister neurosurgery South Island patients waitlist healthcare surgery New Zealanders specialistsOrthopaedic Surgery Waitlists Decline in Midland Region, Patients Getting Faster Care
1 month ago | 416 viewsHealth 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.
Tags: orthopaedic surgery waitlist Simeon Brown hip knee issues treatment patients elective procedures health target progressNew Dialysis Unit in Blenheim to Provide Life-Changing Support for Local Patients & Families
2 months ago | 768 viewsA new dialysis unit is set to open in Blenheim, providing crucial support for local patients and their families, reducing the need for extensive travel to Nelson Hospital. The initiative aims to ease the burden on patients, support self-dialysis capabilities, and address the growing need for kidney care in the region. The project is a collaborative effort involving various healthcare providers, local charities, and community organizations, showcasing a commitment to responsive and locally led healthcare services.
Tags: Simeon Brown Marlborough Health Minister Nelson Hospital dialysis unit healthcare local communities patients families Marlborough Primary Health