Articles tagged with Services
Minister Celebrates Peer Support Workers in Dunedin Hospital to Enhance Mental Health Crisis Care
1 week ago | 83 viewsMinister for Mental Health Matt Doocey visited Dunedin Hospital to celebrate the addition of peer support workers in the Emergency Department, emphasizing the benefits of having individuals with lived experience to support those in mental health crisis. The service, already implemented in five other major hospitals, aims to provide individuals with a sense of connection, support, and improved access to ongoing care. The expansion of peer support services across New Zealand is part of the government's commitment to strengthening the mental health workforce and improving crisis response for individuals seeking help.
Tags: Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey peer support workers Dunedin Hospital Emergency Department Life Matters Suicide Trust mental health crisis peer support specialist community services mental health systemTransforming School Attendance Services for Better Student Engagement and Support
1 week ago | 106 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has revamped the Government's school attendance services contracting system to enhance support for chronically absent students. Budget 2025 allocated $140 million over four years, with $123 million designated for frontline services, leading to the awarding of 83 contracts to Attendance Service Providers (ASPs) nationwide. The new model emphasizes reaching more absent students, understanding their reasons for non-attendance, collaborating with families and schools, addressing students' basic needs, and escalating cases of chronic non-attendance, with a goal to achieve 80% student attendance by 2030.
Tags: David Seymour Ministry ERO Attendance Service Providers Budget 2025 School attendance Education Minister Contracts Students ServicesNational Mental Health and Addiction Services Performance in Review: Positive Progress and Targets Exceeded
2 weeks ago | 130 viewsMinister 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 NZGovernment’s Centralized Digital Investment Strategy to Save Billions and Enhance Public Services
3 weeks ago | 207 viewsThe Government announced a shift in digital investment and procurement in the public sector, aiming to save up to $3.9 billion in the next five years. The Government Chief Digital Officer (GCDO) will lead decision-making for digital investments, potentially saving 30% of the projected $13 billion technology spend. The goal is to transition to a citizen-focused, digital-first public service model, improving efficiency and providing better digital services while maintaining traditional service options.
Tags: Judith Collins Government Chief Digital Officer digital investment procurement public sector New Zealanders technology spend taxpayer money public servicesGovernment's $100 Million Investment to Upgrade NZ Hospitals for Better Healthcare
3 weeks ago | 130 viewsThe Government is investing $100 million to upgrade hospital facilities in New Zealand, focusing on modernizing and expanding clinical spaces to improve healthcare quality and access. The funding, part of Budget 2025, aims to address neglected infrastructure and ensure timely, quality care for all citizens. The program includes local projects nationwide and remediation efforts to strengthen essential hospital infrastructure, creating jobs and supporting frontline staff while enhancing patient care and hospital resilience.
Tags: Government investment hospital facilities Health Minister Simeon Brown Budget 2025 public services healthcare clinical spaces infrastructure New ZealandersMinister of Internal Affairs Achieves Shortest Citizenship Wait Times in Five Years
3 weeks ago | 171 viewsMinister Brooke van Velden highlights significant improvements in citizenship application processing, with wait times reduced from 180 to 69 days, the shortest in five years. The Department of Internal Affairs prioritized clearing the backlog, resulting in a 70% decrease in the number of people waiting for a decision. Van Velden emphasizes the importance of recognizing and valuing the contributions of those applying for citizenship, acknowledging the efforts and sacrifices made by new Kiwis.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Minister of Internal Affairs citizenship government services efficiency Labour Department of Internal Affairs New Zealand economy cultureLocal Water Done Well: Councils Deliver Plans for Quality, Cost-Effective Water Services
1 month ago | 206 viewsCouncils have submitted water services delivery plans under the Local Water Done Well initiative to ensure quality and cost-effective water services for ratepayers. The government aims to address water services challenges by enabling councils to collaborate on financial sustainability and infrastructure development. Plans will be reviewed and considered for acceptance, with a focus on financial sustainability to ensure safe and resilient water services for communities.
Tags: Councils Local Water Done Well Water services delivery plans Local Government Minister Simon Watts Financial sustainability Infrastructure New housing Joint arrangements Ratepayers Legislation.New Zealand Launches Refreshed Eating Disorder Strategy with $4M Boost
1 month ago | 279 viewsNew 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.
Tags: Matt Doocey New Zealand eating disorders mental health funding strategy support services community preventionImproving Family and Sexual Violence Sector Training and Collaboration Leads to Enhanced Victim-Centred Services
1 month ago | 167 viewsA survey of workers in the family violence and sexual violence sector reveals improvements in training and collaboration, enhancing victim-centred services. Minister Karen Chhour emphasizes the importance of strong connections between community and government agencies, as well as consistent training for workers providing specialized support. The survey highlights the widespread training received by frontline workers and the ongoing efforts to ensure national consistency and quality, with a focus on expanding training to public sector staff and promoting collaborative relationships for effective multi-agency responses.
Tags: Karen Chhour Minister Prevention Family violence Sexual violence Training Collaboration Survey Workers ServicesHave Your Say: Kiwis Invited to Shape Telecommunications Regulatory Changes
1 month ago | 308 viewsKiwis are encouraged to provide input on proposed regulatory changes in the telecommunications sector, as their feedback is crucial to the review process, according to Ministers David Seymour and Paul Goldsmith. The review focuses on key regulatory issues such as the Telecommunications Development Levy (TDL), shareholder caps, and service quality regulations. Proposed draft changes include implementing a consumer code, updating infrastructure obligations, eliminating outdated rules, and enhancing investor appeal for telecom companies to boost growth in the sector.
Tags: David Seymour Paul Goldsmith Telecommunications sector Regulatory change Telecommunications Development Levy Retail Service Quality Fibre Fixed Line Access Telecommunications service obligations Telecommunication services Commerce CommissionLocal Water Done Well: Government Legislation Benefits Communities Nationwide
1 month ago | 233 viewsThe Government's Local Water Done Well legislation aims to provide safe, reliable, and financially sustainable water services to local communities across the country. The legislation focuses on ensuring financial sustainability, oversight, and accountability in water service delivery, with the Commerce Commission overseeing economic regulation to ensure fair pricing and quality infrastructure. Councils are encouraged to submit water services delivery plans that meet the requirements and provide flexibility to make arrangements best-suited for their communities, ultimately benefiting Kiwis with improved water services.
Tags: Local Government Minister Simon Watts Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson Kiwis Watercare charter Three Waters policy Local Government (Water Services) Act Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act Commerce Commission councils water services delivery planWhangārei Hospital Initiates Procurement for Expanded Carpark to Enhance Access
1 month ago | 395 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 GovernmentNew Zealand’s Emergency Services Boosted by Digital Technology for Rapid Location of At-Risk Individuals
1 month ago | 524 viewsNew 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.
Tags: New Zealand emergency services digital technology Police Minister Mark Mitchell Associate Health Minister Casey Costello Device Location Information real time search and rescue operations health emergencies Telecommunications Information Privacy CodeTauranga Hospital Enhances Critical Care Services with New ICU and HDU Expansion
2 months ago | 462 viewsHealth 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.
Tags: Simeon Brown Tauranga Hospital Intensive Care Unit High Dependency Unit Critical Care Services Bay of Plenty Coronary Care Unit Cardiology Services Emergency Department Health InfrastructureExpanded Cancer Treatment Services at Taupō Hospital Bring Care Closer to Home
2 months ago | 438 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.