Articles tagged with St John

Waitākere Hospital Opens Transitional Lounge to Speed Up Patient Discharges

1 hour ago | 37 views

A new transitional lounge at Waitākere Hospital enables patients who are medically ready for discharge to wait in a dedicated space, freeing up hospital beds for those needing urgent care. This lounge improves patient flow by reducing delays caused by patients remaining in wards while awaiting transport or transfer, thereby enhancing access to acute care and supporting transport providers. Building on the success of a similar facility at North Shore Hospital, the lounge aims to ease pressure on the health system during the busier winter period by streamlining discharge processes.

Tags: Waitākere Hospital transitional lounge Simeon Brown patient discharge emergency care hospital beds North Shore Hospital St John aged residential care health system

New Zealand Expands Urgent Rural Healthcare with Improved Local Services

3 months ago | 520 views

The first phase of delivering healthcare closer to home has been completed in six rural communities, improving urgent and after-hours care through initiatives like point-of-care testing, ultrasound, telehealth pharmacy services, and integrated paramedic support. Budget 2025 allocated $164 million to expand these improvements to 70 rural locations, ensuring 98% of New Zealanders can access urgent care within an hour’s drive. This approach emphasizes locally led solutions and workforce strengthening, including rural training hubs and a new medical school, to enhance healthcare access and outcomes in remote areas.

Tags: Matt Doocey Golden Bay Tūrangi Twizel Te Kūiti Coromandel Great Barrier Island Hato Hone St John University of Waikato Mackenzie District

New Zealand Expands Next Gen Critical Communications to Boost Emergency Response

5 months ago | 596 views

The New Zealand Government is enhancing emergency responder capabilities by creating a new entity and expanding the mandate of Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC) to extend Public Safety Network (PSN) services beyond frontline responders to a broader range of emergency management and public safety organizations. NGCC, responsible for delivering the $1.4 billion PSN infrastructure, aims to modernize critical communications with improved coverage, reliability, and real-time information sharing to better prepare for disasters. The new company, overseen by the Ministers for Emergency Management and Finance, will offer user-pays cellular services to eligible organizations starting mid-2026.

Tags: Mark Mitchell Next Generation Critical Communications NGCC Public Safety Network Emergency Management New Zealand Police Fire and Emergency New Zealand Hato Hone St John Wellington Free Ambulance

Gisborne Community Receives $3.55M Cyclone Gabrielle Relief Grants: Minister Brooke van Velden

10 months ago | 1721 views

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says that communities in the Gisborne region are benefitting from $3. 55 million in grants from funds raised through a special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief. “Cyclone Gabrielle had a devasting impact on the East Coast, causing widespread destruction to property and requiring significant relief efforts.

Tags: Auckland Bay of plenty Brooke van velden Cyclone gabrielle appeal trust East coast Fire and emergency new zealand Gabrielle Gabrielle appeal Gisborne Hawke ’ s bay Northland Pehiri emergency management group Ruatoria volunteer fire brigade St john gisborne area Tahunga residents association incorporated Tararua Waikato

Celebrating health volunteers during National Volunteer Week

10 months ago | 1478 views

Health Minister Simeon Brown and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey are marking National Volunteer Week by recognising the extraordinary contribution of volunteers to New Zealand’s health system, including this year’s recipients of the Minister of Health Volunteer Awards. This year’s theme – Volunteering weaves us together – highlights the power of volunteering to strengthen the fabric of our communities, helping build a stronger, more inclusive New Zealand. “Since 2013, the Minister of Health Volunteer Awards have been an excellent way for us to celebrate the wonderful health volunteers we have across the country.

Tags: Aloese lefo Better breathing programme Canterbury Cashmere high school Gabrielle Hato hone st john Health care provider Health shuttle Hohepa student volunteers Long service award Māori health service award Matt doocey Minister National New zealand Of health Pacific Pacific health service award Parkinson Rotorua