Articles tagged with Waitlist
Budget 2026 Boosts Social Housing with $69.2M for 2,250 New Homes in NZ
3 weeks ago | 264 viewsBudget 2026 allocates an additional $69.2 million to the Flexible Fund to deliver 1800-2250 new social homes from 2028/29, building on previous investments that have already reduced the social housing waitlist. The Flexible Fund replaces fragmented housing funding with a targeted, needs-based approach that supports diverse providers and local solutions tailored to varying regional demands. This funding ensures a four-year pipeline of social housing projects, providing community housing providers with long-term certainty to plan and build more warm, dry, and secure homes for New Zealanders in need.
Tags: Chris Bishop New Zealand Budget 2026 social housing Flexible Fund Community Housing Providers Māori providers Auckland housing waitlist government investmentSignificant Reduction in Gynaecology Wait Times for Women in Counties Manukau
8 months ago | 722 viewsWomen in Counties Manukau are now receiving specialist gynaecology care much sooner, with long waits for a first specialist assessment significantly reduced over the past year, according to Health Minister Simeon Brown. The number of women waiting over four months for their first gynaecology appointment dropped from over 305 to just 30, marking a 90.2 percent reduction. Counties Manukau clinicians and healthcare teams have played a crucial role in reducing waitlists through strategies like running extra weekend clinics and maximizing available clinic sessions, resulting in a 35.6 percent reduction in the total gynaecology waitlist.
Tags: Simeon Brown Women Counties Manukau Gynaecology care Health Minister Waitlist reduction Clinicians Healthcare teams Timely care Health target.Significant Drop in Auckland Cardiology Waitlist Eases Patient Access to Specialist Care
9 months ago | 983 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 teamsNew Zealand Nurses Strike: Impact on Patient Care & Wait Times
9 months ago | 927 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 WaitlistsSignificant Drop in Northland Heart Specialist Waitlist, Improving Access to Timely Care
10 months ago | 1088 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
10 months ago | 1034 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 deliveryHealth Minister Reports Significant Reduction in South Island Neurosurgery Wait Times
10 months ago | 1466 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
10 months ago | 1406 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 progress