Jonathan Coleman
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is welcoming the successful introduction of a new way to assess the future profile of the country’s medical specialty workforce.

“Health Workforce New Zealand (HWNZ) plays a key role helping to ensure the health workforce is well trained, appropriately configured, and able to address the future health needs of New Zealanders,” says Dr Coleman.

“To support this work HWNZ have developed and begun implementing a new more sophisticated modelling system.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman will tonight acknowledge steps being taken to improve gender equality in cricket at the ANZ New Zealand Cricket Awards.

“It is a credit to New Zealand Cricket that they are one of the first of the major sporting codes to appoint a female President and I would like to acknowledge Debbie Hockley’s appointment,” says Dr Coleman.

The appointment follows the critical ‘Women and Cricket, Cricket and Women’ report which was published in November 2016.

Jonathan Coleman Sport and Recreation
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman today launched the Adult Palliative Care Services in New Zealand – Review and Action Plan at Hospice North Shore, Auckland.

“Palliative care is a priority for the Government. We’re committed to ensuring New Zealanders can access palliative care services when they need them and in the settings they prefer,” says Dr Coleman.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith have welcomed $2 million in feasibility study grants announced today by the Health Research Council (HRC).

“The Government supports research that leads to improved health outcomes and more effective delivery of healthcare for New Zealanders,” says Dr Coleman.

“This year’s funding for feasibility grants is nearly double last year’s, supporting a total of nine studies spanning a range of subject areas.”

Jonathan Coleman Paul Goldsmith Science and Innovation Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says data from the system which matches graduates with employers shows hundreds more nurses are now in mental health services, surgical, and medical areas.

The national recruitment system, called ACE, provides accurate information much sooner for both nurse graduates and employers. It helps to streamline the recruitment process for both graduates and DHBs.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman and Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner say the New Zealand Special Olympics team should be extremely proud of its outstanding results at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Graz, Austria.

“The 13 athletes who competed in last week’s games have returned to New Zealand today with 18 medals,” says Dr Coleman.

“What’s even more impressive is that all members of the team have achieved personal best results.”

Nicky Wagner Jonathan Coleman Disability Issues Sport and Recreation
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith have welcomed the signing of a bilateral cooperation arrangement in biomedical research between New Zealand and China.

The arrangement between the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) and China’s National Natural Science Foundation (NSFC) was signed by HRC Chair Dr Lester Levy and NSFC Vice President Dr Liu Congqiang today.

Jonathan Coleman Paul Goldsmith Health Science and Innovation
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Health Minister and Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman is travelling to Melbourne to take part in a meeting of Health Ministers.

Dr Coleman will attend the Council of Australian Governments Health Council meeting, along with Australian Commonwealth Health Minister Greg Hunt and Health Ministers from states and territories.

Dr Coleman will also meet separately with Mr Hunt, who like Dr Coleman, also holds both the health and sports portfolio.

Jonathan Coleman Health Sport and Recreation
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is calling on clinicians to share their ideas on how technology can transform patient care.

“Clinicians have an insider’s view of where innovation can be applied to improve healthcare services,” says Dr Coleman.

“A key focus of this year’s annual Clinicians’ Challenge is ‘disruptive innovation’, which is when an innovation disrupts the existing norm and becomes the new benchmark.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and ACC Minister Michael Woodhouse say hundreds will benefit from a new major trauma policy which will see patients taken to the most appropriate hospital more quickly.

“The Government is focused on getting patients the care they need when they need it. As part of the wider work programme we’re rolling out the ‘Major trauma out of hospital destination policy’ from Monday,” says Dr Coleman.

Jonathan Coleman Michael Woodhouse Health ACC
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith says new internationally-recognised research that aims to improve rehabilitation of people after they have a stroke is an important step forward.

“Around 9,000 people have a stroke each year in New Zealand. Early identification and treatment is crucial to reduce the likelihood of brain damage and lasting harm,” says Dr Coleman.

Jonathan Coleman Paul Goldsmith Science and Innovation Health
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Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman says up to 20,000 children are benefiting from a pilot programme which seeks to transform the way physical education (PE) is taught in schools.

“We’re now one year into the three year pilot of Play.Sport and the number of schools taking part has grown from 34 to 44,” says Dr Coleman.

“20,000 children at schools across Waikatere and Upper Hutt where the pilot is taking place are now benefitting from this new model of delivering PE.

Jonathan Coleman Health Sport and Recreation
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says nominations are now open for the 2017 Minister of Health Volunteer Awards.

“These awards help to recognise the thousands of unsung heroes who support New Zealand’s health and disability services,” says Dr Coleman.

“Health volunteers make life better for New Zealanders in many ways, often without seeking any recognition.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says community-based midwives will receive a $2.8 million pay increase this year, further boosting support for maternity services.

“This fee increase for Lead Maternity Care (LMC) midwives acknowledges their important work with many of the 60,000 new babies born annually in New Zealand,” Dr Coleman says.

“It’s important that these mums and babies receive the best possible care.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the latest Better Public Service (BPS) results for immunisation and rheumatic fever show improvements have been made, but there is still more work to do.

“Immunisation protects children from some serious but preventable diseases and helps to stop those diseases spreading. High coverage is important to protect not only the health of an individual but to protect the community as well,” says Dr Coleman.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman has today launched a new Rugby League Education programme at Auckland’s Birkdale North School.

“The Rugby League World Cup 2017 Education Resource is a range of curriculum-based learning and teaching resources for primary and intermediate students in Years 1 to 8. It’s a fun and interactive way to promote learning through rugby league,” says Dr Coleman.

“The programme includes engaging classroom ideas that can be used across the curriculum, including physical education, maths and science.

Jonathan Coleman Sport and Recreation
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says on World Kidney Day that the number of living kidney donors continues to increase, having a massive impact on the lives of patients and their families.

Organ Donation New Zealand figures show that there were 82 live kidney donors in 2016, up from 74 the year before. Live donors accounted for about half of the 172 kidney transplant recipients last year.

“Organ transplantation is a life-saving treatment and for people with organ failure it’s often the only option available,” says Dr Coleman.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman today announced a $5.5 million investment into two major golfing events.

Through the Major Events Development Fund $2.7 million will be committed to New Zealand Golf to support the hosting of the McKayson New Zealand Women’s Open from 2017 to 2019.

$2.8 million will also be invested over three years in support the annual ISPS Handa NZ Golf Open. The 2017 tournament gets underway in Queenstown tomorrow.

Simon Bridges Jonathan Coleman Economic Development Sport and Recreation
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has praised the ongoing work of the National Depression Initiative (NDI) with latest figures indicating increased interaction with young people.

“The drivers of mental health and addiction are complex. In line with international trends, we’ve seen an increase in demand for mental health and addiction services,” says Dr Coleman.

“The NDI has had an increasingly important role in utilising technology to ensure people have access to the help and support they need, at a place and time convenient to them.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more adults and their families are benefiting from medication-free healthy lifestyle prescriptions.

“The Government is committed to supporting New Zealanders to live healthier more active lives away from hospitals,” says Dr Coleman.

“One of the ways we are doing this is through Green Prescriptions, which contain advice on nutrition and physical activity. Local initiatives range from cooking classes to motivational texts, and a range of options to be active.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has today launched the $6 million boost to the Community Resilience Partnership Fund to support community-led wellbeing projects in Canterbury following the earthquakes.

“Supporting the rebuild in Canterbury is a key Government priority. We’re committed to ensuring Cantabrians receive the health services they need,” says Dr Coleman.

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced a $1 million investment into a new sports hub for Christchurch.

“The Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub will be set across 32 hectares near Wigram. It will feature an athletics track, hockey turfs and tennis courts, together with rugby league and community sports fields,” says Dr Coleman.

“This facility will provide much-needed opportunities for the people of Christchurch to take part in sport and physical activity, replacing other facilities lost in the earthquakes.

Jonathan Coleman Sport and Recreation
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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has today acknowledged people with diabetes who are successfully managing the condition to live full and active lives.

“Over 250,000 people in New Zealand had been diagnosed with diabetes, with the number continuing to increase each year. Around 10 per cent of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes,” says Dr Coleman.

“The Government understands the toll the disease takes on people’s lives. The management of this long-term condition is a major health challenge for the country.”

Jonathan Coleman Health
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Opening

It’s great to be here with you all today. I’m pleased to see a diverse group of leaders from across the sector, as well as the social sector.

We have DHB Chairs, board members, CEs, clinicians and management. I also want to acknowledge our non-DHB Crown Entity leaders. Our NGO and PHO sector are also well represented.

It’s great to see other government agencies have taken this opportunity to participate in this Symposium. Improving the health and well-being of New Zealanders requires a combined effort.

Jonathan Coleman Health