Budget 2011 is delivering an extra $2.2 billion to public health services over the next four years, including an additional $585 million in initiatives in 2011/12.
“Vote Health is the biggest recipient of Budget 2011,” Health Minister Tony Ryall says. “This demonstrates the Government's strong commitment to protecting and growing our public health services, despite the difficult economic times.
Budget 2011 delivers an extra $44 million over four years to look after people living with dementia.
“This significant funding increase includes $40 million for residential dementia services. This is expected to lead to the provision of almost 200 extra dementia beds over the next two years,” Health Minister Tony Ryall says.
“Dementia is a severe and devastating disorder for both sufferers and their families – and with more of us living beyond 85 years, it is increasingly making itself felt in our communities.
Budget 2011 is delivering a further $68 million over four years to increase funding for elective surgery.
The extra money is in addition to funding provided to District Health Boards through population and price adjustments and will provide even more operations for New Zealanders who need them.
The Government believes there is significant merit in extending the mixed ownership model to four state-owned energy companies and reducing the Crown’s majority shareholding in Air New Zealand.
It will help reduce Government debt, increase investment opportunities for mum and dad investors and improve the companies’ financial performance, Finance Minister Bill English and State Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall say.
Health Minister Tony Ryall will represent New Zealand at two key international health forums during May.
Mr Ryall will attend the annual Commonwealth Health Ministers' Meeting in Geneva on May 15 - which this year focuses on non-communicable diseases.
That category of disease – which includes cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes - cause an estimated 35 million deaths worldwide each year.
Health Minister Tony Ryall today congratulated Hutt Valley DHB diabetes nurses who are among the first New Zealand registered nurses to independently prescribe medication to their patients.
"These nurses are taking part in a demonstration in four North Island regions that aims to make life easier for diabetes patients and make better use of nursing skills," Mr Ryall said.
People with diabetes in Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Hutt and MidCentral DHBs are having their medication managed by registered nurses practising in diabetes health.
The Government today announced new initiatives for maternity services and to help new mothers and their babies.
Health Minister Tony Ryall says, "It will mean better teamwork and provide extra help to mothers and babies who need it.
"This Government has invested an extra $1.2 billion in health services over the past two years, and Budget 2011 will provide an extra $33.2 million for maternity services over four years to improve safety and quality.
The sixth booklet in a Ministry of Health series about the health targets has been released, focused on work happening in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes management.
Health Minister Tony Ryall says, "This booklet, like the others released so far, gives examples of how District Health Boards (DHBs) and other health organisations are making real progress for patients with these conditions."
The health target aims for:
The Government’s Review of Expenditure on Policy Advice identifies several significant issues with the cost, quality and management of policy advice and makes 36 recommendations to address them.
The review, announced last year, will help the Government’s wider programme to control growth in the costs of public sector back office functions and deliver better frontline public services, Finance Minister Bill English says.
However, it does not recommend specific cuts to policy advice spending.
Health Minister Tony Ryall today congratulated MidCentral diabetes nurses who are among the first New Zealand registered nurses to independently prescribe medication to their patients.
"These nurses are taking part in a demonstration in four North Island regions that aims to make life easier for diabetes patients and make better use of nursing skills," Mr Ryall said.
People with diabetes in Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Hutt and MidCentral DHBs are to have their medication managed by registered nurses practising in diabetes health.
Health Minister Tony Ryall has approved more than half a million dollars in extra funding that could reduce adverse medicines events by at least two-thirds.
Mr Ryall says, "Safe medication management is a priority area for improvement and this demonstration in Taranaki DHB is very important."
"Many errors would be avoided by making it clear what medication a patient is on, and then making that information available electronically to all health professionals helping the patient.
State Services Minister Tony Ryall has today announced the legal merger date for the Ministry of Fisheries (Fisheries) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) will be brought forward to 1 July 2011.
“Creating a single legal entity at the start of the government financial year reduces administrative duplication and cost, and enables the two Ministries to work as one as they go through the merger process," says Mr Ryall.
Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced that Associate Professor Anne Kolbe has been appointed as chair of the National Health Committee (NHC).
Associate Professor Kolbe is the sole member of the NHC at this stage, and has indicated her intention to convene a small working party to begin reconfiguring the NHC.
The committee advises the Minister of Health on health and disability issues, and will be involved in the assessment of new diagnostic and treatment services.
This was recommended by the Ministerial Review Group Report.
Health Minister Tony Ryall says, "Women in the Rodney region will have easier access to breast screening and more choice, thanks to a new digital mobile breast screening unit launched today by New Zealand’s first breast physician, and National MP, Dr Jackie Blue."
Approval has been given for the country's ninth new linear accelerator in the past two years, with Health Minister Tony Ryall signing off a $6.3 million replacement machine at Southern DHB.
Mr Ryall says, "This is part of the Government's extra $1.2 billion investment in health, designed to improve key public health services.
State Services Minister Tony Ryall has announced the appointment of Helene Quilter as the Acting Deputy State Services Commissioner.
The Deputy State Services Commissioner, John Ombler, has been appointed as the Acting Chief Executive of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority. This will be a full-time commitment until the Chief Executive is appointed and is able to take up the position.
For the first time a group of registered nurses have been authorised to independently prescribe medication to their patients.
People with diabetes in four North Island regions are to have their medication managed by registered nurses practising in diabetes health.
These nurses now join doctors and nurse practitioners in being authorised to prescribe.
In a significant move, these nurses are taking part in a demonstration that aims to make life easier for diabetes patients and make better use of nursing skills.
Minister of State Services Tony Ryall has today released the fourth six-monthly update on the government’s cap on core government administration numbers.
Latest figures from the State Services Commission show that as at 31 December 2010, the number of full-time equivalent positions in the core government administration has fallen by nearly 2,000 or around 5% over the last two years.
By contrast, there has been an increase in the number of full-time equivalent employees working in frontline roles in the past two years.
Nurse graduates wanting to join the Government's voluntary bonding scheme will get priority if they choose to work in mental health or aged care.
Health Minister Tony Ryall says "The two new hard to staff specialties will encourage more nurse graduates to work in the community, and will have priority over the existing hard to staff specialties; cardiothoracic, intensive care, theatre and surgical."
