Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says there has been a significant increase in the number of patient portal users.
The secure online portal site enables patients to manage aspects of their own healthcare such as booking appointments, requesting repeat prescriptions and messaging clinical staff directly.
“It is great to see patients and practices responding positively to the awareness campaign we launched in April,” says Dr Coleman.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has today opened the new premises for Framework Trust in Otahuhu, Auckland.
Framework is a not-for-profit organisation contracted by the Ministry of Health to provide services to people with mental health and disability issues.
“The Government is committed to providing high quality mental health and disability support services,” says Dr Coleman.
“More and more people are now receiving services specifically tailored to their individual needs and in their location of choice.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes the launch of the Healthy Families NZ video, encouraging people in their communities to take action against the rising rate of preventable chronic disease.
“Healthy Families NZ is challenging communities to think differently about how we address the underlying causes of poor health, including obesity, smoking and excessive drinking,” says Dr Coleman.
“It is a move away from small-scale, disconnected short-term projects, to coordinated and sustainable action with large scale reach across the whole community.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a new hospital ePharmacy system in the Midland region is improving patient safety and reducing medicines waste.
“Before the launch of the ePharmacy system the five Midland region DHBs each had their own hospital pharmacy management system with different functions and costs,” says Dr Coleman.
“With the new regional ePharmacy system each Midland region DHB hospital pharmacy can now see what medications hospital patients have been given and any allergies they have.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has today opened the new Hospice Waikato extension in Hamilton.
"Hospices make a huge difference to people's lives by ensuring terminally ill people are as free from pain and suffering as possible. They also provide valuable care and support for families and friends,” says Dr Coleman.
“Around 17,000 adults and their families will access palliative care services this year, and this figure is expected to increase as our population grows.
A new report on the health of Pacific people shows good progress is being made in some areas, Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.
The ‘Ala Mo’ui: Pathways to Pacific Health and Wellbeing 2014-2018 plan focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of Pacific people.
The plan allows the Ministry of Health to measure progress areas including oral health, mental health and addiction and quitting smoking rates.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has today launched Healthy Families Waitakere in West Auckland.
“Healthy Families NZ will improve people's health where they live, learn, work and play, as a way to prevent obesity and chronic illness," says Dr Coleman.
“The initiative encourages people to live healthier lives by making good food choices, being physically active, moderating alcohol and being smoke-free.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says it's still not too late to vaccinate against influenza with the free vaccine programme further extended until Friday 11 September.
"With influenza at relatively high levels in our communities, it’s still worth getting vaccinated. Whilst the latest data shows a drop in influenza cases, we could still see cases increase again,” says Dr Coleman.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says national rheumatic fever rates have dropped significantly.
“The Government is committed to making progress on issues that affect our vulnerable young people,” says Dr Coleman.
“Rheumatic fever is a serious disease which usually starts with a sore throat and can lead to lifelong heart problems.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a review into palliative care services aims to further enhance the care accessed by thousands of New Zealanders and their families each year.
“Palliative care is a priority for the Government and we are keen to ensure high quality and well-coordinated care is available to all who need it,” says Dr Coleman.
“This review is not about changing the fundamental arrangements of palliative care, but building on progress already made and optimising services to meet future needs.
The 2015-2020 National Drug Policy has been launched at Parliament today by Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne.
The Policy sets the Government’s approach to minimise harm from alcohol and other drugs for the next five years.
“Alcohol and drug issues are first and foremost health issues, so it is crucial that our response be focused on minimising harm,” said Mr Dunne.
“We need to be compassionate, innovative and proportionate.”
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the latest quarterly health target results show the ED target has been met for the second consecutive quarter.
“DHBs are continuing to improve their performance on the Government’s health targets,” says Dr Coleman.
“Across the country over 250,000 New Zealanders were admitted, discharged or transferred from an ED within six hours. Achieving the 95 per cent target for the second consecutive quarter is a significant achievement.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more graduate nurses are finding jobs sooner according to the latest figures from the nationwide system which places graduates into the workforce.
“The national recruitment system (ACE) provides accurate information much sooner for both nurse graduates and employers, helping to match new nurses with employers,” says Dr Coleman.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy have today announced increased training for rural health professionals and community leaders to tackle depression in rural communities.
The commitment is the second part of the one-off $500,000 funding boost for mental health initiatives targeted at rural communities announced at Fieldays.
“Raising awareness of mental health issues in rural communities is important, but you also need the professional support with the right skills to help those who are at risk,” says Dr Coleman.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says patients and families will benefit from a Bill which will enable a wider range of suitable health practitioners to undertake certain functions currently restricted to medical practitioners.
“Our health workforce is evolving. Many health professionals are now capable of performing tasks that were previously solely the domain of medical practitioners,” says Dr Coleman.
“The current legislation does not support the future direction of the health workforce.”
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says New Zealanders access to medicines continued to improve in 2014/15.
“Pharmac estimates that 3.5 million New Zealanders received a funded medicine in 2014/15 - 100,000 more than the previous year,” says Dr Coleman.
“An estimated 70,000 New Zealanders benefited during the year from 41 new and widened access medicines.
“Pharmac is continuing its good track record on controlling pharmaceutical costs while increasing subsidised medicines and treatments for more New Zealanders.”
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a growing number of New Zealanders with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes are receiving support and advice through the Green Prescriptions initiative.
Green Prescriptions provide advice on nutrition and physical activity and support to help people manage a range of conditions, including weight problems, high blood pressure and diabetes.
“In the last financial year, close to 48,000 Green Prescription referrals were issued by GPs or practice nurses,” says Dr Coleman.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more New Zealanders are getting their First Surgical Assessment, and faster, compared to seven years ago.
“As New Zealanders live longer lives, access to elective surgery is becoming more important than ever,” says Dr Coleman.
“That’s why speeding up patient’s access to First Surgical Assessments has been a priority for this Government.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more clinical nurse specialists are providing specialist care and expert advice.
“Specialist nurses are a core part of the healthcare team. They lead the development of nursing protocols in their area of practice, and help to ensure that our nursing workforce delivers tailored quality care,” says Dr Coleman.
More than 6,000 people in small communities around New Zealand are set to benefit from improved drinking-water supplies thanks to the latest round of Government subsidies. This was the final funding round for the drinking-water subsidy scheme, a ten-year programme aiming to help small, disadvantaged communities establish or improve their drinking-water supplies.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the development of the Acute Services Building at Christchurch Hospital is progressing well.
Dr Coleman today met the project team and visited the construction site.
“The Government is committed to building high quality health facilities in Christchurch,” says Dr Coleman.
