Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has launched a new online resource which will help encourage the uptake of telehealth by health professionals across the country.

The New Zealand Telehealth Resource Centre website brings together information about the various regulations and guidelines that apply to telehealth.

It includes case studies of where telehealth is already providing benefits. Site visits, workshops and demonstrations are also offered by the resource centre team.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says 96 per cent of general practices in Southern DHB are offering free GP visits for children aged under 13.

Dr Coleman today met with staff from Wakatipu Medical Centre in Frankton.

“Just one month after the launch of free GP visits and prescriptions for under 13s, it’s fantastic to see such high sign up rates,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more New Zealanders are receiving the elective surgeries they need compared to seven years ago.

“As New Zealanders live longer lives, access to elective surgery is becoming more important than ever,” says Dr Coleman.

“Improving access to electives is a multi-dimensional goal. It includes reducing waiting times, increasing the number of First Specialist Assessments and elective discharges.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says hospitals in the lower South Island are now sharing an electronic system to administer patients’ medications.

“Medications used to be recorded on a clipboard at the end of a patient’s bed, but using an electronic system to share information is much safer than relying on handwritten notes on paper charts,” says Dr Coleman.

The electronic system MedChart has recently been introduced at Timaru Hospital, with South Canterbury DHB joining the system already used by Southern DHB.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the newly expanded Productive Series is already benefiting patients and staff at MidCentral general practices.

“I want to see greater integration of health services which are closer to home, and an important part of this is supporting general practices,” says Dr Coleman.

The Productive Series is an evidence-based approach to finding simple ways to do things better in hospitals across the country.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy say around 100 more people will be trained to help farming families across the country access the support they need.

The commitment is the first part of the one-off $500,000 funding boost for mental health initiatives targeted at rural communities announced by the Ministers at Fieldays.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the Government has reached its target of immunising 1.2 million New Zealanders with the influenza vaccine this year.

“For the third year in a row more than 1.2 million doses of influenza vaccine have been distributed across the country,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has today opened the new premises for Auckland’s Odyssey House alcohol and drug treatment service.

“Addiction issues affect not only the individual but also their family and friends. Providing quality and timely mental health and addiction services has been a priority for this Government,” says Dr Coleman.

“It is important that we have world-class addiction treatment facilities, dedicated, passionate staff and supportive communities.”

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the Government is committing $846,000 to support an additional 20 nurse practitioner trainees in 2016.

“Nurse practitioners are a valuable resource. They are highly educated and experienced, and are a key part of our health workforce,” says Dr Coleman.

“With their advanced skills and prescribing authority, nurse practitioners are a growing resource in primary care.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the renewal of the mobile surgical services contract will help ensure rural patients continue to receive the care they need. 

“Delivering health services closer to home is a priority for the Government. The mobile surgical bus gives rural New Zealanders access to low risk elective surgery without having to travel to a city hospital,” says Dr Coleman.

“I welcome the renewal of the mobile surgical services contract for a further three years to mid-2018.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is encouraging clinicians to submit their innovative ideas to improve health services. 

“Each year the Clinicians’ Challenge generates a whole raft of innovative ideas that have exciting potential to improve patient care,” says Dr Coleman.

“The Clinicians’ Challenge encourages health professionals to find ways technology can solve problems they face in their day to day practice, as well as making a difference to the health of New Zealanders.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a new national cancer information strategy will benefit patients, clinicians and researchers.

“Access to high quality and reliable cancer information is important,” says Dr Coleman.

“Currently information is collected and stored by a range of health professionals which makes it challenging to get a comprehensive view of a patient.

“While progress has been made in joining information across DHBs, until now there has been no national approach.”

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says there will be an inspection of Waikato DHB’s mental health services.

“We want the public to have high confidence in the quality and safety of Waikato DHB’s mental health services,” says Dr Coleman.

“Following discussions with the Director General of Health, Chai Chuah, and the Director of Mental Health, Dr John Crawshaw, it has been agreed that a formal inspection of Waikato DHB’s mental health services will be carried out.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says he is seeking assurance following the arrest of a person who has been employed until recently as a psychiatrist at Waikato DHB and is suspected to have carried out identity fraud.

“Allegations of this nature are a serious concern. My first action has been to seek assurance over patient safety,” says Dr Coleman.

“I am also seeking assurance from both the Waikato DHB and the Medical Council of New Zealand over the recruitment process they followed in employing this individual.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and ACC Minister Nikki Kaye have confirmed that from next month people who suffer spinal cord injuries will be taken straight to a specialist hospital if feasible, to maximise their long-term health and rehabilitation outcomes.

“We know it is best for patients with suspected spinal cord injuries to get to a specialist spinal service as soon as possible for treatment,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says an electronic decision support tool will help GPs improve the diagnosis and management of patients who have had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke.

"We know TIAs can be a precursor of a more severe stroke so early identification and making the correct treatment decisions is vital," says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has congratulated the DHBs which have taken home half of the annual public service awards, including the prestigious Prime Minister's award.

“It is great to see DHBs being recognised for their leading edge work,” says Dr Coleman.

“I would like to congratulate the team at Waitemata DHB for their award and the massive effort of Canterbury DHB which received four awards and the Prime Minister’s award.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says new clinical guidance will help reduce the harm caused by unnecessary treatments for men with low-risk prostate cancer.

“Delivering better cancer services is a priority for the Government. We are working hard to ensure patients receive faster access to cancer treatment,” says Dr Coleman.

The new clinical guidance released today focuses on the use of active surveillance to manage men with low-risk prostate cancer.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a record 92% of eligible four-year-olds are receiving a free B4 School Check.

“The B4 School Checks help to give children the best start at school by identifying and addressing any potential health or developmental problems at an early stage,” says Dr Coleman.

“The checks are also supporting families by connecting them to the health and support services they need.”

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the 2015 seasonal influenza immunisation programme will be extended from 31 July to the end of August.

“Ministry of Health surveillance suggests that influenza has not yet peaked this winter. To help ensure people have the protection they need we are extending the funded vaccination season until 31 August,” says Dr Coleman.

“The A-H3N2 strain, which is covered by the vaccine, appears to be the predominant type – this strain affects the elderly and very young more severely than other strains.”

Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley say GPs can now lodge work capacity medical certificates electronically, replacing time-consuming paper certificates.

“It is important to ensure coordinated care for patients and to develop stronger links between services”, says Dr Coleman.

“Work capacity medical certificates contain information about a person’s medical condition, capacity for work, how long they are expected to be unable to work and their ability to undertake work related activities.

An assessment tool for use in the residential aged care sector has been rolled out across the country, Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

The project has trained 2511 registered nurses in the use of the interRAI Long Term Care Facilities assessment.

The standardised assessment tool is designed to improve the care of older people in residential care facilities, with nurses able to create tailor-made care plans for residents.