Health Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes new online resources on immunisation for older children.
“These new immunisation videos produced by the Ministry of Health give students and their parents the information they need to best protect their health,” says Dr Coleman.
“New Zealand’s infant immunisation rate has improved dramatically under this Government, but immunisation rates for older children have stayed steady.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says general practice staff are getting behind a programme which has them joining their patients to live healthily.
“The Energized Practice initiative sees medical staff and patients take part in activities designed and delivered by regional sports trusts to improve their personal health and fitness,” says Dr Coleman.
“More than 30 medical centres have signed up to the programme to date. Staff taking part receive a tailored physical activity programme, recipe advice, and motivational texts and emails.
Nominations open today for the 2015 Minister of Health Volunteer Awards – recognising the thousands of unsung heroes who support New Zealand’s health and disability services.
“From lending a hand to supporting people at their time of need, health volunteers make life better for New Zealanders in many ways, often without seeking any recognition,” says Dr Coleman.
“If you know an individual or team of volunteers who deserve to be recognised, I encourage you to nominate them.”
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman today met with his Australian counterpart Sussan Ley, Minister of Health and Minister for Sport.
“New Zealand has a strong relationship with Australia, and I look forward to working closely with my counterpart Minister Ley,” says Dr Coleman.
“We had a very successful meeting today, and we discussed a number of key issues including health system collaboration and preventative health, as well as sport.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a new resource released today is designed to help DHBs, in partnership with their communities, prevent and respond to suicide.
“Suicide is a serious concern for New Zealand. Around 500 New Zealanders take their own lives every year,” says Dr Coleman.
“While there is some evidence that overall suicide rates in New Zealand have declined over time, the rates remain too high, particularly for young people and Māori.”
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says people with rare disorders will benefit from Pharmac’s new funding approach for rare disorders medicines.
Pharmac has announced that 28 proposals from eight suppliers emerged from its request for proposals for rare disorders medicines.
“Pharmac’s new process for rare disorders medicines aims to encourage competition and remove barriers to better access to rare disorders medicines,” says Dr Coleman.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says patients in mental health wards are the latest to benefit from an innovative programme that frees up staff to spend more time looking after patients.
“The success of the Productive Ward programme in hospitals is being extended to some of our largest mental health units,” says Dr Coleman.
“The Productive Series programmes guide staff to streamline systems so they can spend more time in direct contact with patients.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the latest quarterly health target results show DHBs are making good overall progress.
“DHBs are continuing to improve their performance on the Government’s health targets,” says Dr Coleman.
“The latest results for quarter two show that almost all DHBs are now exceeding the number of elective surgeries they had planned.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the number of organ donors and transplants reached a record high last year.
“I want to acknowledge the generosity of donors and their families and the dedication of staff in making such a difference to so many lives,” says Dr Coleman.
Figures released today by Organ Donation New Zealand (ODNZ) revealed that the number of New Zealanders receiving an organ transplant rose from 175 in 2013 to 214 in 2014, a 22 per cent increase.
The Health Quality & Safety Commission’s Let’s PLAN for better care pharmacy week is a great opportunity for New Zealanders to discover how much they can learn about their medicines from their pharmacist, says Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne.
The week, 22 to 28 February, is part of the Commission’s Open for better care national patient safety campaign, which partners with First, Do No Harm in the Northern region and is currently focused on reducing harm from high-risk medicines.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and ACC Minister Nikki Kaye have confirmed ACC’s commitment to free under 13s doctor visits.
“Free doctors’ visits and prescriptions for children aged under six will be extended to children aged under 13 from 1 July 2015,” says Dr Coleman.
“ACC will provide an additional $27.5 million over the next three years,” says Ms Kaye.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the Better Public Services results released today show immunisation rates have reached an all-time high and rheumatic fever rates have dropped considerably.
“It is important that children get the best possible start in life. The Government is focused on making progress on issues that affect vulnerable children,” says Dr Coleman.
The latest Better Public Services update shows immunisation rates for eight-month-old babies have reached 93.5 per cent.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the health benefits of Green Prescriptions continue to be demonstrated, as more and more people take medical advice to get fit and eat well to help tackle their health problems.
“The Green Prescriptions initiative is going from strength to strength. Three quarters of patients who were issued with a Green Prescription in 2014 said they had experienced positive health changes as a result,” says Dr Coleman.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says patients recovering from hip or knee replacement surgery are spending less time in hospital as a result of a new national quality improvement programme.
Dr Coleman was today launching new Orthopaedic Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) patient education videos at Waitemata DHB Electives Surgical Centre.
“The national Orthopaedic ERAS programme is a patient centred approach designed to prepare patients for surgery,” says Dr Coleman.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a new hospital patient information system will be rolled out across South Island DHBs to streamline services.
“The South Island Patient Information Care System (SI PICS) will be phased in over the next two to five years, replacing seven existing patient administration systems,” says Dr Coleman.
“The IT system will make the electronic transfer of patient information safer and more efficient. The programme will also manage patient appointments, admissions, discharges, and transfers across all DHBs.
Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne has welcomed the release of the Ministry of Health’s Alcohol Use 2012/13 report.
The report presents the key findings from the 2012/13 New Zealand Health Survey about alcohol use, misuse and alcohol-related harm among New Zealanders aged 15 years and over.
Of note are the comparisons between similar data collected in 2007/08, which show encouraging progress around consumption behaviour said Mr Dunne.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says World Cancer Day helps to highlight the global initiatives to deliver better, faster cancer care.
“Today is an opportunity to raise awareness about the fight against cancer, and this year the ‘World Cancer Day 2015 - Not Beyond Us’ campaign focuses on solutions that are within reach,” says Dr Coleman.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says applications are now being taken for the Māori Health Development Scheme 2015/16.
“This is an important scheme which works to increase the capacity and capability of Māori health and disability providers,” says Dr Coleman.
“The scheme is allocated $8.89 million each year which is spread over two programme areas – Māori health and disability provider development, and Hauora Māori Scholarships.”
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman today officially opened a new facility for children undergoing cancer treatment in Christchurch.
“The new interim Child Haematology and Oncology Centre at Christchurch Hospital will help staff to deliver the best possible care for children undergoing cancer treatment,” says Dr Coleman.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more children than ever are benefiting from the free before school health checks.
“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.
“In 2013/14 the programme reached 91 per cent of all four-year-olds, an increase of 11 per cent on the previous 12 months. Uptake of B4 School Checks was also 90 per cent among those living in high deprivation areas.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more support is being provided for newly qualified midwives.
“It is important that new mothers and babies receive high quality care across New Zealand,” says Dr Coleman.
The Midwifery Council and the New Zealand College of Midwives, with the support of Health Workforce New Zealand, have developed an enhanced mentoring programme as part of the Midwifery First Year of Practice Programme.
“The sector has worked together to develop an enhanced mentoring programme for new midwifes,” says Dr Coleman.
