Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a new awareness campaign starts today to inform parents and caregivers of Year 8 boys and girls about the benefits of HPV immunisation.

“New Zealand is joining Australia and a growing number of other countries in providing free HPV immunisation to boys as well as girls,” says Dr Coleman.

“In Budget 2016 the Government invested an extra $124 million to enable Pharmac to further increase access to new medicines. Pharmac announced last July it was widening access to HPV and chickenpox vaccinations.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more parents are sending their children to school for the first time this week knowing their B4 School Check has picked up any potential health or development needs at an early stage.

“The B4 School Checks help to give children the best start at school by identifying and addressing any health or development problems in time to connect them with the appropriate support services,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says efforts to increase our deceased organ donations and transplant rates have resulted in a record number being carried out in 2016.

Organ Donation New Zealand figures show there were a total of 61 deceased organ donors in 2016, a 69 per cent increase over the past four years.

From the 61 donors 181 organs were transplanted, a 57 per cent increase over the past four years.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has released the second stage of a financial review by PwC on Canterbury DHB’s future financial performance.

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

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the first report from the national cardiac register shows good results, comparable with international standards.

“The national cardiac registry was developed to help further improve standards and maintain best practice across the country,” says Dr Coleman.

“The first year of data for 2015 shows better than internationally accepted results for the two most common cardiac procedures performed in New Zealand’s five cardiac units.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says DHBs and PHOs are working closely together to deliver system wide improvements and better health services for New Zealanders.

“All DHBs and PHOs now have improvement plans to help keep patients out of hospital, improve patients’ experience, and utilise prevention and early detection to avoid unnecessary or early deaths,” says Dr Coleman.

“Earlier this year I announced new system wide measures to move primary and secondary care performance measurements to an outcomes approach.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the roll-out of a new technician role in pharmacies is benefiting both pharmacists and patients.

“Pharmacists play an important part in helping to deliver faster more convenient healthcare,” says Dr Coleman.

“Many New Zealanders already benefit from the advice and care of their pharmacist. In order to help pharmacists spend more time with patients a new technician role has been developed.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a new report shows more pregnant women are getting earlier access to the services and support they need.

“We know that healthy mothers generally have healthy babies, and a mother who receives high quality care throughout pregnancy is well placed to provide the best possible start for her baby,” says Dr Coleman.

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has announced extended funding to continue projects which are already improving the health and wellbeing of Pacific people.

“With initial funding from the $6m Pacific Innovation Fund several Pacific providers developed tailored solutions to improve health and wellbeing. One example is the Tapuaki pregnancy and parenting programme,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has welcomed today’s Court of Appeal’s decision, dismissing the Problem Gambling Foundation’s challenge to the Ministry of Health’s procurement process for problem gambling services.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the updated guidance on weight management for children and young people released today highlights the importance of sleep and the ongoing need to monitor children’s growth.

“The guidance sets an expectation for primary care to be regularly monitoring height, weight and growth for all children and young people,” says Dr Coleman.

“This is the first time we are formally recognising the importance of quality sleep for children and young people as an aspect of weight management.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says an independent evaluation of the Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health Project shows it’s delivering improved outcomes for youth in New Zealand.

“An evaluation by Superu has found that more services and resources are available to identify, support and treat youth with mild to moderate mental health issues,” says Dr Coleman.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne is applauding a campaign by St John to reduce assaults on ambulance officers. The campaign has been launched because of the high and increasing number of cases of verbal and physical assaults on staff.

“Ambulance staff arrive at a scene to provide care, so it is distressing that they become a target for violence and abuse,” says Mr Dunne.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more than half the country’s nurses who graduated in November have already found jobs through the system which matches graduates with employers.

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

New Zealand’s first strategy to focus on healthy ageing has been launched today by Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

“We all age differently and our needs change at different times of our lives. We each need to build and maintain our physical and mental abilities. That is healthy ageing. It is a life-long task.” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

“We have changed the name and the focus. The re-named ‘Healthy Ageing Strategy’ has a strong emphasis on prevention, wellness and support for independent living.”

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says cancer nurse coordinators are helping to improve the diagnosis and treatment process for over 1,000 patients a month.

“Being diagnosed with cancer or waiting for a diagnosis can be an extremely traumatic time for patients and their families,” says Dr Coleman.

“Cancer nurse coordinators are highly experienced nurses with expertise in navigating the system and helping patients access other support services.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes new guidelines aimed at offering psychosocial support for communities affected by adverse events.

“The Framework for Psychosocial Support in Emergencies is designed to help those involved in planning, coordinating and delivering psychosocial and mental health support following an emergency,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has today announced a $3.76 million support package for Kaikoura and Marlborough.

“The Government is committed to ensuring the people of Kaikoura and Marlborough can access the health services that they need following the recent earthquake,” says Dr Coleman.

“We know that after a serious earthquake, people can feel stressed and anxious for a long time after the event. The psychosocial recovery needs of the communities will change over the coming months and years.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says DHBs will receive an extra $4 million to deliver more colonoscopy services.

“Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death. A colonoscopy can identify whether a person has cancer or pre-cancerous growths. Early identification and treatment can save lives,” says Dr Coleman.

“This is the latest in a number of funding packages for colonoscopy services since 2013/14, taking the total amount of additional funding to $19 million.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says this year's expansion of the successful Fruit in Schools initiative to a record 547 schools has had a positive impact.

"Children need to eat well in order to optimise their learning and that’s why Fruit in Schools is so beneficial to students," says Dr Coleman.

“Staff at the school also take part to help encourage students to try new things and influence their healthy eating decisions.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes Pharmac’s major funding package with Roche for nine medicines which will benefit around 2,000 Kiwis. 

“Budget 2016 invests an extra $124 million over four years to enable Pharmac to provide increased access to new medicines,” says Dr Coleman.

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has welcomed the positive results of two trial pilot programmes which have helped pregnant women quit smoking.

“Smoking cessation has immense benefits for mothers and babies. Smoke-free pregnancies will help increase survival rates of young babies and dramatically improve infant health,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced the appointed members of 19 DHBs, including seven new board chair appointments.

“DHBs are on the frontline delivering $12.2 billion in important health services to their local communities,” says Dr Coleman.

“Having the right people governing our DHBs is vital to ensuring New Zealanders around the country have access to the health services they need.

“The newly appointed DHB members and chairs have a wide range of skills and breadth of experience, and will make a valuable contribution.