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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is encouraging people where possible to keep EDs free for emergencies this festive season.

“Around 3,000 people were seen in emergency departments across the country on Christmas Day last year,” says Dr Coleman.

“This is a busy time of year for our health workforce, so it is important that we keep emergency departments free for emergencies.”

Anyone with a health concern can call Healthline on 0800 611116 or Plunketline on 0800 933922.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and ACC Minister Nikki Kaye say consultation starts today on ACC support towards free kids’ doctors’ visits.

“From July next year, children aged 13 years and under will be able to access free doctors’ visits and prescriptions,” says Dr Coleman.

“This will make healthcare more accessible, take pressure off busy hospital emergency departments and improve the wellbeing of our children.”

The more than 800kg of tobacco and cigarettes left at the border since 1 November is a further step towards reducing the damage caused by smoking, say Customs Minister Nicky Wagner and Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a scheme to fill hard-to-staff health roles is making a real difference to the career choices of graduating health professionals.

“New Zealand produces quality healthcare professionals and we want as many as possible to stay here to work after they graduate,” says Dr Coleman.

“The Government established the Voluntary Bonding Scheme five years ago to provide an incentive for graduates to take up roles in communities and professions which are identified as being harder to fill.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says all pregnant women will be routinely screened for diabetes as part of new national guidelines.

“Diabetes is one of our biggest health challenges in New Zealand. We need to ensure best practice for screening and managing diabetes in pregnancy to reduce the health risks for both mothers and babies,” says Dr Coleman.

“The new national guidelines on gestational diabetes will ensure more consistency across DHBs, and all pregnant women will have access to early diagnosis and management of diabetes in pregnancy.”

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has announced that full audit reports for all rest homes will be published online from today in a more reader-friendly format.

This follows a year long trial in which 574 full audits were published on the Ministry of Health website.

“The trial has shown the benefit of having the full reports available and publishing will now continue in an improved format,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga. “I am delighted that we have been able to achieve our aim of having these comprehensive reports available by the end of 2014.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has welcomed a cross-sector report aimed at reducing child deaths in motorcycle, quad bike and other off-road vehicle accidents.

The report from the Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee, which operates under the umbrella of the Health Quality & Safety Commission, found that 33 children aged under 15 were killed in off-road vehicle accidents between 2002 and 2012. Of these,

The report of the Ministerial Forum on Alcohol Advertising and Sponsorship has been released today, with Ministers noting that further work will be required on the feasibility and impact of the proposals.

The Forum was established earlier this year to advise on possible further controls on alcohol advertising and sponsorship. The report makes 14 recommendations to Justice Minister Amy Adams and Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says today’s visit to South Canterbury DHB marks the end of a 20 DHB tour to engage with the health sector.

“Just two days after I was appointed Health Minister in October I began a 20 DHB tour as getting out and talking with the health workforce was a priority,” says Dr Coleman.

Dr Coleman has met with DHB Chairs and CEOs, as well as a range of clinical leaders, doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and staff.

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says the 10 year anniversary of the passing of the Smoke-free Environments Act is a good opportunity to look forward to further gains in tobacco control.

Mr Lotu-Iiga will today host an event in Parliament to mark the 10th anniversary of the law which bans smoking in bars, clubs, casinos, restaurants, and school buildings and grounds. It also banned the display of tobacco products at point of sale and increased the power of judges to punish retailers caught repeatedly selling tobacco to minors.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more graduate nurses are obtaining jobs sooner as a result of the nationwide recruitment system.

“The national recruitment system (ACE) helps to match new nurses with employers. It enables DHBs to get the graduates they want, and helps new nurses find jobs in their region and specialty areas,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has today launched a national three year Cancer Plan at Wellington Hospital.

“From prevention and early detection, to diagnosis and treatment and follow-up care - an enormous amount has been achieved in cancer services over the last six years,” says Dr Coleman.

“The New Zealand Cancer Plan 2015-2018 brings all this work together and signals activities that need to happen over the next three years to ensure people with cancer receive even better, faster care.”

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says young people are now able to access specialist help for alcohol and drug problems more quickly.

“The most recent data from DHBs shows that 81 per cent of youth aged 19 or under were seen within three weeks of contacting a youth alcohol and drug service – that’s an eight per cent lift compared to 2012,” says Dr Coleman.

“This means the sector is currently exceeding the target of 80 per cent set for mid-2015.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says 82 New Zealanders have registered their interest in joining the international fight against Ebola.

“There has been a very high level of response from New Zealanders who are keen to support the Australian-flagged mission to Sierra Leone to operate a 100-bed Ebola treatment centre,” says Dr Coleman.

“People with a range of skills have registered, including nurses, GPs, pharmacists, and administrators.”

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga say a collection of short films will help raise awareness about rheumatic fever.

“Rheumatic fever is a serious disease which starts with a sore throat and can lead to lifelong heart, joint, skin and nerve problems,” says Dr Coleman.

“The Government has set a target of reducing the rates of rheumatic fever by two-thirds by 2017. To achieve this we have invested more than $65 million over six years to fight the disease.

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga welcomes a health report which shows more smokers have quit and fewer people have started smoking.

The New Zealand Health Survey: 2012/2013 Tobacco Use report showed smoking had declined from 1996/97 when 25% of the adult population were smokers to 18% by 2012/13.

The largest decrease was for 15-19 year olds. For this age group, smoking decreased by 36% between 2006/07 and 2012/13.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the latest report on mental health services in New Zealand shows improvements in access to care.

“The Office of the Director of Mental Health’s annual report shows a decline in waiting times for people accessing mental health care,” says Dr Coleman.

“This improvement in waiting times was in a year when a record number of people were able to receive care, and it is a tribute to the dedicated people who work in this often challenging part of the health system.”

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga and Minister for Disability Issues Nicky Wagner today congratulated the winners of the Attitude Awards, being held on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Mr Lotu-Iiga will present the Attitude ACC Supreme Award at the ceremony in Auckland tonight.

The Attitude Awards recognise the huge number of New Zealanders who live with disabilities, including those with intellectual, physical and mental health disabilities.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a record 728 students received a Hauora Māori scholarship award this year, the highest number since the scholarship fund began in 2000.

“The Hauora Māori scholarship fund supports and encourages more Māori into a career in the health sector,” says Dr Coleman.

“The number of scholarship applicants has grown significantly in recent years. This year in the medical category alone, 147 Māori students were awarded a scholarship – an increase of 50 percent since 2009.”

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says patients who take part in a new survey about their stay in hospital are performing an important service. Developed by the Health Quality & Safety Commission, the survey has been sent to patients randomly selected across the country that spent at least one night in hospital from 3 to 16 November.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says new initiatives under the Cancer Service Improvement Fund are delivering better, faster cancer treatment.

“A range of projects are underway as part of the first round of the Cancer Service Improvement Fund which was established to support DHBs in delivering improved cancer care,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the latest National Health Target results show that over the busy winter months people were treated more quickly in emergency departments across the country than in previous years.

“Today’s quarter one result for 2014 is the best result in emergency department wait times over winter since targets began in 2009, which is significant as this is when services are traditionally at their most stretched,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has welcomed the rollout of a new national IT system aimed at improving the quality of maternity care for women and their babies.

“The new Maternity Clinical Information System (MCIS) is a secure online system which brings together all the information collected on different systems in hospitals and in the community,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says there has been a high level of interest from New Zealand health professionals wanting to join international efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. 

“Since expressions of interest opened last Monday, 34 people have registered their interest via the Ministry of Health website,” says Dr Coleman.

The Government is facilitating the deployment of up to 24 volunteers as part of the Australian-flagged mission in Sierra Leone. The Australian mission involves operating a 100-bed Ebola treatment centre.