Displaying 25 - 48 of 304 results.

Health Minister Tony Ryall is today launching a new electronic health record which will give doctors instant access to the medical history of new patients.

Speaking to doctors at the Royal New Zealand College of GPs joint conference with General Practice New Zealand, Mr Ryall says, "The new GP2GP system will allow patients' GP records to be transferred electronically rather than faxed or posted in paper copy.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall and Education Minister Anne Tolley have launched a partnership with the Universities of Auckland and Otago that will train more doctors and nurses and other health professionals at Gisborne and Whakatane Hospitals.

The partnership is part of a new $4.5 million programme to train health students in rural areas so that they will return to work in rural communities.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Anne Tolley
  • Education
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall and Education Minister Anne Tolley have launched a partnership with the University of Auckland that will train more doctors and nurses and other health professionals at Whakatane Hospital.

The partnership is part of a new $4.5 million programme to train health students in rural areas so that they will return to work in rural communities.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Anne Tolley
  • Education
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall today opened a new dialysis unit at Whakatane Hospital giving patients better access to this life sustaining treatment closer to home.

Mr Ryall said, 'This is part of the government's drive to have more health services delivered closer to patients, who will no longer have to travel to Tauranga up to three times a week.

The new six-station satellite renal unit will provide for between 6 and 12 patients per week, but has the ability to grow to meet the needs of up to 24 patients per week.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

The national health target results for the final quarter of the 2010/11 year show record numbers of kiwi patients accessing elective surgery, among other improvements in key areas of the public health service.

Health Minister Tony Ryall released the quarterly results today and says, "DHBs delivered more than 145,000 elective surgery discharges in the last financial year, that's 26,000 more than only three years ago.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

The Government has announced an $11 million partnership with the country's rest homes to further improve rest home care.

Health Minister Tony Ryall said new technology will be rolled out across rest homes to support regular, uniform, comprehensive clinical assessments of all residents.

From the moment they first move into a rest home, every resident will be assessed across 22 key aspects of their health. And this comprehensive assessment will be repeated at least every six months.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced appointments and a reappointment to health sector boards.

Mr Ian Ward has been appointed as a member of the New Zealand Blood Service Board, replacing Mrs Anne Urlwin, who recently completed two terms on the board.

Professor Ann Richardson has been appointed to the board of the Health Research Council, and Professor Linda Smith has been reappointed.

Professor Richardson is replacing Professor Richie Poulton, who has served two terms on the board.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall says over 100,000 four year olds have now had a B4 School health check, and he is hearing reports of life-changing outcomes for children and their families.

“The B4 School Check is really an opportunity for a stock take – to see exactly where a child is at, physically, emotionally and socially.

“Children are having eyesight problems identified and are seeing clearly for the first time. Others are being helped to hear better, or to work through behavioural issues.”

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the old Napier Hospital site, on the market since 2006, has finally been sold. The proceeds will help Hawke's Bay District Health Board build a new mental health unit for the people of Hawke's Bay.

Mr Ryall says Todd Property Group has bought the hospital site for an undisclosed sum. In a related transaction TPG has sold land at Ngunguru Spit in Northland to the Department of Conservation and is using the proceeds of that sale to purchase the Napier Hospital site.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall has today launched a new initiative in Tauranga designed to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

'"Local Area Coordination" is being set up to help disabled people have more control over what support they get. Instead of telling disabled people what support they'll get, and from whom, our new approach offers people choice through an individual budget,' Mr Ryall says.

"The disabled person gets to choose how their budget is spent.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the appointment of Sandra Cook of Otautau, Southland to the Southern District Health Board.

Ms Cook's appointment commences on 25 August 2011.

She has significant local health governance experience, having served on the Takitimu Primary Health Organisation (PHO) in Southland and on the PHO Community Council, and has strong links to Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu.

Ms Cook's PHO board governance experience and involvement in local community projects means she is familiar with current regional health issues.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced five new members of the National Health Committee.

The new members of the Committee are:
• Craig Climo, the Chief Executive Officer of Waikato DHB
• Ross Laidlaw, a retired lawyer and businessman from Wanaka
• Sharon Mariu, a businesswoman and member of the Waikato DHB
• Dr Mark O’Carroll, a respiratory physician from Auckland
• Alex Price, the Chief Executive of Fertility Associates.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall has opened the New Zealand Emergency Department Conference in Taupo today, and told guests that the latest health target result for Shorter Stays in Emergency Departments (EDs) reflects well on all involved.

Mr Ryall said, "Two years ago, we introduced the target of 95 per cent of ED patients being admitted, treated or discharged within six hours. Several of the larger DHBs were struggling to deal with even 70 per cent of their patients in that time.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

For the third year in a row, registration for the government's Voluntary Bonding Scheme has exceeded expectations.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says, "429 medical, nurse and midwife graduates from 2010 had registered their interest in joining the scheme by the close off date at the end of April.

"The graduates are made up of 41 doctors, 39 midwives, and 349 nurses.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the Government has approved a $37 million state-of-the-art Elective Surgery Centre at North Shore Hospital.

Mr Ryall says "The Elective Surgery Centre (ESC) will be a radically new concept for New Zealand that will deliver a more efficient, patient-focused service and have a major impact on reducing waiting times for non-emergency surgery.

"It is part of National's election plan to build dedicated elective surgery theatres to provide more operations for New Zealanders.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall has congratulated the Lakes District Health Board for achieving 100 per cent in the ‘Better Help for Smokers to Quit’ preventive health target, in the last quarter.

The national preventive health target is that 90 per cent of hospitalised smokers get advice and support to quit, and Lakes is the first DHB to achieve 100 per cent for a quarter.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall is today opening a new three level building at Rotorua Hospital marking the completion of stage one of an $83-million redevelopment.

He says, "The new building is a huge improvement on the existing outdated facilities, and is designed to meet the needs of the community for the next twenty years. It cost $36 million.

"It is user friendly, housing all specialist outpatient clinical services together on the ground floor which is more convenient for both patients and staff.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced re-appointments to the New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) board, and a new appointment to the Lakes District Health Board.

Current NZBS board member David Chamberlain has been appointed as Chair.

Current Deputy Chair David Wright and board member Tania Kingi have been reappointed for further three year terms.

Mr Ryall thanked outgoing Chair Anne Urlwin for her stewardship of the Blood Service. Mrs Urlwin was first appointed to the board in 2005 and became Chair in 2008.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the Government is delivering on its plan to improve maternity services in New Zealand.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the Fifth Annual Report of the Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review committee (2009) confirms that maternity services are performing well, but improvements are needed.

"While today's report states our perinatal mortality rate is comparable to rates reported in Australia and the UK, New Zealand can do better.

"The government is delivering on its plan to improve maternity services, and today I am launching key parts of the new maternity quality and safety programme.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall has approved an extra $800,000 over two years to help nurses better match the needs of their patients with the staff and resources available.

"Working out when and where health care is likely to be required is challenging for health services," Mr Ryall says.

"Matching patient demand with resources on the day is critical for providing a safe quality environment for patients and staff, and it also makes best use of the health dollar. 

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

The Medicines Regulations 1984 and the Medicines (Standing Order) Regulations 2002, have been amended to better align the law with modern medical practice.  

Health Minister Tony Ryall says "The amendments remove many requirements that are unnecessary, ineffective or excessively costly."

The updated regulations:

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced a new set of guidelines is available to help health professionals manage patients with type 2 diabetes.

The guidelines have been developed by the Ministry of Health and the New Zealand Guidelines Group, and are available at http://www.nzgg.org.nz/practice-tools/diabetes.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health

Focused, early health care for vulnerable children and their families makes a real difference to their lives.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the public health service is providing a significant contribution to three of the four priority areas in the Drivers of Crime Initiative, updated today in a progress report Addressing the Drivers of Crime.

  • Tony Ryall
  • Health