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Thank you for inviting me to launch Kiwi-health-jobs-dot-com.

Christchurch

Before we talk about the kiwi health jobs website, I would like to reiterate my appreciation and thanks to everyone in the health service – both public and private – who’s pitched in and supported Christchurch colleagues since last month’s earthquake.

The challenge in Canterbury is ongoing. Our health professionals there will need a break from time to time. So, the many hundreds of offers to help in Christchurch will still be needed.

Nurse graduates wanting to join the Government's voluntary bonding scheme will get priority if they choose to work in mental health or aged care.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says "The two new hard to staff specialties will encourage more nurse graduates to work in the community, and will have priority over the existing hard to staff specialties; cardiothoracic, intensive care, theatre and surgical."

Kia koutou nga uri o Taranaki maunga. Hon Harry Dunyhoven, Mayor of New Plymouth; Jonathan Young and all of the distinguished guests here today.

I was taking a look at some of the names of the Youth one-stop shops the other night.

There’s the Pulse in Whangarei; Whai Marama Youth connex in Hamilton; there’s Rotovegas in Rotorua; Youth Café in Taupo; Directions in Hastings; Evolve in Wellington; Vibe in the Hutt - and the one and only Waves of Taranaki.

Government-commissioned research into why parents and caregivers don't complete pre-school immunisations shows that, in most cases, these people aren't opposed to immunisation.

Health Minister, Tony Ryall was discussing the research and launching a new immunisation booklet at the Newtown Medical Centre today.

"We have already achieved record levels of immunisation for two year olds, with just over 88 per cent completing the schedule.

Health Minister Tony Ryall and Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman have congratulated New Zealand broadcasters for voluntarily extending the restrictions on advertising to children.

Mr Ryall says, "The updated booklet, Getting it Right For Children, confirms restrictions on when ads for children can be screened, and includes restrictions on advertising children's foods.

The work of the Rural GP Network extends well beyond that of General Practitioners.

Your network brings together clinicians from many disciplines all with the common purpose of improving health services for rural New Zealand.

So it's a real pleasure for me to be here speaking with you today.

This morning I am going to discuss your outstanding Canterbury earthquake response, our work on rural health issues, the health workforce and the outlook for Budget 2011.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia is encouraging Maori students to apply for Hauora Maori Scholarships to help them start or finish their studies in health related courses. 

“These scholarships are about supporting students in their studies, and recognising their contribution to their community.

“This year a new category has been included for Community Health Workers and I would encourage students to apply,” says Mrs Turia.

A new Ministry of Health booklet on the Emergency Department (ED) health target will help inform hospital teams on ideas to achieve shorter waiting times for ED patients.

While visiting Waikato DHB's new ED this afternoon, Health Minister Tony Ryall said, "The booklet provides insights into the different ways that EDs around the country have improved their performance. It's part of "sharing the knowledge" about how to improve services for patients.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne today convened a roundtable meeting of media, mental health professional and researchers as a first step in coming up with new guidelines for media reporting of suicides.

The meeting, originally set for last month but delayed because of the Christchurch earthquake, resolved to form a Working Group to report back by the end of April with an initial draft of recommendations and potential revised guidelines.

The government’s full response to the recommendations of the Maori Affairs Committee Report, following an inquiry into the tobacco industry and the effects of tobacco use among Maori, was tabled in parliament today.

“This is a landmark moment in the history of New Zealand,” says Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia.

Introduction

Thank you for that introduction and good morning everyone.

Firstly, I want to thank everyone in the New Zealand health services for their tremendous support for the people of Christchurch.

And I'd like to acknowledge the generosity of your people in the wake of the February 22 earthquake.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.

The Canterbury earthquake has obviously been dominating our thoughts over the last couple of weeks, and it will continue to play a major part in our considerations for many years.

I have visited Canterbury three times since the earthquake, and can't speak highly enough of the people in the health and non-government organisation sectors, putting their own issues to one side while they help others.

Thank you for asking me to open your seminar today.  

I’m going to touch on three issues confronting the public health service:

The Canterbury earthquake, health finances and workforce

Canterbury:

Yesterday I travelled down to Christchurch for the third time following last month’s devastating earthquake.

High profile Cantabrians including several All Blacks are providing messages of support and advice about where to go for help to people affected by the latest Canterbury earthquake.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says, “It's heartening to see some of New Zealand's best known sporting heroes more than willing to lend some words of comfort and support to quake victims in a television, radio and newspaper campaign.

Tena koutou, and good morning.

I am delighted to be here today to celebrate the commitment and effort of all involved in improving the oral health of the children and teenagers of the Southland region.

However, before I talk about this new clinic and the Government and Southern DHB’s plans to improve oral health, I wish to acknowledge the work that has brought us to this point today.

It has been a long time in the making.

This day has been made possible by the leadership of Southern DHB and, most importantly, the support and input of this community.

The Government's extra $1.2 billion investment in Health over the past two years is delivering gains in key areas such as faster cancer treatment, more elective surgery, immunisation, and shorter stays in emergency departments.

Releasing the latest health targets performance data for the period October – December 2010, Health Minister Tony Ryall said, "Staff in New Zealand's public health service are delivering a good return on the government's record investment in health.

Speech – completion of Stage 1 of the new Emergency Department and Assessment and Diagnostic Unit

North Shore Hospital.

Tuesday 1 March 2011

Dr Lester Levy, Board members, representatives from Fletcher Construction and project architects Klein, community health partners, ladies and gentlemen.  

Thank you for that introduction and good morning everyone.

Health professionals volunteering to help in Christchurch are being are being encouraged to register through their District Health Board or through the National Health Co-ordination Centre (NHCC).

Health Minister Tony Ryall says, "The Ministry of Health is co-ordinating the volunteer responses with a national volunteers database.

“The database is helping the NHCC team to work through the logistical issues that are starting to arise around the number of volunteers in terms of medical specialities and available accommodation.

A meeting of media, mental health professional and researchers on media reporting of suicides planned for this Monday will be rescheduled because of the Christchurch earthquake, Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne announced today.

The roundtable meeting had been called to “identify and set some parameters” for updated guidelines on media reporting of suicides, and was to have been held at Parliament.

Health workers are helping to move some of Christchurch's most vulnerable residents to safer accommodation, and Health Minister Tony Ryall says "In some cases that means moving out of the region.

"More than two hundred rest home residents need new accommodation as their existing rest homes are uninhabitable. Many are being taken home by family members, and others are being moved by the Air Force to facilities around the South Island.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the entire health service, both public and private, is pulling together to support Canterbury following yesterday's earthquake.

"The teams in Christchurch are doing an incredible job. Once again, we are seeing New Zealand's health professionals at their best.

"Christchurch hospital has had more than 200 patients with major traumas. Staff have been performing field amputations to free people from where they have been trapped.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has announced that the meeting of media, mental health professional and researchers he called for late last year on media reporting of suicides will be held this month.

The roundtable meeting to “identify and set some parameters” for updated guidelines on media reporting of suicides will be held at Parliament on Monday, 28 February, Mr Dunne said.

Thank you for inviting me to speak here at the Inaugural International Cancer Symposium in Wellington.

I’d like to acknowledge the participation of the Mayo Clinic. To have people from such an internationally renowned centre of excellence in cancer care is a great honour for New Zealand.

Similarly, it is a privilege to also have clinicians here from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in the United States, and the Royal Prince Albert and Peter MacCullum Cancer Centres in Australia.