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The government is investing an extra $1.5 million to give 25 graduate nurses scholarships to work in general practices in some of New Zealand’s higher need communities next year.

Health Minister Tony Ryall made the announcement today during a visit to Badar Drive Health Care in Mangere.

“Last year, we invested an extra $16 million over four years to support general practices that offer low-cost consultations to some of our most vulnerable communities,” says Mr Ryall.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the government will fund up to 200 additional training places for nurse graduates next year.

Mr Ryall says the $2.8 million investment will bring the total number of places available on the Nurse Entry to Practice programme to 1300.

The Nurse Entry to Practice programme offers professional and educational support for graduate nurses in their first year of practice.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has today announced specialist nurses will now be trained to perform colonoscopies, a diagnostic test which can identify whether a person has bowel cancer and can find and remove pre-cancerous growths.

The first group of nurse endoscopists will begin training early next year.

Mr Ryall says training nurses to perform uncomplicated colonoscopies was one of the proposals discussed at the Endoscopy Workforce Symposium held in April this year.

“Nurse endoscopy offers real benefits to patients and public health services.

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Health Minister Tony Ryall has been given a first-hand demonstration of a video link that gives patients in the small central North Island community of Taumarunui access to medical expertise from specialists at Waikato Hospital.

Results released today show good progress is being made to achieve the Government’s Better Public Services targets, say social sector Ministers Tony Ryall, Paula Bennett and Hekia Parata.

“This National-led Government is committed to ensuring New Zealand children are getting a better start in life,” Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

“We all need to work together to support children, young people and their families and the Better Public Services targets help us do this,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the government is investing an extra $4 million to establish a National Renal Transplant Service to increase the number of live kidney donor transplantations over the next few years.

Mr Ryall says the shortage of kidneys for transplantation is a serious problem in New Zealand. While there were around 110 kidney transplants last year there are still over 600 people currently waiting for a kidney transplant.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has today announced there will be an additional 34 medical places for students next year at our two medical schools, including more positions earmarked for rural students.

Mr Ryall made the announcement at Taumarunui Hospital, a busy rural health facility in the King Country with around 100 staff. 

“Research shows that students who grew up in rural areas, such as Taumarunui, are more likely to go back and work in those areas. These extra places will help encourage more doctors to work in our rural communities,” says Mr Ryall.

Latest data from the Ministry of Health shows young people with mental health or addiction problems are receiving treatment faster than ever before.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says nine out of ten young people, aged 0-19, needing non-urgent mental health or addiction treatment are being seen within the eight week target.

“This is great for young people and their families – the sooner young people receive treatment and support the sooner they can get back to school, training or their job,” says Mr Ryall.

State Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall has announced two new appointments to the boards of State Owned Enterprises. 

Sheridan Broadbent has joined the Board of Kordia Group Ltd and Tony Reilly has been appointed to the Board of Landcorp Farming Ltd. Both of the new directors commenced on 1 July 2014. 

Sheridan Broadbent is based in Auckland and was recently appointed as Chief Executive of Counties Power Ltd.

More than 3,300 children most at risk of developing rheumatic fever have had their sore throat checked recently at a free drop-in clinic, as part of the government’s $67 million rheumatic fever prevention programme.

Health Minister Tony Ryall visited two sore throat drop-in clinics in the Auckland suburbs of Glen Innes and Māngere today and talked to GPs, practice nurses and pharmacists about the difference the free clinics are making for families.

A new programme to prevent children missing out on important health services has been welcomed by Health Minister Tony Ryall.

A three year $900,000 study into prostate cancer care shows most men and their families are pleased with the care they received.

Speaking at the launch of the final report from the Midlands Prostate Cancer Study in Hamilton today, Health Minister Tony Ryall said the study makes very interesting reading and contributes significantly to the evidence base around prostate cancer in New Zealand.

“The study showed good results for men with prostate cancer. There is a high survival rate – with a majority of men surviving over ten years.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has today announced the government is investing an extra $3.8 million to further increase the number of GP and primary care doctor training places.

“The additional funding will mean up to 170 junior doctors will be accepted into the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP), run by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners,” says Mr Ryall.

“This will be the biggest intake of government funded GPEP training places ever.

Special legislation designed to ensure timely recovery following the Canterbury earthquakes will be used to deliver appropriate Christchurch health facilities to meet an expected spike in demand in 2018.

The Ministry of Health has asked Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee to exercise his powers under section 27 of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011 to ensure prompt delivery of the city’s new Acute Services Building at Christchurch Hospital.

Health Minister Tony Ryall met with mums at a Plunket group in Wellington to launch the new Well Child Tamariki Ora health book – the first major revision to the book in over quarter of a century.

“The book, commonly known as a Plunket book, provides up-to-date information and advice for new parents on a range of topics from teething and toilet training to postnatal depression and car seat safety,” says Mr Ryall.

Health Minister Tony Ryall will today open the new $80 million clinical building at Taranaki Hospital which will help meet the current and future health needs of the region.

“Taranaki now boasts a modern, user-friendly, four-storey facility which will improve the experience for both patients and staff.

“The new development will ensure the 109,000 people living in Taranaki continue to receive better, faster, and more convenient care in the future” says Mr Ryall.

Health Minister Tony Ryall today visited Middlemore Hospital and heard about how their regional spinal service is improving outcomes for patients with spinal cord impairment.

The 20-bed Middlemore regional spinal cord impairment service cares for around 70-90 patients for the top third of the country each year.

The country’s first national radiation oncology plan has been released today to ensure the cancer workforce and technology keeps up with the country's growing and ageing population.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the Ministry of Health expects the total number of people with cancer to increase by almost a third in the next decade.

“We want to ensure New Zealanders continue to receive high quality oncology services in the future and that those who need radiation therapy, will get it in a timely way,” says Mr Ryall.

The Treasury’s total costs for the Government’s share offer programme were $85.5 million – or 1.83 per cent of the $4.67 billion in total proceeds, Finance Minister Bill English and State Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall say.

This is slightly below the 2 per cent estimate made at the start of the programme, which excluded costs to the share offer companies themselves and the cost of incentives to New Zealand retail investors.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has welcomed the success of an information technology system that helps health care providers find the right patient quickly and easily.

“In May 2013, the new National Health Index (NHI) system went live on a modern technology platform, replacing a 20-year-old system,” says Mr Ryall.

“Since the new system was introduced duplicate NHI numbers have been dropping. For the first time they have fallen below 1 per cent.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the appointment of Mr David Carden, as the new chair of the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

“A barrister by training, Mr Carden has over four decades of experience in arbitration and mediation” says Mr Ryall.

“He has already provided excellent service in his role as deputy chair of the Tribunal and I am pleased to have Mr Carden continue that work in his new capacity”.

A programme which sets parents up with simple and practical strategies to cope with challenging behaviour is being extended until June 2016.

The Triple P Positive Parenting Programme is being trialled by MidCentral, Bay of Plenty, Counties-Manukau and Waitemata District Health Boards and has already reached nearly two thousand parents or caregivers.

Safekids Aotearoa has unveiled a new online tool to help health professionals treat children who have swallowed button batteries.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the tool, which has been developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health, provides doctors and nurses with immediate diagnosis and treatment information.

“If a child swallows a battery it’s important they receive prompt care. Button batteries can get stuck in the throat, nose or ear canal which can have very serious consequences,” says Mr Ryall.