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[Delivered by George Ngatai, on her behalf, as a result of travel disruptions]

Tena koutou katoa

Ka mihi atu au ki te tangata whenua, te hau kainga, nau te reo i karanga mai ki a matou, i mihi mai ki a matou tenei ope.

Ki te ope kua huihui mai i te ra nei, mo tenei hui whakahirahira – tena koutou, tena koutou, aa tena tatou katoa.

I want to thank

· Geraint Martin – the Chief Executive of Counties Manukau District Health Board,

Better Public Services results released today show more New Zealand children are being protected from preventable diseases.

Health Minister Tony Ryall said increasing immunisation rates and reducing rheumatic fever are included in the Government’s 10 priority Better Public Results, and also contribute to the drive to support vulnerable children.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew is today promoting the message “Don’t assume you’re immune to meningococcal”, particularly to students at university hostels and boarding schools as they start the academic year. 

“Meningococcal disease is dangerous, and notoriously difficult to diagnose. It needs urgent medical treatment, but its early symptoms can be mistaken for influenza or other illnesses. Preventing the disease and treating it quickly saves lives,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has welcomed the release of a consultation paper on Regulations to the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013.

The paper, prepared by the Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority, seeks feedback to help shape the final regulatory powers alongside the Act and ensure robust, future-proof controls are in place to regulate the psychoactive substance market.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced that all aged residential care providers have signed up to training for a new national clinical assessment tool, six months earlier than the deadline.

“The tool was developed by a collaborative network of researchers in over 30 countries and has raised the standard of assessments for older people’s needs.

Tena koutou katoa, good morning and thank you for the invitation to speak today at the opening of the 5th International Gambling Conference.

I would like to begin by welcoming all of you, in particular our international guests and distinguished speakers, some of whom have travelled from around the globe to be here.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has tonight named a group of seven innovative GPs who will lead the way in a national rollout of patient portals this year.

“A patient portal is an online service which allows a patient to securely log in and do things like check their latest laboratory test results, order a repeat prescription, or send a message directly to their GP – all from the convenience of their home,” says Mr Ryall.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew says frontline health services, including travel clinics and emergency departments (EDs), are being encouraged to help counter any spread of measles with new resources.

“There have now been 33 cases of measles recorded since the end of 2013, with seven people needing hospitalisation,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“All these people either caught the disease overseas, or were in contact with someone who had recently done so.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says hundreds more patients with heart disease will be supported by their local pharmacist to manage their blood thinning medication, warfarin.

“50 extra community pharmacies have recently signed up to provide warfarin management for their patients – this brings the total number of pharmacies offering this convenient service to 125,” says Mr Ryall.

“More than 2,000 patients are currently using the pharmacy-led warfarin service – and with 50 more community pharmacies on board this number will continue to grow.

Mr Speaker, I move, that the Smoke-free Environments (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Amendment Bill be now read a first time.  I nominate the Health Select Committee to consider the Bill. 

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today launched a brochure which gives patients information about avoiding infections after surgery.

“While it is not common, some patients will develop an infection following an operation,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“The brochure Preventing infection after surgery explains what Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) are, and what patients can do to help prevent them.

“International research suggests that up to five per cent of surgeries can result in a person suffering from a SSI.

This week will see many children back at school and getting back in the pool with help from KiwiSport says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

“Exercise and sport are vitally important to health. That’s why $7 million of health funding goes into the Sport NZ led KiwiSport programme – making up around a third of the government’s contribution each year,” says Mr Ryall.

“Sport Canterbury is one of 17 sports trusts around the country involved in the KiwiSport initiative launched by the Prime Minister in 2009.

It is a great honour to be in the presence of our Governor General, His Excellency Lieutenant General the Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae.

I acknowledge our kaumatua Te Ariki Morehu, Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru and Des Ripia and thank you for the guidance you bring to this hui.

Our distinguished manuhiri, Dr Eduardo Duran, Associate Professor Jacque Gray, Professor Judi Atkinson, Mr Normand D’Aragon.

Our wise and wonderful scholars and philosophers including Moana Jackson, Moe Milne, Associate Professor Luamanuvao Winnie Laban and Dr Keri Lawson-Te Aho.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew says recent cases of measles serve as a timely reminder for people to check they are protected against this highly-infectious disease, especially before travelling.

“There have been 28 confirmed measles cases since the end of December 2013. All these people either caught the disease overseas, or were in contact with someone who had recently done so,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says fruit suppliers across the country are gearing up for the start of the school year and the delivery of nearly half a million pieces of fresh fruit to schools next week.

“Over 96,000 primary and intermediate school children in 473 schools will eat more than 18 million pieces of free fruit this year,” says Mr Ryall.

“The first pieces of fruit, including apples, bananas and peaches, will be delivered to schools on Monday – when all schools are back.

Registrations of interest for the 2014 Voluntary Bonding Scheme have formally opened today announced Health Minister Tony Ryall.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced that the country’s free breast screening programme, BreastScreen Aotearoa, is now fully digital.

“The total digitalisation of the country’s breast screening service is a significant milestone in the Government’s commitment to improved technology and access to high quality breast screening services,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“Digital mammography technology provides a number of benefits that make the service more efficient.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has today announced the government is investing an extra $10 million to provide more New Zealanders with elective surgery over the next five months.

“This government has lifted the number of patients receiving elective surgery from 118,000 in 2007/08 to 158,000 last year – but we want even more New Zealanders to benefit from surgery,” said Mr Ryall.

“This funding will mean over 1,800 extra patients will receive elective surgery by the middle of this year.

Cancer patients can look forward to higher quality care thanks to new national standards which have been developed by cancer experts, including surgeons, oncologists and nurses, for ten common tumour types in New Zealand.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the new standards describe the care and services a person with cancer should have access to, no matter where they live in the country.

Associate Health Minister Todd McClay has welcomed the decision by the Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority to withdraw five psychoactive products from the market.

The five products are ‘AK47’, ‘Anarchy’, ‘Karma’, ‘Northern Lights Primo’ and ‘Voodoo’. The withdrawal of these products comes following evidence of harm gathered from the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring and the National Poisons Centre.

The ban is effective immediately.

Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced 48 graduate nurses will receive a scholarship to work in general practices in some of New Zealand’s higher need communities.

“There has been a lot of interest in the scholarships from both the nurse graduates and general practices. As a result, the original plan for 30 scholarships has been increased to 48,” says Mr Ryall.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today welcomed further data from the Health Quality & Safety Commission (HQSC) which tracks individual DHBs’ progress in reducing patient harm.

“Patient safety and quality care are priorities for this Government. That is why last year we introduced quality and safety markers in the areas of falls, healthcare associated infections and surgery,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced the Government is investing $2.3 million over five years to support the public health workforce. 

“A recent study found that only twenty-nine per cent of the public health workforce holds a generic public health qualification, and that most public health qualifications are only offered at postgraduate level,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Associate Health Minister Todd McClay has welcomed the ongoing work of local authorities in developing local authority product plans (LAPPs).

There are currently 22 LAPPs in various stages of development, with Napier’s policy coming into effect late last year. This has resulted in the declining of a retail licence under consideration by the Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority (the Authority) in the Napier area.