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The Government is making a substantial investment in resources to help new mothers suffering with post natal depression and other mental illnesses.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says Budget 2013 is putting an extra $18.2 million over four years into dedicated maternal mental health beds and new specialist community services around the North Island for around 650 mothers and their babies a year.

Budget 2013 will deliver $4.3 million over four years to raise awareness of prostate cancer and ensure men have better access to quality information and care, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

“About 3,000 New Zealand men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, and more than 600 die from the disease,” he says. “I am advised a new prostate cancer awareness campaign will lead to better survival rates.”

The prostate cancer campaign funding will be used to:

Develop information resources for men and their families.

The Government will provide $92 million over four years to pay carers who look after their own disabled adult family members with high or very high needs, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

This is in response to the Court of Appeal’s decision in Ministry of Health v Atkinson and others.

“Our society expects parents to care for and support their dependent children,” Mr Ryall says. “But the Court of Appeal ruled that this ‘social contract’ does not extend to continuing to care for adult sons and daughters who have a lifelong disability.

New Zealanders with or at risk of developing diabetes and heart disease will benefit from a $35.5 million boost of new funding over four years, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

“Diabetes is one of our fastest growing long-term conditions, and cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in New Zealand. We are committed to improving health services for diabetes and heart disease - with a strong focus on prevention,” he says.

New Zealand’s public health services receive the largest increase in funding in the Budget, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

The Government’s fight to reduce New Zealand’s high rate of rheumatic fever among children will receive an additional $21.3 million over four years in Budget 2013, Health Minister Tony Ryall and Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia announced today.

“The new money almost doubles the substantial $24 million investment we are already making to combat rheumatic fever, as negotiated in the Relationship Accord signed with the Māori Party,” Mrs Turia says.

Aged care and dementia services will benefit from an extra $70 million over the next four years, Health Minister Tony Ryall and Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew say.

“The Government continues to support older New Zealanders to be healthier and independent in their own homes or in aged care,” Mr Ryall says. “And we are putting extra money into funding better awareness, early detection and care of dementia.”

Budget 2013 is providing: