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State Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall says the decision to re-enter Pike River is one to be made by Solid Energy, not Worksafe.

“The Solid Energy board is ultimately accountable and legally responsible for the safety of people working at the Pike River site and any decisions on mine re-entry are their responsibility, and their responsibility alone,” says Mr Ryall.

“Solid Energy has to be sure that any re-entry is safe and that decision is ultimately for them to make, not WorkSafe.

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall has acknowledged Mark Ford following his retirement as Watercare Services chief executive.

“Mr Ford has been a great public servant over the last twenty years, and has made a lasting contribution to both the Auckland community and wider New Zealand.

“He has had a reputation for fostering strong relationships and being a steady hand in leading complex projects throughout his career, as was seen during his time as Chair of Solid Energy,” says Mr Ryall.

Government officials are working with Solid Energy to extend the company’s remediation indemnity, which will meet the future costs of returning the company’s mining land to its pre-mined condition, Finance Minister Bill English and State Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall say.

“This will extend a similar remediation agreement made in 1987. It will strengthen Solid Energy’s equity position and ensure that it can effectively rehabilitate land after its mining has been completed,” Mr English says.

Around 500 Bay of Plenty residents a year will now be able to have their cancer treatment closer to home rather than making a 3 hour round trip to the cancer centre in Hamilton.

Health Minister Tony Ryall opened the $35 million Kathleen Kilgour Cancer Centre at Tauranga Hospital today.

“This new high-tech radiotherapy unit makes use of innovative technology with two state-of-the-art linear accelerators,” says Mr Ryall.

A proposed settlement has been agreed that will lead to home support workers getting paid for the time they spend traveling between clients.

Health Minister Tony Ryall said Cabinet has agreed to a $38 million a year settlement which will now go out to employees, home and community support service employers and district health boards for ratification.

The Public Service Association and the Service and Food Workers Union will both recommend the proposal to their members which, if accepted, would take effect from 1 July 2015.

The number of doctors practising in New Zealand will continue to grow as record numbers of graduates have signed up for GP training next year says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

Figures from the Ministry of Health show 165 graduate doctors have accepted places into the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP).

“Due to the hard work of the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Medical Council of New Zealand, and Health Workforce NZ, there has been a substantial increase in the number of junior doctors interested in becoming a GP,” says Mr Ryall.

The Ministry of Health is investing $3 million to expand the roll out of patient portals and allow more people to securely access their health information online.

Health Minister Tony Ryall was due to make the announcement at the Practice Managers and Administrators Association Conference in Rotorua today.

“Patient portals are secure online sites which allow New Zealanders to access their personal health information and manage aspects of their health care,” says Mr Ryall.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced a new National Intestinal Failure service, costing $1 million over three years, will be established to improve the quality of care for patients suffering with intestinal failure.

Intestinal failure is a serious condition that affects a patient’s ability to keep up adequate nutrition. It is estimated there are around 300 New Zealanders who require long term intestinal care. 

New Zealanders are getting more immunisations, checks for diabetes and heart diseases and more help to quit smoking says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

“Primary health organisations (PHOs) are making great strides in preventing long term illness and helping New Zealanders live longer, healthier lives,” says Mr Ryall.

The latest National Primary Care target results shows:

Health Minister Tony Ryall has given the go-ahead for the introduction of a single patient information system to all hospitals in the South Island.

“The South Island Patient Information Care System (SI PICS) will connect hospitals and health services in the South Island so health professionals can share information securely and provide patients with better care,” says Mr Ryall.

If your doctor suspects you have cancer, the Government will ensure you see a cancer specialist and receive treatment faster than ever before.

Health Minister Tony Ryall announced a new faster cancer treatment target will be introduced from 1 October during a visit to the Cancer Society’s Domain Lodge this afternoon with Prime Minister John Key.

“The new target will extend the scope of the current health target so people with suspected cancer receive faster access to all services from diagnostic tests to surgery or other treatment,” says Mr Ryall.

The latest National Health Target results show more New Zealanders are getting help to quit smoking and getting checked to see if they are at risk of developing diabetes or heart disease.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the latest results reflect the government’s strong focus on prevention and improving the health of New Zealanders.

The National-led Government is increasing the rest home bed subsidy by $10 million a year – a 5 per cent increase – as part of the government's ongoing plan to meet the changing needs of our population.

Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced a $40 million funding boost over the next four years for aged residential care and dementia services. The extra funding was earmarked in Budget 2014.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has today announced the appointment of Dr Margaret Wilsher as the replacement crown monitor for Capital and Coast District Health Board (DHB).

Dr Wilsher replaces Debbie Chin, who was appointed acting chief executive by the DHB last year.

“Dr Wilsher is the Chief Medical Officer at Auckland District Health Board and a Respiratory Physician who has experience working both in the public and private sectors.

Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced Te Oranganui has been selected to lead a $2 million anti-obesity initiative in Wanganui which will help families improve their health.

Mr Ryall shared with news with locals while out and about in Wanganui this morning with Whanganui MP Chester Borrows.

“Healthy Families NZ is a new $40 million initiative which aims to improve people’s health where they live, learn, work and play in order to prevent obesity,” says Mr Ryall.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has today announced the responsibility for Chatham Islands health services will transfer to Canterbury District Health Board (DHB) from Hawkes Bay DHB next year.

Between 27 May and 17 June this year, the Ministry of Health held community meetings in the Chatham Islands and received a total of 106 submissions around a potential transition to a new district DHB.

Over 70 per cent of respondents indicated that responsibility should be transferred from Hawke’s Bay DHB, with the majority of those favouring a change to Canterbury DHB.

The National Cardiac Network, which is led by cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, GPs, nurses and other health professionals, continues to make gains and improve cardiac services in New Zealand.

Health Minister Tony Ryall today met with Prof Ralph Stewart, the new chair of the Network and a cardiologist at Auckland City Hospital.

“This network is an excellent example of the strong clinical leadership in our public health services,” says Mr Ryall.

Latest Ministry of Health data shows over 162,000 hips, knees and other elective operations were performed last financial year – 44,000 more operations than six years ago.

Mr Ryall says this significant increase means every day 170 more patients are getting the operations they need and they’re getting them faster compared to 2008.

“Elective surgery makes a real difference to patients and their families – it reduces pain, restores independence and improves quality of life.

Health Minister Tony Ryall officially opened the $7 million Nikau House development at Elizabeth Knox Home and Hospital in Epsom, Auckland today.

“This new development will add 60 new bedrooms to the 140 residents already here at Knox Home,” says Mr Ryall.

“There are a number of new developments that were included after discussions with residents such as the two new wheelchair accessible kitchens and better access to the courtyard so residents can enjoy their independence.

Health Minister Tony Ryall is encouraging health professionals to take part in the annual Clinicians’ Challenge by submitting their IT solutions to improve health services.

“The Clinicians’ Challenge is a chance for health professionals to suggest innovative ways to use information systems,” says Mr Ryall.

“Clinicians might suggest an idea to improve the way they work, make a system more efficient, or encourage collaboration between health professionals.

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.

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.