Podcasts about health new zealand

Health New Zealand has been directed to give private hospitals 10-year outsourcing contracts to perform elective surgeries. Health Minister Simeon Brown spoke to Corin Dann.

The Health Minister has directed Health New Zealand to give private hospitals 10-year contracts to perform elective surgeries. Patient Voice Aotearoa chairperson Malcolm Mulholland spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In today's episode, Health New Zealand has been directed to give private hospitals 10-year outsourcing contracts to perform elective surgeries, Wednesday marks day five of the conflict between Israel and Iran and there's still no talk of a ceasefire, the blaze at New World Victoria Park has been extinguished while five Fire and Emergency crews remained on Tuesday night to deal with hotspots, and from 10 on Wednesday morning senior medical and dental officers in Northland will go on strike for 24 hours.

The Government is delivering an increased number of elective procedures to try to meet patient wait time targets. More than 84% of cancer patients are starting treatment within 31 days – 1% more than last year. Health Minister Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking they want that up to 90% by 2030, and are working to speed up treatments. He says they've swiftly outsourced nine thousand 500 electives to the private sector in an effort to get Health New Zealand moving faster. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simeon Brown took the words right out of my mouth. I was just saying this very morning, that people living with bone-on-bone pain don't really care where their hip replacement is done or whether their knee is replaced in a private hospital or a public one. And there in the statement released from the Health Minister's Office is Simeon saying patients don't care who's delivering their surgery – they care about getting their hip, knee and cataract operations done. I think it's a common sentiment. I think most of us would feel this way. News this morning that Health New Zealand has been directed to give private hospitals 10-year outsourcing contracts to perform elective surgeries should come as good news for those on the waiting list. As Simeon Brown was talking to Francesca Rudkin about the 10,000 elective surgeries that had been performed, mostly in private hospitals, he gave a hint that the arrangement with private hospitals was likely to be formalised. “This is something that needs to continue to happen so that we can continue to reduce the number of people waiting for those surgeries. The waitlist ballooned over the last six years, that's unacceptable for patients. I'm committed to continuing to use both the public and private system to make sure we reduce that waitlist and ensure patients get seen in a timely manner.” And now it has. Private hospital contracts have in the past tended to be rather short term, ad hoc arrangements designed to take the spill over from the public waiting list. But Health New Zealand has been negotiating 3-year agreements with private hospitals. And that will guarantee high volumes of low complexity patients. They don't want your tricky ones, they don't want your obese smokers, they just want the people who'll be able to come in, have a routine operation, and have the aftercare needed to provide good outcomes. Brown has now directed Health New Zealand to seek even longer-term arrangements, which he says will improve the cost effectiveness of delivery and provide clear investment signals to the private sector. So if the private sector is thinking, do we put up a private clinic in Tauranga that can do routine operations, do you know what? Damn it, we will, if there's a 10-year pipeline of work. Do we invest in the super duper state-of-the-art high tech medical equipment that would take the operating theatre to the next level? Damn it, we will, because we have that pipeline of work. That has to be good news for patients. The number of people waiting more than four months for elective surgery has grown from 1000 in 2017 to more than 28,000 and 2023. Now, I totally accept that waiting lists can be manipulated. You know, over the years, over the many, many years I've been doing a talkback, we've seen successive governments manipulate the waiting list. It looks a hell of a lot better when you just take people off it – you have to be referred by your GP and start the process all over again. That's one old trick. But we also take into account that Covid meant that a lot of elective surgeries couldn't be performed and that happened the Western world over. The Covid pandemic meant that elective surgeries were a luxury, and of course, it ballooned out. So this has to be good news. The fact that the private hospitals will now have a contract where they will be able to deliver these operations for less than they have been charging. The New Zealand Private Surgical Hospitals Association Representative hadn't heard about the 10 years, but said obviously with that certainty that length of agreement it was not unreasonable to expect such deals would provide certainty on costs, which is doctor speak for we'll sharpen our pencil and give you a good deal. However, there are concerns from the medical profession, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons says they were sold outsourcing as a short-term solution. But outsourcing is not a solution to an inadequately funded health system. They said that outsourcing elective surgery deprived surgical registrars of the training they needed, and that it was all so much more expensive. I don't see why the registrars can't pop across the road to Alleviate or Ascot and spend a day in the operating theatre in a private clinic. I mean, it's probably much more complex than that, but when they say surgical registrars won't get the training they need, whatever happened to work experience? Where you could go to a private hospital for a day or a week and help out there. I agree in an ideal world where you pay your taxes to contribute to the good of the community, an adequately funded public health system would be fantastic. Where in the world do you have one like that? Possibly the Nordic states do. But we're a long way from getting that and in the meantime, when you have people who do not have life threatening conditions but who have life diminishing conditions where they can't work, they can't enjoy life, they are living in constant pain, their quality of life is 0. They can't go outside the four walls of their own home. They're swallowing painkillers, which are ineffectual, but at least make them feel like something is happening. The difference between what is considered a relatively routine operation by the medical profession and not having that routine operation is life changing. You may not die from having bone-on-bone pain of your hip or your knee, but you feel like you want to. The difference will be huge for patients. For some of them they don't know how they can go on another hour, far less six months. I just I cannot see how it is a bad thing. Ideally, yes, we would have an adequately funded public health system, and it also might mean that you're not going to get your hip or your knee done privately. If you're a high needs patient, you're gonna have to wait on the public health waiting list – that should diminish given the number of elective surgeries that will be performed in the private sector. The only concern I see is that A) it's failing ideologically to have a publicly funded health system, but needs must. Why should people be collateral damage in a war of ideology? And B) the training for the doctors. But can't they do work experience over in the private sector? C) It's a win for patients, surely. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is directing Health New Zealand to give private hospitals 10 year outsourcing contracts to perform elective surgeries. The directive has caught the hospitals by surprise, and is raising questions about the privitisation of the public system. Anusha Bradley reports.

The Government is legislating health targets to 'lock in accountability'. It's part of a slue of changes to the health system, with the aim of refocusing on outcomes rather than bureaucracy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Minister Simeon Brown says the Government want patients to be able to see the clear benefits of health infrastructure investments. The Government has approved a suite of amendments to the Healthy Futures Act, put in place in 2022, that it hopes will strengthen the performance of Health New Zealand. Brown says these changes needed to be put in place to ensure the health system could be focused on delivering results over successive Governments. "We've got to focus on improving the timeliness of elective surgeries, specialist appointments and ensuring our young children are getting those immunisations. It's actually just about making sure that the system knows what the focuses should be focused on - and holding it accountable." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health New Zealand will switch to longer-term contracts for mental health support, after the minister intervened over concerns about funding running out. Russell Palmer reports.

Health New Zealand is outsourcing more elective operations to private facilities to ease strain on the system. The agency aims to deliver more than 10,500 additional elective procedures by the end of June, by partnering with private hospitals to expand surgical capacity. The target is within reach with more than 8,600 procedures complete since March. Christchurch colorectal and general surgeon Chris Wakeman told Mike Hosking that although he gets paid less to do public work, this is the future of healthcare. He says it's so much more efficient and you can do a lot more work. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? LAURA McCLURE to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What recent announcements has she made about reforming WorkSafe? NANCY LU to the Minister of Finance: What recent announcements has she made about business tax? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement about the Budget that "Wages are forecast to grow faster than the inflation rate, making wage earners better off, on average, in real terms"; if so, what is the effect on wage growth over the forecast period of removing the $12.8 billion from future pay equity claims? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: What announcements has he made on reforming national direction under the Resource Management Act 1991? TANYA UNKOVICH to the Minister for Resources: What announcements has he made regarding energy security in New Zealand? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement in relation to emergency department wait times, "I expect Health New Zealand to empower clinicians at local levels to fix bottlenecks in real time"; if so, is he confident this has occurred ahead of winter 2025? Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister of Education: What announcements has she made regarding learning support as part of Budget 2025? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she stand by her proposed changes to WorkSafe; if so, why? PAULO GARCIA to the Associate Minister of Housing: What recent announcements has he made about social housing tenancies? Question to Member Hon Dr DUNCAN WEBB to the Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee: Why did he respond to the referral by the House to the Finance and Expenditure Committee of the Regulatory Standards Bill with a six-month reporting deadline by issuing a call for submissions with a four-week deadline?

For the next month nurses at Auckland City, Starship and Greenlane hospitals will refuse to take 'on-call' shifts. They say Health New Zealand's latest pay offer doesn't keep pace with inflation or the cost of living. Health New Zealand Northern Region Deputy chief executive Mike Shepherd spoke to Corin Dann.

Staff at an Auckland mental health facility are rallying to save what they say is a vital service for people who would otherwise fall through the cracks. Health New Zealand has put forward a proposal to close Segar House, a publicly funded intensive programme for people with long-standing or chronic mental health problems. The proposal said not enough people are treated there and staff would be better deployed elsewhere, but staff say are fighting for it to be saved. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

In today's episode, the family of a 19-year-old Palmerston North teenager who died after taking part in a Run-It game in with friends are having to come to terms with the young man's death, a crackdown on public servants leaking information has been revealed, in a document leaked to RNZ, Health New Zealand says the situation in Tairawhiti Hospital is challenging, but progress is being made with more permanent staff now signing on, down-on-their-luck Kiwis living on Australia's Gold Coast are being offered one-way tickets back to New Zealand when they find themselves homeless and without government support, and for months the seemingly innocuous activity of stacking stones on the shores of Lake Tekapo had increased so much that residents couldn't keep up with knocking them all down.

Health New Zealand says the situation in Tairāwhiti Hospital is challenging, but progress is being made with more permanent staff now signing on. Health NZ's Chief Clinical Officer Dr Richard Sullivan spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis talks to Mike Hosking about the week's big issues after the budget announcement last week. Health New Zealand's aiming to perform more than 30-thousand elective surgeries by June 2026 by outsourcing more straightforward cases to private hospitals. Willis says getting doctors and specialists on longer term contracts will get more people the care they need sooner. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon last week announced his intention to raise the retirement age. Willis says no discussions have taken place yet, but says the Government would need to be upfront with their plans. "At some point, a future government is either going to have to slap a lot more tax on people or it's going to have to front up to whether the settings can be tweaked a little bit," she says. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than half of the children on the waiting list for dental surgery have been waiting more than four months. Data from Health New Zealand shows that as of March, there were 5564 young people aged 14 and under on the waitlist, with 2942 waiting more than 120 days. The overall waitlist has grown by about 1500 children in two years. New Zealand Dental Association Spokesperson Robin Whyman talks to Mike Hosking about the issue. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Half of the children on the dental surgery waitlist have been waiting for more than four months. Health New Zealand data shows nearly three-thousand kids have been waiting for more than 120 days. Otago dentistry Senior Lecturer Samuel Carrington tells Ryan Bridge waiting patients have complex issues with their teeth. "By the time Tamariki reach hospital care, they're usually in a lot of significant pain and have multiple infected or abscessed teeth," he says. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

78 people are to be quarantined after coming in contact with measles. Health New Zealand's said it's reached out to 286 close contacts since the first case was confirmed earlier this month. 90% of people unvaccinated that come in contact with measles will be infected. Dr Bryan Betty said it's one of the most contagious diseases known to man. He says Covid has a reproduction number of 2-3 and influenza is 1.3, so measles sitting at 12 to 18 is completely off the scale. Betty says people should limit their movements. He says if people think they have measles, they should ring their medical centre for advice as they risk spreading the disease if they turn up to their medical centre. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Checkpoint can reveal that Health New Zealand has spent more than $130 million fixing up faux pas with its holiday pay. It all stems from issues related to the Holiday's Act that were identified in 2016, when it was discovered former District Health Boards were not paying staff correctly, including doctors, nurses and health care assistances. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham spoke to Lisa Owen.

Checkpoint has discovered Te Whatu Ora has spent more than 130 million dollars remediating payroll problems and that doesn't include the cost of repaying wages. It all stems from issues related to the Holiday's Act that were identified in 2016, when it was discovered former District Health Boards were not paying staff correctly, including doctors, nurses and health care assistances. Dr Mike Shepherd, Health New Zealand's Acting Deputy Chief Executive Northern Region spoke to Lisa Owen.

Health New Zealand wants to knock 20,000 elective surgeries off its waiting lists by outsourcing thousands of simple cases to private hospitals and getting public sector doctors to work more hours. Anusha Bradey reports.

Senior doctors traded scrubs for placards on Thursday as thousands walked off the job for 24 hours, many braving foul weather on picket lines around the country. They are locked in a bitter dispute with Te Whatu Ora over pay and conditions, with more than 5000 senior doctors on strike until 11:59pm. Dr Richard Sullivan, Chief Clinical Officer for Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Health Minister is standing by the current pay offer to senior doctors. Thousands of planned procedures have been delayed following yesterday's strike action, while Health New Zealand is applying to the Employment Relations Authority for urgent facilitation. Union members have told Newstalk ZB their pay rates aren't keeping up with the private sector or with Australia. But Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking the pay offer is "credible" given Health New Zealand only has so much money to go around. He says the health budget has to cover hospital services, GPs, aged care, and a range of other things, and there's pressure across the board. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The senior doctor's union says a pay increase offered in negotiations with Health New Zealand doesn't seem to have changed. About 5,000 senior doctors have been striking today, after eight months of failed bargaining. Health Minister Simeon Brown is urging members to resume talks. Salaried Medical Specialists Association executive director, Sarah Dalton, says what's being offered won't attract or retain talent. "What would be really helpful would be for the Minister to think about what funds they make available to Te Whatu Ora to help them sort this out." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 4000 medical procedures are on hold today while 5000 senior doctors strike for better working conditions. This comes after eight months of failed negotiations with Health New Zealand. The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says it's not going to fill workforce gaps without major improvements to pay and conditions. Health NZ Chief Clinical Officer Doctor Richard Sullivan told Mike Hosking waitlist times for procedures will now stretch out further. He says the more than 4000 procedures which have been delayed will impact on getting people earlier access to care. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite reports of critical levels of vacancies for senior doctor positions, Taupō hospital now has accreditation to train rural doctors. It will be the first North Island hospital to receive accreditation to deliver the training. Meanwhile senior doctors are still planning to strike on Thursday, despite a new offer from Health New Zealand. Health Minister Simeon Brown talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A report commisioned by Health New Zealand warns its current management of its hospitals and other facilities is so poor, it cannot effectively plan for upgrades or replacements, among other issues. RNZ's Phil Pennington spoke with Ingrid Hipkiss.

Transgender researchers are disappointed Health New Zealand has been told to stop using the term "pregnant people" in favour of "pregnant women". The coalition has told the agency the use of inclusive language is confusing for some people - directing it to use "sex-specific language" from now on. While the move has drawn criticism from some academics, researchers and midwives are in agreement that an 'and-and' approach is probably best. Political reporter Anneke Smith has more.

The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says the pay offer from Health New Zealand would have amounted to a pay cut, when inflation is taken into consideration. Executive director Sarah Dalton spoke to Corin Dann.

Tonight on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Madison Burgess-Smith & Tim Batt. The trio discuss the government's directive to Health New Zealand to use women instead of pregnant people.

The government has directed Health New Zealand to say "pregnant women" instead of "pregnant people" in its health communications. Political reporter Anneke Smith spoke to Corin Dann.

The associate health minister, Casey Costello, has issued a directive to Health New Zealand to refer to "pregnant women" rather than "pregnant people". Labour leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Corin Dann.

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello has issued a directive to Health New Zealand to use the term "pregnant women" instead of "pregnant people" in its health communications. New Zealand College of Midwives chief executive Alison Eddy spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In today's episode, the government has directed Health New Zealand to use the term 'pregnant woman' instead of 'pregnant people', the President of El Salvador has met with Donald Trump in the White House to discuss the U.S. administration's mass deportations, Corelogic has found that in about 20 percent of the country, it could be cheaper to buy a house, the number of people studying to become teachers has jumped after several years of low enrolment, and RNZ music's Tony Stamp tips who will win tonight's Taite Music award.

Wait times for urgent, non-urgent and surveillance colonoscopies all grew last year after Health New Zealand failed to keep up with demand. Ruth Hill reports.

Hundreds more health workers were assaulted at work last year, according to Health New Zealand data, with Auckland central and Waikato districts seeing the biggest spikes. Reporter Lucy Xia has more.

The Health Minister's confident two of the Government targets will improve this year. Health New Zealand data shows child vaccinations, cancer treatment times, and ED stay lengths have improved, but wait times for elective treatments and first specialist assessments have lengthened. Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking the wait times are of particular concern. He says the targets are in place to highlight these issues, and more money is being allocated to facilitate. Brown told Hosking the elective boost aims to ease the situation by outsourcing electives to the private sector, and $50 million has been allocated to the boost. The Health Minister also says problems at Gisborne and Nelson hospitals are being addressed. Gisborne's facing critical staff shortages, while senior staff have spoken out with concerns about the level of care in Nelson. Health New Zealand staff are now in Nelson, putting a plan together with local clinicians, while in Gisborne, jobs are being recruited for. Brown says there are challenges at both hospitals, and solutions are on the way. He says some unions are trying to make a lot of noise and is asking them to work with Health New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A woman who was referred to Nelson Hospital's gynaecology department waited more than a year to get a first appointment and by then she was so desperate she'd already gone private. Health New Zealand sent a crisis team to Nelson after several senior hospital doctors went public with their concerns about excessively long wait times, under staffing, and lives being put at risk. Aleisha Hosie spoke to Lisa Owen.

Health New Zealand has admitted "significant failings" and apologised for the experience of an 11-year-old girl who was restrained and mistaken for a 20-year-old. Children's Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad spoke to Corin Dann.

Health New Zealand has apologised and says it's a top priority to make sure a case of mistaken identity never happens again. Police mistook an 11-year-old for a distressed woman in her 20s - and she was restrained and given drugs meant for adults at a Waikato mental health facility. Chief clinical officer Richard Sullivan says it's clear human error was a factor - and they need to learn from this. "What's clear here is - our staff were doing everything in good faith, working hard, there's no doubt some human error occurred here. But we just need to learn from that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A patient information system lauded by Health New Zealand is among a raft of digital projects put on hold. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Doctors want more information about a national patient record database that Health New Zealand plans to launch mid year. Katie Todd reports.

A review confirms better access to care should be a key priority. Health New Zealand's released a Clinical Quality and Safety Review using data from the past decade. It reveals the number of people waiting more than four months to see a specialist tripled between 2020 and 2023. Royal College of GPs Medical Director Luke Bradford told Mike Hosking fewer people are also choosing not to access care, especially since Covid. He's concerned there's been a drop off in immunisations and cancer screenings. However, there is a belief the quality of care is getting better despite taking longer to access it. Bradford says there's been a decrease in surgical complications and better experiences had by patients in the system. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Access to timely primary and hospital healthcare has significantly deteriorated. Health New Zealand's released a Clinical Quality and Safety Review - using data from the past decade. It reveals numbers of people waiting more than four months to see a specialist tripled between 2020 and 2023. Chief clinical officer Richard Sullivan says Covid played a role and numbers are stabilising. But he says there's a long way to go. He also explained one target is 95 percent of patients waiting less than four months - but we're on about 60 percent, so improving that is a big focus. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health New Zealand's commitment to boosting specialist palliative care for dying children is under scrutiny, after promises it was actively recruiting more staff, despite not advertising any jobs. Anusha Bradley reports.

Health New Zealand has apologised to a New Plymouth woman who was forced to find the cash to pay for a private ultrasound, after being told she'd have to wait six months under the public system. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

Dunedin's mayor says he is frustrated by the slow progress on building the new Dunedin Hospital despite close to a quarter of the budget already being spent. In its October Ministerial update, Health New Zealand figures show more than $449 million has already been spent on the project out of its $1.88 billion budget. Health New Zealand says the money spent has all helped to drive the project forward, but a former Health Minister is concerned more delays and budget blowouts are on their way. Tess Brunton has more.

In a speech Simeon Brown laid out his top five priorities for health, including reducing emergency department wait times, clearing a back log of elective surgeries and stabilising the governance of Health New Zealand; including reinstating a board. Health Minister Simeon Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.