Latest news with #HealthNZ
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Lack of funding for care service 'breaks my heart'
By Ruth Hill of RNZ It is seven months since Queenstown girl Meila Davis died of an aggressive bone cancer. She was just 13. Her mother, Kristin Davis, said Meila wanted to die at home among the people she loved. "She hated being in hospital, so that was never going to be an option. She wanted to be at home. That was her happy place." However, she said the family, which had relocated to Christchurch for Meila's treatment, did struggle initially after moving back to Queenstown with the lack of palliative care support. "The hospital team, they were nice, they were sympathetic. But you could only call them nine to five. And children don't just die between nine and five." The family was blessed to have an "amazing" GP, but she was not a paediatric palliative care specialist, Davis said. Having Dr Amanda Evans from Rei Kōtuku come on board was the turning point for them. "I would call Amanda at two in the morning and say 'This is happening, what do I do?' because the pain relief wasn't working and she's in agony pacing the floor crying, and she would guide me as to what I could give her safely." Meila was adamant that she wanted to be "present" for her final days, as well as pain-free. Evans worked with the local nursing team and her GP to manage Meila's pain. "You don't want to rob them of time by taking them to the point where they can't even communicate because of the pain relief. "You want them to be able to live every moment until their last." During the past 2 1/2 years, the privately funded-charity has looked after 90 children at the end of their lives, and supported 40 bereaved siblings and their families. However, the funding - from a private philanthropist - is due to run out early next year. Davis said she was gutted over the lack of funding in the Budget. "To think other children wouldn't have that just breaks my heart. It infuriates me actually, because they're not even asking for a huge amount of money. Budget a "missed opportunity" - specialist Rei Kōtuku estimates $8 million would be enough to establish a four-hub nation-wide 24/7 specialist service. Evans said a functioning service would save the health system money in terms of reducing hospital admissions, but more importantly, it would let children live their best lives until the end. "This could have been addressed now because we know there are children dying now in pain and distress because they're not getting the specialist resource they require." The Budget was a missed opportunity, she said. "No specialist paediatric palliative care service should be reliant on charitable donations. "This is a service that around the world is provided in hospitals and paid for by the government and that's what has to happen in New Zealand." Families and providers were still waiting anxiously for Health NZ's response to community consultation in April, which involved more than 1700 submissions from clinicians, whānau, and even children. They had not been given any timeline for next steps, she said. More work to do - Health NZ Te Whatu Ora's acting national director for planning, funding and outcomes, Jason Power, said it was now reviewing all submissions "carefully". "This feedback will help shape final recommendations and advice on how we can strengthen and better support paediatric palliative care services across the motu." Dedicated paediatric health professionals were providing exceptional care every day to children with life-limiting conditions, he said. "While we acknowledge much great work is happening, we know there are areas where the system can do better. "We are committed to improving access to paediatric palliative care so that every child, regardless of where they live, can receive the care they need." Meanwhile, families could be reassured that support was available, he said. "Children with palliative care needs are being cared for by local clinical teams, including paediatricians, hospital services, and GPs. In some cases, this includes support from local hospices." The National Palliative Care Work Programme would shortly be asking for public and sector feedback on the adult model of care, before establishing working groups. It planned to finalise both the paediatric and adult models of care by the end of the year. Health Minister Simeon Brown said he was waiting for Health NZ's report, "with a view to Budget 2026". "As a father of three young children, I hear what they're saying and look forward to continuing to work with them." However, Davis said next year would be too late for some children. "Why is it okay for these children to suffer? That's how I feel about this recent Budget. We have to do better, better for these kids."
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
No extra funding to help dying kids a 'missed opportunity'
By Ruth Hill of RNZ It has been seven months since Meila Davis died of an aggressive bone cancer aged just 13. Her mother, Kristin Davis, said Meila wanted to die at home among the people she loved. "She hated being in hospital, so that was never going to be an option. She wanted to be at home. That was her happy place." However, she said the family, which had relocated to Christchurch for Meila's treatment, did struggle initially after moving back to Queenstown with the lack of palliative care support. "The hospital team, they were nice, they were sympathetic. But you could only call them nine to five. And children don't just die between nine and five." The family was blessed to have an "amazing" GP, but she was not a paediatric palliative care specialist, Davis said. Having Dr Amanda Evans from Rei Kōtuku come on board was the turning point for them. "I would call Amanda at two in the morning and say 'This is happening, what do I do?' because the pain relief wasn't working and she's in agony pacing the floor crying, and she would guide me as to what I could give her safely." Meila was adamant that she wanted to be "present" for her final days, as well as pain-free. Evans worked with the local nursing team and her GP to manage Meila's pain. "You don't want to rob them of time by taking them to the point where they can't even communicate because of the pain relief. "You want them to be able to live every moment until their last." During the past 2 1/2 years, the privately funded-charity has looked after 90 children at the end of their lives, and supported 40 bereaved siblings and their families. However, the funding - from a private philanthropist - is due to run out early next year. Davis said she was gutted over the lack of funding in the Budget. "To think other children wouldn't have that just breaks my heart. It infuriates me actually, because they're not even asking for a huge amount of money. Budget a "missed opportunity" - specialist Rei Kōtuku estimates $8 million would be enough to establish a four-hub nation-wide 24/7 specialist service. Evans said a functioning service would save the health system money in terms of reducing hospital admissions, but more importantly, it would let children live their best lives until the end. "This could have been addressed now because we know there are children dying now in pain and distress because they're not getting the specialist resource they require." The Budget was a missed opportunity, she said. "No specialist paediatric palliative care service should be reliant on charitable donations. "This is a service that around the world is provided in hospitals and paid for by the government and that's what has to happen in New Zealand." Families and providers were still waiting anxiously for Health NZ's response to community consultation in April, which involved more than 1700 submissions from clinicians, whānau, and even children. They had not been given any timeline for next steps, she said. More work to do - Health NZ Te Whatu Ora's acting national director for planning, funding and outcomes, Jason Power, said it was now reviewing all submissions "carefully". "This feedback will help shape final recommendations and advice on how we can strengthen and better support paediatric palliative care services across the motu." Dedicated paediatric health professionals were providing exceptional care every day to children with life-limiting conditions, he said. "While we acknowledge much great work is happening, we know there are areas where the system can do better. "We are committed to improving access to paediatric palliative care so that every child, regardless of where they live, can receive the care they need." Meanwhile, families could be reassured that support was available, he said. "Children with palliative care needs are being cared for by local clinical teams, including paediatricians, hospital services, and GPs. In some cases, this includes support from local hospices." The National Palliative Care Work Programme would shortly be asking for public and sector feedback on the adult model of care, before establishing working groups. It planned to finalise both the paediatric and adult models of care by the end of the year. Health Minister Simeon Brown said he was waiting for Health NZ's report, "with a view to Budget 2026". "As a father of three young children, I hear what they're saying and look forward to continuing to work with them." However, Davis said next year would be too late for some children. "Why is it okay for these children to suffer? That's how I feel about this recent Budget. We have to do better, better for these kids."
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Government's Health Boost Less Than Claimed, Expert Says
$31b for Health in Budget 2025 just 3.6 percent increase, compared with what was 'actually spent' in 2024/25, Professor Tim Tenbensel says Most of last year's boost to HNZ's bottom-line 'absorbed' by Holidays Act remediation payouts to staff Axing pay equity settlements in the health sector 'saved' the Government $420m. A leading health systems expert is questioning the Government's claim of 'record investment' in the public system, saying the real increase to the health budget this year is half of what the government claims. Health Minister Simeon Brown and Finance Minister Nicola Willis have said the $31 billion allocation for health in Budget 2025 represented an operating funding increase of 7.4 percent – or nearly $2 billion – year on year. The two ministers donned hard hats and high-vis vests for a site visit at Wellington Regional Hospital on Wednesday, where they announced details of a further $100 million investment in its ongoing upgrade. Speaking to media following the tour, Brown said Health NZ had also had a $1.4 billion uplift in operating funding this year – the second instalment of a $16.6 billion cost-pressure boost over four years. 'It's a significant uplift to allow them to invest in the front-line workforce required to give New Zealanders and timely and quality healthcare they need,' Brown said. The government's investment in health far outstripped either population growth or inflation, the Finance Minister added. 'For context, that operational funding uplift was more than 7 percent over what it's been, which even on a population basis is more than 6 percent,' Willis said. 'So, we're ensuring that funding is going in at a far faster rate than either population growth or inflation.' In response to RNZ's request for a detailed breakdown of the percentage increase, Brown's office later said the figure of 6.2 percent was 'based on Treasury's annual growth rates set out in Budget Economic and Fiscal Update 2025, and the nominal Vote Health operating spend for Budget 2025'. However, Auckland University health policy Professor Tim Tenbensel said, according to his calculations, the $31 billion allocated for health in the Budget was only 3.6 percent more than what was actually spent last year. 'So, we're pretty much treading water at best, or rather sinking a little, in this budget,' Prof Tenbensel said. Furthermore, operational funding last year only increased about 1.2 percent in real terms. 'And the reason for that is because a lot of the money for this financial year's Budget in health was soaked up to remediate the underpayment of staff under the Holidays Act,' he said. 'So, that might help to explain the reality of people in the sector wasn't matching some of the things said by government.' Tenbensel said the Government's oft-quoted claim of a $16 billion boost to Health NZ's bottom-line was 'a bit like your boss giving you a $3000 payrise each year for four years and then claiming your pay has gone up by $30,000 over that time, not $12,000'. The trick was to keep adding on the previous year's increase as 'new money', ignoring the fact that it would have been eaten up by inflation. 'It's a very creative ploy that one, so I think we need to see it for what it is,' he said. 'All governments do this sort of thing, but in the scheme of things, this one is pretty brazen.' Dumping pay equity claims, including for primary care nurses, saved the Government about $420 million in health, which mostly paid for the near $500 million investment in digital health, after hours and urgent care in the Budget, he said.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Government's Health Boost Less Than Claimed, Expert Says
$31b for Health in Budget 2025 just 3.6 percent increase, compared with what was "actually spent" in 2024/25, Professor Tim Tenbensel says Most of last year's boost to HNZ's bottom-line "absorbed" by Holidays Act remediation payouts to staff Axing pay equity settlements in the health sector "saved" the Government $420m. A leading health systems expert is questioning the Government's claim of "record investment" in the public system, saying the real increase to the health budget this year is half of what the government claims. Health Minister Simeon Brown and Finance Minister Nicola Willis have said the $31 billion allocation for health in Budget 2025 represented an operating funding increase of 7.4 percent - or nearly $2 billion - year on year. The two ministers donned hard hats and high-vis vests for a site visit at Wellington Regional Hospital on Wednesday, where they announced details of a further $100 million investment in its ongoing upgrade. Speaking to media following the tour, Brown said Health NZ had also had a $1.4 billion uplift in operating funding this year - the second instalment of a $16.6 billion cost-pressure boost over four years. "It's a significant uplift to allow them to invest in the front-line workforce required to give New Zealanders and timely and quality healthcare they need," Brown said. The government's investment in health far outstripped either population growth or inflation, the Finance Minister added. "For context, that operational funding uplift was more than 7 percent over what it's been, which even on a population basis is more than 6 percent," Willis said. "So, we're ensuring that funding is going in at a far faster rate than either population growth or inflation." In response to RNZ's request for a detailed breakdown of the percentage increase, Brown's office later said the figure of 6.2 percent was "based on Treasury's annual growth rates set out in Budget Economic and Fiscal Update 2025, and the nominal Vote Health operating spend for Budget 2025". However, Auckland University health policy Professor Tim Tenbensel said, according to his calculations, the $31 billion allocated for health in the Budget was only 3.6 percent more than what was actually spent last year. "So, we're pretty much treading water at best, or rather sinking a little, in this budget," Prof Tenbensel said. Furthermore, operational funding last year only increased about 1.2 percent in real terms. "And the reason for that is because a lot of the money for this financial year's Budget in health was soaked up to remediate the underpayment of staff under the Holidays Act," he said. "So, that might help to explain the reality of people in the sector wasn't matching some of the things said by government." Tenbensel said the Government's oft-quoted claim of a $16 billion boost to Health NZ's bottom-line was "a bit like your boss giving you a $3000 payrise each year for four years and then claiming your pay has gone up by $30,000 over that time, not $12,000". The trick was to keep adding on the previous year's increase as "new money", ignoring the fact that it would have been eaten up by inflation. "It's a very creative ploy that one, so I think we need to see it for what it is," he said. "All governments do this sort of thing, but in the scheme of things, this one is pretty brazen." Dumping pay equity claims, including for primary care nurses, saved the Government about $420 million in health, which mostly paid for the near $500 million investment in digital health, after hours and urgent care in the Budget, he said.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Budget health boost 'half of what govt claimed'
By Ruth Hill of RNZ A leading health systems expert is questioning the Government's claim of "record investment" in the public system, saying the real increase to the health budget this year is half of what the government claims. Health Minister Simeon Brown and Finance Minister Nicola Willis have said the $31 billion allocation for health in Budget 2025 represented an operating funding increase of 7.4 percent - or nearly $2 billion - year on year. The two ministers donned hard hats and high-vis vests for a site visit at Wellington Regional Hospital on Wednesday, where they announced details of a further $100 million investment in its ongoing upgrade. Speaking to media following the tour, Brown said Health NZ had also had a $1.4 billion uplift in operating funding this year - the second instalment of a $16.6 billion cost-pressure boost over four years. "It's a significant uplift to allow them to invest in the front-line workforce required to give New Zealanders and timely and quality healthcare they need," Brown said. The government's investment in health far outstripped either population growth or inflation, the Finance Minister added. "For context, that operational funding uplift was more than 7 percent over what it's been, which even on a population basis is more than 6 percent," Willis said. "So, we're ensuring that funding is going in at a far faster rate than either population growth or inflation." In response to RNZ's request for a detailed breakdown of the percentage increase, Brown's office later said the figure of 6.2 percent was "based on Treasury's annual growth rates set out in Budget Economic and Fiscal Update 2025, and the nominal Vote Health operating spend for Budget 2025". However, Auckland University health policy Professor Tim Tenbensel said, according to his calculations, the $31 billion allocated for health in the Budget was only 3.6 percent more than what was actually spent last year. "So, we're pretty much treading water at best, or rather sinking a little, in this budget," Prof Tenbensel said. Furthermore, operational funding last year only increased about 1.2 percent in real terms. "And the reason for that is because a lot of the money for this financial year's Budget in health was soaked up to remediate the underpayment of staff under the Holidays Act," he said. "So, that might help to explain the reality of people in the sector wasn't matching some of the things said by government." Tenbensel said the Government's oft-quoted claim of a $16 billion boost to Health NZ's bottom-line was "a bit like your boss giving you a $3000 payrise each year for four years and then claiming your pay has gone up by $30,000 over that time, not $12,000". The trick was to keep adding on the previous year's increase as "new money", ignoring the fact that it would have been eaten up by inflation. "It's a very creative ploy that one, so I think we need to see it for what it is," he said. "All governments do this sort of thing, but in the scheme of things, this one is pretty brazen." Dumping pay equity claims, including for primary care nurses, saved the Government about $420 million in health, which mostly paid for the near $500 million investment in digital health, after hours and urgent care in the Budget, he said.
