Latest news with #HealthandWellbeing
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Improved Mental Health Response Begins At Waikato Emergency Department
Press Release – New Zealand Government The initiative was first launched at Middlemore Hospital in September 2024, since then services have got underway at Auckland City Hospital, Wellington Hospital and Christchurch Hospital. Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey will mark the official start of peer support specialists in Waikato Hospital's Emergency Department in Hamilton today. It makes Waikato Hospital the fifth major hospital to implement the service since September last year. 'We know that this service is making a real difference for people presenting in mental health distress or crisis at busy emergency departments. We are moving quickly to rollout this important service around New Zealand, and it has been incredibly humbling to hear how it's making a genuine impact for vulnerable Kiwis in a time of need,' Mr Doocey says. 'Having a peer support specialist available to listen and understand what someone is going through, share their story, and reassure them there is a way forward can provide enormous comfort when people need it most. Importantly, they can also better connect people with community mental health services, if needed, and help with a better outcome for the individual. 'I believe the peer support workforce has been underutilised for too long in New Zealand. There is a big opportunity to better utilise it as we also roll out Crisis Cafes around New Zealand and look to refresh the eating disorders strategy.' The initiative was first launched at Middlemore Hospital in September 2024, since then services have got underway at Auckland City Hospital, Wellington Hospital and Christchurch Hospital. A further three emergency departments will be added in the near future. 'I've been clear that one of the biggest barriers to people accessing timely mental health and addiction support is workforce shortages. While this Government is focused on significantly growing the clinical workforce, we need to make sure we are also looking to innovative ideas, like peers in ED, to make sure we are doing everything we can help New Zealanders access quality support when and where they need it,' Mr Doocey says. Note: In March 2024, the Government announced that eight Peer Support Specialist services would be stood up across two years using uncommitted funding. Each Peer Support Specialist service is estimated to cost between $300,000 and $500,000 per hospital. A $1 million workforce fund has also been set up by the Government to provide Level 4 NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Peer Support) training and specific training for working in emergency departments
ABC News
01-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Pelvic mesh apology in SA parliament a 'first step', advocate says
Chronic pain, regular hospital visits and the feeling of helplessness became part of everyday life for thousands of South Australians who received pelvic mesh implantations. The implantations, also known as trans-vaginal mesh, are used for conditions including pelvis organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. Some implants were banned in 2017, and a The state government on Wednesday apologised to those who had the devices implanted — almost 22 years after they first started being used in South Australia in 2003. There were around 11,000 mesh procedures in SA between 2003 and 2018, according to the state government. Photo shows Portraits of nine women looking serious are arranged in a grid. Thousands of Australian women who won a landmark class action settlement more than a year ago over damage done by pelvic mesh have still not received any compensation. Paramedic and Australian Mesh Support Group member Kim Blieschke, "It was found that the mesh was eroding through the side of my vagina," she said. " I was in chronic pain, I had nerve damage, I had bleeding, I had infection. " Ms Blieschke said that in 2014, after several attempts at getting Australian doctors to remove the mesh, she was forced to travel to America for the surgery — but she still experiences permanent symptoms. "I had consulted around Australia and every doctor here had told me that my mesh couldn't be removed and if it was I'd end up with a urostomy bag, which is a bag instead of my bladder, or a colostomy bag; a bag instead of my rectum and bowel," she said. "The pain is permanent now, the nerve damage is permanent, the scarring is permanent." 'Pain, embarrassment and gaslighting' In a statement read aloud in state parliament, Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton apologised on behalf of the state government to all "South Australians adversely impacted by medical mesh implants". "I acknowledge the life-altering complications for many women and some men," Mr Picton said. "For the pain, embarrassment and gaslighting they've endured — we are sorry. "For the times where you've questioned your own experiences, were dismissed by those who were meant to care for you, and had to fight to receive appropriate, compassionate and quality care you deserved — we are sorry." A Senate inquiry found that some women were not properly informed about potentially serious side effects of pelvic mesh implants. ( ABC News: Jerry Rickard ) For mother-of-three Ms Blieschke, the apology has been a "long time coming". "A 'sorry' I guess goes a little way to helping women get the help they really need," she said. "A lot of them are in pain 24 hours a day. It affects their whole life. "They used to be quite fit and active women, you know, running around with their kids. They can't do that now. " Sorry is a first step but we need to implement more care for the lifelong care women need. " Call to suspend products 'not fit for purpose' Mr Picton also apologised to those left waiting for "years for corrective surgery through the public health system", and to those "who still today are physically and emotionally affected by this systemic failure". "I know this apology does little to right the wrongs which you have endured," he said. " It is now our government's responsibility to ensure that our response remains on target … so that no woman is left dealing with these injuries by herself. " SA's Health Minister apologised on behalf of the state government, including to those left waiting for years for corrective surgery. ( ABC News: Michael Clements ) Ms Blieschke said previous recommendations handed down from the Senate and a South Australian inquiry resulted in a number of changes, but she did not think they went far enough. Ms Blieschke expressed concern that other mesh products . The Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) said it had undertaken a "rigorous review" of mesh products which led to the "majority of mesh products being cancelled and removed from the Australian market", however it said a small number were found to "still have benefits for the Australian public". It said pelvic mesh in the form of mid-urethral slings continue to be used in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence due to the "clinical evidence that supports their performance and safety". "The TGA continues to closely monitor the safety of mesh devices both in Australia and globally," it said. More than 10,000 mesh procedures in SA Mr Picton said it was important for the government to do what it could "to ensure that this doesn't happen again". "Between 2003 and 2018, approximately 11,000 mesh procedures had been performed in South Australia," he said. "Women reported chronic pain, mesh erosion, infections and permanent nerve damage. "By 2018, more than 4,000 women had already re-presented with complications. "In every year since, it is estimated that around 150 women will require ongoing care through a multi-disciplinary specialist clinic." Health minister Chris Picton read the apology in parliament on Wednesday. ( ABC News ) To help women experiencing issues, the state government employed its first "local and publicly credentialed urogynaecologist in over a decade" in 2023. "This has increased surgical capacity and reduced dependence on external services," the state government said. "The multidisciplinary team also includes two gynaecologists, one urogynaecologist, one urologist, one colorectal surgeon, a clinical psychologist, pelvic floor physiotherapist, two clinical nurse consultants, and one administration officer. "Recruitment is underway for a 0.2FTE [full-time equivalent] pain management specialist. "Work is underway to increase the allocated FTE of gynaecology clinicians to improve timeliness of care."
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Review over school sex survey to be published
Scotland's chief statistician has been told to publish the results of a review into a controversial school sex survey which was first requested almost three years ago. The Scottish government's Health and Wellbeing census hit the headlines in 2021 after asking pupils as young as 14 about their sexual experiences. The boss of the UK's Office of Statistics Regulation (OSR) wrote to the Scottish government in 2022 warning that they had "underestimated the significance" the survey would have for parents and the wider public. He ordered them to review how the survey questions were designed and the way it was tested but the findings have never been published. In a strongly-worded letter seen by BBC Scotland News, the director of the OSR, Ed Humpherson, has now demanded that the government publish the review within 30 days. He said it was key to providing users with important methodological information that would support transparency and trust in the Scottish government. In response, the Scottish government said it would publish the review within the 30-day deadline. It also said the chief statistician for Scotland - Alastair McAlpine - would reply to Mr Humpherson's letter shortly. In the letter, the UK stats watchdog boss told Mr McAlpine that the Code of Practice for Statistics set out a requirement for his role to show "independent decision-making and leadership". The code says that the chief statistician should have "sole authority" for deciding on methods, standards and procedures of official statistics. Mr Humpherson asked Mr McAlpine to provide "assurance on the processes and governance within the Scottish government that allow you to carry out this role effectively". The Health and Wellbeing census was organised and promoted by the Scottish government but half of Scotland's 32 councils pulled out following concerns about a lack of informed consent and worries over the anonymity of pupils. In the end, about 130,000 pupils answered the questions online in classrooms and were told on the survey form itself that the information would not be shared. The questions that were asked varied for different age groups but those in S4 (ages 14 and 15) were asked about their sexual relationships and contraception. One question asks: "People have varying degrees of sexual experience. How much, if any, sexual experience have you had?" The multiple choice answers include "oral sex" and "vaginal or anal sex". At the time of the survey, campaigners warned that it must protect children's right to privacy and give informed consent. However, consent was done on an "opt-out" basis, meaning parents or pupils had to specifically refuse to take part. Parents said they were not told the nature of the questions in advance and were not asked to agree that their children's private information could be shared. Gavin Yates, the executive director of parents' organisation Connect, said it was really disappointing that years later there still was not "full transparency" about the survey. "Finding out what young people think is really important but data must be collected in an ethical, open way with proper opt-in consent," he said. "It's clear that it's time for the full review to be published so we can establish what happened and how protocols will need be changed to put things right. "If the parents that initially raised this issue were listened to at the time then these matters could have been properly dealt with years ago." The intervention by the OSR comes two weeks after BBC Scotland News revealed that data from the survey was being advertised to external researchers, despite promises to children ahead of the survey that this would not happen. The Scottish government later withdrew access to the data. School pupil 'sex survey' data offered to researchers Access to 'sex survey' data paused by government What is the school 'sex survey' row about?
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Review over school sex survey to be published 'in 30 days'
Scotland's chief statistician has been told to publish the results of a review into a controversial school sex survey which was first requested almost three years Scottish government's Health and Wellbeing census hit the headlines in 2021 after asking pupils as young as 14 about their sexual boss of the UK's Office of Statistics Regulation (OSR) wrote to the Scottish government in 2022 warning that they had "underestimated the significance" the survey would have for parents and the wider ordered them to review how the survey questions were designed and the way it was tested but the findings have never been published. In a strongly-worded letter seen by BBC Scotland News, the director of the OSR, Ed Humpherson, has now demanded that the government publish the review within 30 said it was key to providing users with important methodological information that would support transparency and trust in the Scottish response, the Scottish government said it would publish the review within the 30-day also said the chief statistician for Scotland - Alastair McAlpine - would reply to Mr Humpherson's letter the letter, the UK stats watchdog boss told Mr McAlpine that the Code of Practice for Statistics set out a requirement for his role to show "independent decision-making and leadership".The code says that the chief statistician should have "sole authority" for deciding on methods, standards and procedures of official Humpherson asked Mr McAlpine to provide "assurance on the processes and governance within the Scottish government that allow you to carry out this role effectively". The Health and Wellbeing census was organised and promoted by the Scottish government but half of Scotland's 32 councils pulled out following concerns about a lack of informed consent and worries over the anonymity of the end, about 130,000 pupils answered the questions online in classrooms and were told on the survey form itself that the information would not be questions that were asked varied for different age groups but those in S4 (ages 14 and 15) were asked about their sexual relationships and question asks: "People have varying degrees of sexual experience. How much, if any, sexual experience have you had?"The multiple choice answers include "oral sex" and "vaginal or anal sex".At the time of the survey, campaigners warned that it must protect children's right to privacy and give informed consent was done on an "opt-out" basis, meaning parents or pupils had to specifically refuse to take said they were not told the nature of the questions in advance and were not asked to agree that their children's private information could be shared. 'Full transparency' Gavin Yates, the executive director of parents' organisation Connect, said it was really disappointing that years later there still was not "full transparency" about the survey."Finding out what young people think is really important but data must be collected in an ethical, open way with proper opt-in consent," he said."It's clear that it's time for the full review to be published so we can establish what happened and how protocols will need be changed to put things right."If the parents that initially raised this issue were listened to at the time then these matters could have been properly dealt with years ago."The intervention by the OSR comes two weeks after BBC Scotland News revealed that data from the survey was being advertised to external researchers, despite promises to children ahead of the survey that this would not Scottish government later withdrew access to the data.
