Latest news with #MattDoocey
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Final Recipient Announced As Round Two Of Innovation Fund Opens
Press Release – New Zealand Government Once fully operational, Tends new service is expected to deliver more than 15,000 sessions to more than 5,000 people, which is another significant step towards the Governments commitment to strengthen peoples access to mental health and addiction … Minister for Mental Health The Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has announced round two of the Government's Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund has opened today. 'The bottom line for this Government is to ensure we are delivering timely quality mental health and addiction support to those who are bravely reaching out for help in their greatest time of need,' Mr Doocey says. 'I am excited for community organisations across the country to have another opportunity to access funding. This time, there will be more smaller grassroots organisations that will be eligible to apply for funding due to the recently announced lowered matched funding limit required. 'It's also my pleasure to announce that Tend Health Ltd is the ninth and final recipient from the fund's first round to set up a new digital primary mental health and addiction service. 'The new service aims to make it easier for people to get primary mental health support, particularly those who are not enrolled in general practice or have difficulty accessing general practice. 'A multi-disciplinary mental health and addictions team will deliver support virtually and with extended operating hours, giving people more flexible access to help when they need it. 'Once fully operational, Tend's new service is expected to deliver more than 15,000 sessions to more than 5,000 people, which is another significant step towards the Government's commitment to strengthen people's access to mental health and addiction support. The initiative will receive $1.97 million of funding over two years from the Government which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Tend to total just under $4 million. 'I am also proud that funding from round one has already enabled eight other organisations to start delivering new and expanded initiatives. They include MATES in Construction, the Mental Health Foundation, Youthline, Wellington City Mission, Rotorua Community Youth Centre Trust, the Sir John Kirwan Foundation, Women's Refuge, and Just a Thought. 'By supporting these initiatives, we're ensuring that people across New Zealand can access the support they need, while also working towards the Government's goal of growing the clinical workforce and reducing wait times for mental health and addiction services. 'I encourage all eligible providers to take up the opportunity to apply for funding and scale-up their work to benefit the many people in the communities they serve,' Mr Doocey says. Notes: The Request for Proposals for round two of the Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund has been released on the Government Electronic Tenders Site (GETS) here. The match funding requirement for round one required $250,000 per application, round two requires $100,000 per application.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Final Recipient Announced As Round Two Of Innovation Fund Opens
Minister for Mental Health The Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has announced round two of the Government's Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund has opened today. 'The bottom line for this Government is to ensure we are delivering timely quality mental health and addiction support to those who are bravely reaching out for help in their greatest time of need,' Mr Doocey says. 'I am excited for community organisations across the country to have another opportunity to access funding. This time, there will be more smaller grassroots organisations that will be eligible to apply for funding due to the recently announced lowered matched funding limit required. 'It's also my pleasure to announce that Tend Health Ltd is the ninth and final recipient from the fund's first round to set up a new digital primary mental health and addiction service. 'The new service aims to make it easier for people to get primary mental health support, particularly those who are not enrolled in general practice or have difficulty accessing general practice. 'A multi-disciplinary mental health and addictions team will deliver support virtually and with extended operating hours, giving people more flexible access to help when they need it. 'Once fully operational, Tend's new service is expected to deliver more than 15,000 sessions to more than 5,000 people, which is another significant step towards the Government's commitment to strengthen people's access to mental health and addiction support. The initiative will receive $1.97 million of funding over two years from the Government which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Tend to total just under $4 million. 'I am also proud that funding from round one has already enabled eight other organisations to start delivering new and expanded initiatives. They include MATES in Construction, the Mental Health Foundation, Youthline, Wellington City Mission, Rotorua Community Youth Centre Trust, the Sir John Kirwan Foundation, Women's Refuge, and Just a Thought. 'By supporting these initiatives, we're ensuring that people across New Zealand can access the support they need, while also working towards the Government's goal of growing the clinical workforce and reducing wait times for mental health and addiction services. 'I encourage all eligible providers to take up the opportunity to apply for funding and scale-up their work to benefit the many people in the communities they serve,' Mr Doocey says. Notes: The Request for Proposals for round two of the Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund has been released on the Government Electronic Tenders Site (GETS) here. The match funding requirement for round one required $250,000 per application, round two requires $100,000 per application.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Mental Health Cuts Lead To Overwhelmed EDs
Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party The Governments plan to transition from a police-led response to a mental health-response to mental health crises has no clear strategy and no dedicated roadmap. Its also coming too late, given the scale of need and violent incidences already occurring … Workforce shortages that mental health Minister Matt Doocey tried to hide are now resulting in increasing pressure on our emergency departments as people needing help have nowhere else to go. 'Funding cuts to the community mental health and addiction services has left the system barely able to function, forcing those who need help into hospital emergency departments,' Labour mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary said. 'Today's report from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission says that fewer people are accessing specialist mental health services because of workforce shortages. 'Despite repeated calls for investment and strategy, last week's Budget failed to address those mental health workforce gaps, or to support people to access specialist services. 'The Government's plan to transition from a police-led response to a mental health-response to mental health crises has no clear strategy and no dedicated roadmap. It's also coming too late, given the scale of need and violent incidences already occurring in and on the way to emergency departments. 'Frontline staff are having to cope with an escalating number of mental health scenarios in emergency departments and a significant number of those involve people grappling with addiction. 'Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey can't ignore the evidence in today's report, which shows longer wait times, declined referrals, and workforce shortages. 'The report makes clear what the sector has been saying for months: mental health and addiction are getting worse, not better, under this government,' Ingrid Leary said.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Mental Health Cuts Lead To Overwhelmed EDs
Workforce shortages that mental health Minister Matt Doocey tried to hide are now resulting in increasing pressure on our emergency departments as people needing help have nowhere else to go. 'Funding cuts to the community mental health and addiction services has left the system barely able to function, forcing those who need help into hospital emergency departments,' Labour mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary said. 'Today's report from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission says that fewer people are accessing specialist mental health services because of workforce shortages. 'Despite repeated calls for investment and strategy, last week's Budget failed to address those mental health workforce gaps, or to support people to access specialist services. 'The Government's plan to transition from a police-led response to a mental health-response to mental health crises has no clear strategy and no dedicated roadmap. It's also coming too late, given the scale of need and violent incidences already occurring in and on the way to emergency departments. 'Frontline staff are having to cope with an escalating number of mental health scenarios in emergency departments and a significant number of those involve people grappling with addiction. 'Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey can't ignore the evidence in today's report, which shows longer wait times, declined referrals, and workforce shortages. 'The report makes clear what the sector has been saying for months: mental health and addiction are getting worse, not better, under this government,' Ingrid Leary said.
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Budget 2025: Rural communities to benefit from urgent care services funding boost
Kiwis living in rural and remote communities will benefit from a funding boost to urgent and after-hours healthcare services, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says. In a pre-Budget announcement on Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Health Minister Simeon Brown detailed new 24/7 urgent care services in Counties Manukau, Tauranga, Whangārei, Palmerston North and Dunedin and new daytime urgent care services in Lower Hutt, Invercargill, and Timaru — among other investments. Doocey said access to healthcare was one of the biggest concerns for people living in rural and remote communities. 'Our Government is committed to ensuring all New Zealanders can get the care they need, when they need it – no matter where they live.
