Latest news with #SimeonBrown
Scoop
9 hours ago
- Health
- Scoop
King's Birthday Honours Recognises Contributions To Health
Press Release – New Zealand Government I thank all of the people receiving honours today for their contributions to research, clinical expertise, and innovation, along with their relentless focus on improving the health of New Zealanders, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. Minister of Health The King's Birthday 2025 Honours List recognises the significant achievements of New Zealanders whose contributions to health have helped Kiwis live better lives, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 'This year's King's Birthday Honours recognise the hard work, commitment, and drive to deliver for New Zealand that those who have been honoured have shown,' Mr Brown says. Those being recognised for their service to health include individuals who have contributed widely to health issues facing many New Zealanders. These include spinal cord injuries, gynaecological cancers, musculoskeletal pain, mental health, obstetrics and midwifery, and the detection and treatment of cancers. 'Among this year's recipients are Ranjna Patel, and Catriona Williams, who have both been appointed as Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, both of whom have made an outstanding contribution to health in New Zealand. 'Also recognised for their achievements in supporting people with health conditions are Dr Ai Ling Tan, and Dr Mark Thomas, who have both been appointed Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit. 'Dr Tan has implemented innovative treatment approaches to gynaecological cancers which have improved outcomes for patients. She has shared her expertise by mentoring clinicians, including the training of the first Pacific-based gynaecological oncologist in Fiji. 'Clinical practice guidelines have been enhanced as a result of Dr Tan's research, which continue to benefit women across New Zealand and the Pacific. 'Dr Thomas is an infectious disease physician whose research and educational efforts have made him a leading trusted source of information on antibiotic prescribing and as a clinician advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS. 'I thank all of the people receiving honours today for their contributions to research, clinical expertise, and innovation, along with their relentless focus on improving the health of New Zealanders,' says Mr Brown
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Councils plead for bipartisan Resource Management Act reform
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown announce extensions for ports' permits at a press conference in Auckland's Parnell. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi Regional councils want greater certainty and bipartisanship on regulations, as they gear up for an expected spate of rule changes when legislation replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA) next year . The government has announced sweeping changes to the rules governing councils' oversight of everything - from housing, to mining, to agriculture - under the RMA, and these have been released for public feedback. Speaking on behalf of Te Uru Kahika - Regional and Unitary Councils of Aotearoa, Greater Wellington chair Daran Ponter said when policy resets every three years, regulators scramble to deliver the new government's national direction. "As regional councils we have effectively seen these national instruments landing on our lap as regularly as every three years. The music just has to stop. "We need certainty, we need to be able to have the chance as regulators to actually bed in policies and rules and provide a greater certainty to people who want to do things - who want to build, who want to farm, who want to mine - because the bigger block on those things at the moment, at national and regional levels, is that we continue to change the rules." Ponter said bipartisanship on regulations was needed to provide certainty. "I don't want to be in the position in three or six years' time that all the rules are going to change again, because the pendulum has swung the other way." Daran Ponter. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas Ponter said in recent years there had been "more radical swings" in policy under successive governments. "At the moment, the meat in the sandwich of all this, is the regional councils, who get accused of not doing this, or being woke, of being overly sympathetic to the environment... when all we are doing is following the national guidance that is put in front of us." The government has released three discussion documents covering 12 national policy statements and and national environmental standards, with the aim of having 16 new or updated ones by the end of 2025, ahead of legislation replacing the RMA next year. The consultation covers three main topics: infrastructure and development, the primary sector and freshwater. It is open from 29 May to 27 July. Doug Leeder, chair of Bay of Plenty Regional Council, has governed through the implementation of four National Policy Statements for Freshwater Management. He said implementing national direction was a major undertaking that involved work with communities, industry and mana whenua. "Councils contend with the challenge also faced by iwi and hapū, industry, and communities that the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management has changed every three years since it has been introduced. "When policy resets every three years, it imposes significant costs on councils and communities, creates uncertainty for farmers and businesses, and makes it harder to achieve the long-term outcomes we all want. "We need to work towards something more enduring." Could bipartisanship on regulations work? "That's the challenge for the minister but also for the leaders of those opposition parties, as well," Ponter said. "Everybody is going to have to find a degree of compromise if something like that is going to work." But he said regional councils had worked constructively with successive governments and they were ready to do so again. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Health Professionals Concerned At Further Delays To Gender Affirming Healthcare Guidelines
Press Release – PATHA This is clear evidence of ideological interference in an operational, professional frontline medical resource that is being requested by the health sector. We reiterate our call for the Government to allow Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand to publish these … The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) is deeply concerned at further delays to the publication of updated Guidelines for Gender Affirming Healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand. PATHA has been informed by Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand that the updated Guidelines will not be published until the Minister of Health decides on whether to introduce regulations on the ability of medical professionals to prescribe puberty blockers as part of gender affirming healthcare. The guideline's advice on prescribing puberty blockers was updated in November 2024 to reflect the Ministry of Health's position statement on the use of these medications. This advice spans just 6 of the total 182 pages of information contained in the guidelines. The guidance is evidence-based, aligns with international best practice and guidelines, and supports a holistic approach to gender affirming medical care for young people who need it. 'Medical professionals working in this area are constantly being asked by colleagues for clinical guidance on gender-affirming healthcare,' says Dr Rona Carroll, a Specialist General Practitioner and Vice-President of PATHA. 'By not publishing the updated guidelines, the government is stopping healthcare providers from being guided by evidence-based, up-to-date New Zealand specific information. We have been given no timeframe for when to expect a decision about the puberty blocker consultation or the updated guidelines. Considering how many other areas of health these guidelines include, and that the advice on prescribing puberty blockers is in line with the Ministry's position statement, the updated guidelines should be published immediately. I think clinicians would be providing safer care if they had access to these guidelines today.' On Wednesday, 28 May, PATHA published an open letter calling on the Minister of Health, Simeon Brown and the Associate Minister for Health, Matt Doocey, to release the updated guidance. This letter was signed by over 500 medical bodies, clinicians and community organisations. Signatories include the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, the New Zealand Society of Endocrinology, the College of Child and Youth Nurses, and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand. The evidence-based guidelines, which have been peer reviewed by clinicians with expertise in this care from within New Zealand and internationally, provide detailed information on a wide range of topics relevant to healthcare for transgender and non-binary people. This includes several revised chapters from the 2018 edition in line with emerging medical research. 'I'm proud of the amount of work the authors have put into these guidelines, bringing their extensive collective expertise into creating guidance that is broad and has a holistic view of transgender health,' says Jennifer Shields, PATHA President. 'These guidelines cover so much more than puberty blocker medication, and this information is important for all healthcare workers to have.' 'It is clear that there is no evidence-based justification for considering restrictions on prescribing puberty blockers to transgender young people,' Shields says. 'These medications continue to be prescribed to children for other indications, and limitations in the quality of the academic evidence are not unique to this care. Healthcare professionals are now left wondering if this government is being pulled into alarming 'culture war' trends away from best practice medical care, and into anti-transgender policies that lead to a reduction in patients' rights and freedoms, and set precedent for making clinical decisions based on political beliefs rather than what's best for patients.' 'This is clear evidence of ideological interference in an operational, professional frontline medical resource that is being requested by the health sector,' Carroll said. 'We reiterate our call for the Government to allow Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand to publish these updated guidelines immediately.' Background information Statement on puberty blockers On 21st November 2024, the Ministry of Health published a position statement on the use of puberty blockers in gender affirming care, emphasising that puberty blockers could continue to be prescribed when needed as part of interdisciplinary teams. The Government expressed an intention to explore further restrictions on access to this care, and opened public consultation on possible restrictions. This consultation closed on 20th January 2025. A memo sent to then Minister of Health Shane Reti on 30 April 2024 was released to PATHA under the Official Information Act. In this memo, the Ministry of Health clarified that: 'There is currently no evidence that individual clinicians are prescribing [puberty blockers] outside of an interprofessional team.' This shows that concerns about individual professionals prescribing puberty blockers inappropriately are unfounded, and current prescribing practices are already in line with the Ministry's position statement. PATHA previously published a collective statement opposing the restrictions the Government is considering on the prescription of puberty blockers to transgender young people. This statement also received broad support from medical bodies, including the New Zealand Paediatrics Society and the New Zealand Society of Endocrinology. The statement reads [in part]: 'The Ministry of Health Evidence Brief identified that any evidence of harm associated with providing puberty-blocking medication is limited and inconclusive, and withholding this care may exacerbate gender dysphoria and negatively impact mental health. Equitable and non-discriminatory access to this care should be provided and maintained throughout the country. Decisions about prescribing puberty blockers should continue to be made collaboratively between young people, their families or support people, and the health professionals involved in their care. These decisions are individualised, based on informed consent, and guided by professional training, clinical experience, and the best available evidence. Any move to restrict access to puberty blockers would be a political decision and not one based on clinical guidance from health experts in New Zealand and international best practice. Medical decisions should remain free from political interference.' Background on puberty blockers Puberty blockers are a medication called gonadotrophic releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. They were developed in the 1980s for use in much younger children with precocious (early) puberty, and have been used in gender affirming care for over 20 years. They halt the development of secondary sexual characteristics, such as breast growth or voice deepening, and can relieve distress associated with these bodily changes for transgender young people. Puberty blockers have the benefit of allowing the young person time before making any decisions regarding starting on gender affirming hormone therapy. The effect puberty blockers have on pausing pubertal changes is reversible. Once the puberty blocker medication has been stopped, puberty will resume as it would have done without medication. All medications have known or potential risks, but evidence and experience to date does not raise significant concerns about the safety of puberty blockers. As is the case in all medical prescribing, risks, side effects and benefits of medications are discussed with patients as part of the informed consent process before prescribing. There are also risks to not prescribing medications when they are indicated. Puberty results in irreversible physical changes, which can result in lifelong distress and gender dysphoria for some transgender people. In every area of healthcare, decisions about treatment and medication prescribing take all of these aspects into account, and health professionals support patients and their families to weigh up the pros and cons for their individual situation. Gender affirming healthcare is no different. Decisions about whether to start puberty blockers are made between health professionals, young people and their whānau. These are healthcare decisions which should remain free from ideological political interference. Clinicians who initiate puberty blockers should be experienced in providing gender affirming healthcare and working within an interdisciplinary team. It is essential that access to this care and to puberty blocker medication is maintained. Topics covered by the updated Guidelines Advice on the prescription of puberty blockers is a small portion of the content covered by the updated guidelines. The updated guidance also includes detailed information on a broad number of other areas of transgender health, including whānau support, creating inclusive clinical environments, non-medical and non-surgical gender affirmation, speech and language therapy, fertility and sexual health, mental wellbeing, gender-affirming hormone therapy, and detransition, as well as specific guidance for Māori, Pasifika, and refugee and asylum seeker trans people.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
New Christchurch Health Accommodation Will Provide For Those In Need
Minister of Health The Bone Marrow Cancer Trust's new Rānui Apartments will ensure patients and families travelling to Christchurch for cancer treatment, heart surgeries, and other complex needs will have a home-away-from-home for their recuperation, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 'Today I was pleased to join the Prime Minister to officially open the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust's new Rānui Apartments. These 54 new apartments will accommodate more Kiwis and their families travelling to Christchurch Hospital for life-changing treatments,' Mr Brown says. The 54 apartments across two buildings will add to the existing 26 apartments available at Rānui House. The new facilities offered include one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as studio rooms, to meet different patients' and families' needs. 'Travelling for life-changing treatment and surgery can be daunting. These new facilities will remove that burden by providing free accommodation and wrap-around services for eligible travelling patients and their families, located just 500 metres from the Christchurch Hospital. 'The opening of the Rānui Apartments makes the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust the largest provider of patient accommodation in the South Island. It is the only provider that serves patients and families irrespective of their age or treatment type. 'When a patient undergoes life-changing treatment, there are repercussions for the entire family. These accommodation facilities will make specialist healthcare more accessible for people in the South Island by ensuring patients and their families have support close to Christchurch Hospital. 'I would like to thank the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust for their vision, dedication, and fundraising efforts that have made this project possible,' Mr Brown says. Notes: The $18.9 million development cost of Rānui Apartments was funded through private donors, grant providers, fundraisers, and government contributions. On 1 April 2024 Health NZ increased the National Travel Assistance reimbursement rates for accommodation from $100 to $140. This was the first time the rate had been increased in nine years. NGOs such as the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust are able to use this funding to eligible patients to help provide support to patients and their families.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
National campaigned on this bonding scheme, so why has no work been done on it?
Photo: RNZ / Reece Baker No work has been done on the nurse bonding and relocation schemes National campaigned on in the election, the Health Ministry has confirmed. Health Minister Simeon Brown has repeatedly avoided answering direct questions from RNZ about the continuation of the schemes, a key plank of National's health policies. The scheme the party proposed in April 2023 would have seen the government put $4500 a year towards nurses and midwives' student loans starting in 2024. It was to be paired with a relocation programme offering up to $10,000 to up to 1000 qualified overseas nurses and midwives. Nurses at the time were sceptical , saying it would be better to improve pay and conditions or make nursing tuition free. Asked if any work had been done on the policy, the Health Ministry confirmed it "is not currently working on a standalone bonding scheme", pointing to other initiatives aimed at increasing the workforce. These include the expansion of Health NZ's separate voluntary bonding scheme introduced under John Key's government, which Brown celebrated in a statement late last month. RNZ questioned him in early May on progress with National's election policy. "Well look, we announced I think last week a significant uplift in the number of bonded placements through Health NZ to bond a range of nurses and other health practitioners," he said, referring to Health NZ's scheme. Put to him that was a different scheme, he said "and there's been a significant increase in the number of placements". Asked if it was therefore no longer needed, he said: "Well, it's a significant increase in the number of places that we have made available in that existing bonding scheme", and asked directly if the election policy had been abandoned, he said "we're very focused on the current scheme ... and growing it". Subsequent questions on Wednesday about the scheme were met with similar responses. "Oh, look, as I announced a few weeks ago Health New Zealand's invested significantly more into the nurse bonding that it currently operates ... we're doing a lot to invest in more nurses, both in acute both in hospitals and in primary care ... the bonding system is something that we've continued to invest in." Brown also brushed off written questions, his office's five-paragraph response answering none of RNZ's questions directly. "National's health workforce policy was developed at a time when New Zealand was facing critical nurse shortages, driven by border closures and a failure to provide clear immigration pathways for nurses under the previous government," one said. The new bonding scheme was costed at $46.8 million over three years starting in 2024/25, rising to $49.2m in 2027/28, with the relocation grants costing $10m a year over the same timeframe - the money all coming out of the savings expected from reducing government spending on contractors and consultants. The policy remains on National's website. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon as recently as December said the scheme was still a "live" issue and while he could give no firm commitment on timing, "that programme is still something that [then-Health Minister] Shane Reti will work his way through". Simeon Brown replaced Dr Reti as Health Minister the following month.
