Tanya Smith on what it's like living with Crohn's disease
Online exclusive
In What's It Like To… New Zealanders from all walks of life share stories of health & wellbeing. Here, Tanya Smith shares with Paulette Crowley what it's like to learn you have Crohn's disease and learn to manage the autoimmune condition.
My relationship with food has always been

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Scoop
18 hours ago
- Scoop
Patient-Focused New Zealand Health Plan Tabled
Minister of Health Health New Zealand's New Zealand Health Plan was tabled in Parliament this afternoon. Developed by Health New Zealand, the plan is a requirement under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. 'The plan outlines how Health New Zealand will deliver on the Government's health priorities over the period 2024–2027,' Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 'It sets the direction for how we will improve health outcomes and ensure all New Zealanders can access the care they need, where and when they need it. 'It gives effect to the Government Policy Statement on Health 2024–2027, with a clear focus on the Government's five health targets and five mental health targets: Health targets: faster cancer treatment improved childhood immunisation shorter stays in emergency departments shorter wait times for first specialist assessments shorter wait times for elective treatment. Mental health and addiction targets: faster access to specialist mental health and addiction services faster access to primary mental health and addiction services shorter mental health and addiction related stays in emergency departments increased mental health and addiction workforce development strengthened focus on prevention and early intervention. 'The plan is focused on achieving the Government's health targets, ensuring the health system delivers real results for patients and communities. These targets are backed by clear accountability and transparent reporting, so the public can track progress on a regular basis. 'Reducing wait times is a key priority for the Government. Too many New Zealanders have been left waiting far too long for the care they need. Under the last Government, waitlists ballooned – with the number of Kiwis waiting more than four months for elective procedures like hip, knee, or cataract surgeries increasing by over 2,500 per cent. 'Health New Zealand is focussed on delivering the Elective Boost programme, which will deliver 21,000 additional procedures over the 2025/2026 year to help clear the backlog of patients needing care.' The plan also sets out how the Government will grow and support the health workforce; improve clinical leadership with continuous quality improvement and innovation; invest in essential hospital infrastructure; ensure services are delivered more consistently across the country; and strengthen primary care across New Zealand so that people can receive timely, quality care in the community. 'Our focus is clear: putting patients back at the centre of the health system. We're building a system that delivers real results, and this plan is a key part of that,' Mr Brown says. Note:


NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Dengue fever outbreak in Pacific: Kiwi travellers told to get insurance including medical evacuation
'You should talk to your doctor about preventative measures against insect-borne illnesses like dengue fever.' Also known as break-bone fever, dengue is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. Symptoms include sudden high fever, intensely sore joints and muscles, pain behind the eyes and a rash. Rising death toll among children Some prevention measures travellers can take include using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing and using mosquito nets or mosquito coils when going to sleep. The new travel advice for New Zealanders heading to the Pacific comes as Samoa reported its fourth death to dengue yesterday – a 9-year-old boy. The boy's death was the second reported this week, following the death of a 5-year-old girl on Wednesday. Samoa has shut down all schools as fumigation programmes start in the country's fight against dengue fever. Photo / Govt of Samoa The first dengue-related death reported in Samoa this year was that of 12-year-old Misiafa Nathaniel Lene, who contracted the disease in early April. His family, with the help of the Samoan government, managed to raise funds to get him medically evacuated to New Zealand for treatment a week later. However, he succumbed to the disease and died in his parents' arms at Starship Children's Hospital, in Auckland, on April 13. Nauru is the latest Pacific nation to report dengue fever-related deaths: a 15-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl. Tonga has recorded three dengue-related deaths, including a 7-month-old baby and a 19-year-old. In Samoa, more than 2000 cases have been reported since an official dengue outbreak was declared in mid-April. The paediatric unit at the country's main hospital – Moto'otua Hospital, near Apia – is at full capacity. The Samoan government announced that all schools would be closed this week, as fumigation efforts were carried out on school buildings – including the country's university campus – nationwide. Samoa's health officials are ramping up fumigation efforts in its fight against dengue fever. Villages have also been encouraged to carry out working bees or clean-up efforts to help keep mosquitoes away. The outbreak in Samoa comes as the country is gearing up for national elections later this month. As a result, an influx of Samoans from overseas, particularly form New Zealand and Australia, are expected to travel to the motherland to vote. Vaimoana Mase is the Pasifika editor for the Herald's Talanoa section, sharing stories from the Pacific community. She won junior reporter of the year at the then Qantas Media Awards in 2010 and won the best opinion writing award at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.


Newsroom
a day ago
- Newsroom
Big increase in workers taking weeks off on ACC
A "swamped" healthcare system and changes to ACC's case management model are behind a steady rise in claims for injuries keeping New Zealanders off work for a prolonged period, experts say. This trend, which contrasts with an overall decrease in work-related injury claims, is outlined in an aide memoire prepared for Workplace Safety Minister Brooke van Velden by ACC after she requested information on the increasing trend in work-related injury claims by those needing more than a week off work.