Mental health crisis service introduction announced
Mr Doocey was in Oamaru as part of the rural health roadshow that is travelling across the country.
"The rural health roadshow is an opportunity for me to hear direct feedback from the public and those who are working in rural health about what's working well and where the barriers may be. The roadshow is also a great opportunity to hear how well the rural health strategy is being implemented," Mr Doocey said.
He started the roadshow in Levin and then visited Wairoa and Wānaka. He was excited to be in Oamaru to hear from the community and people working in rural health.
About 100 local health professionals and residents turned out for the meeting.
"It was a great meeting," Mr Doocey said.
He said the nature of such public meetings was unpredictable, as neither he nor the health officials from Health New Zealand and the Ministry of Health knew what topics people would bring up. However, it turned out to be "a real broad mix".
"One issue raised was around crisis, mental health crisis support and wanting to make sure in Oamaru there was the availability of support because, of course, people can go to the emergency department or to Wakari [mental health facility in Dunedin] if they need it but it was really good to be able to announce that a new crisis support service is going to be rolled out in Oamaru, through the local Pasifika community service and that it will allow people who call up to be able to receive a local crisis response."
The service will start on August 1.
Waitaki MP Miles Anderson said he was pleased the crisis service would be available for Waitaki people.
"This service is a result of local advocacy by the likes of Stronger Waitaki, which will take pressure off our emergency department and other agencies.
Mr Doocey said the roadshow built on initiatives already in train to improve rural healthcare services.
"Budget 2025 delivered for Kiwis living in rural and remote communities. The government is investing $164million over four years to strengthen urgent and after-hours care nationwide, meaning 98% of Kiwis will be able to access these services within one hour's drive of their home.
"We are also improving access to primary care, including access to 24/7 digital care, training more new doctors and investing to increase the number of nurses in primary care.
"The third area where there was some discussion was the travel-assistance programme," Mr Doocey said.
"It's been a common theme from the four roadshow meetings we've done that it is probably time to review the travel-assistance programme."
That included wider discussion around travel and accommodation assistance, he said.
While the allowance was recently increased from $120 to $140, people still felt they needed greater support.
"So it is something we said we'd take away and look at because we've actually heard it in the other meetings as well."
andrew.ashton@odt.co.nz
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
American Samoa On Alert After Imported Dengue Fever Cases Confirmed
The American Samoa Department of Health has issued a travel health alert after confirmation of three imported cases of dengue fever. The department said the disease was found in travelers who had recently returned from Samoa. In its statement on Tuesday local time (Wednesday, NZT) it said there were no confirmed locally-acquired cases. "While there is no confirmed local transmission in American Samoa at this time, the presence of dengue in travellers returning from these affected countries increases the risk of the virus being introduced and spread locally by mosquitoes." Environmental spraying and monitoring have been underway at the affected residences and surrounding areas. The health department has issued advice for travellers, including that those who have recently traveled to Samoa, Fiji, Tonga or other dengue-affected areas should monitor their health for 14 days upon return. "Be alert for symptoms such as fever, rash, body aches, headache, or nausea. Seek medical care immediately if you develop symptoms and inform your physician of any travel history." Samoa, Fiji and Tonga all declared dengue outbreaks earlier this year. In its latest numbers released on 27 June, Tonga's dengue number had reached 884. Samoa's Ministry of Health is posting on social media to remind people "dengue fever hasn't gone away" and offering advice. It said Aedes mosquitoes are most active during early morning (6am-8am) and evening hours (4pm - 6pm). "We can all prevent the spread of dengue by following easy preventative measures, such as wearing long sleeved clothes, remove all breeding sites, use repellent and mosquito net." Health and climate Meanwhile, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has developed a major climate change and health programme aimed at preventing the spread of climate-sensitive diseases. The SPC said illnesses from dengue fever to diarrhoea, once considered seasonal, are now becoming year-round threats, driven by rising temperatures, saltwater intrusion, and failing water and sanitation systems. The project is backed by a US$17.9 million grant from the Green Climate Fund and delivered in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC). SPC said over the next five years, more than 78,000 people will benefit directly from improved disease surveillance and early warning systems, better access to health information, and resilient water and sanitation infrastructure. Director of SPC's climate change and sustainability division, Coral Pasisi, said this addresses one of the Pacific's most pressing but underfunded challenges - the intersection between health and climate.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Mental health crisis service introduction announced
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Rural Health and Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey announced this week a new mental health crisis support service will be introduced in Oamaru next month. Mr Doocey was in Oamaru as part of the rural health roadshow that is travelling across the country. "The rural health roadshow is an opportunity for me to hear direct feedback from the public and those who are working in rural health about what's working well and where the barriers may be. The roadshow is also a great opportunity to hear how well the rural health strategy is being implemented," Mr Doocey said. He started the roadshow in Levin and then visited Wairoa and Wānaka. He was excited to be in Oamaru to hear from the community and people working in rural health. About 100 local health professionals and residents turned out for the meeting. "It was a great meeting," Mr Doocey said. He said the nature of such public meetings was unpredictable, as neither he nor the health officials from Health New Zealand and the Ministry of Health knew what topics people would bring up. However, it turned out to be "a real broad mix". "One issue raised was around crisis, mental health crisis support and wanting to make sure in Oamaru there was the availability of support because, of course, people can go to the emergency department or to Wakari [mental health facility in Dunedin] if they need it but it was really good to be able to announce that a new crisis support service is going to be rolled out in Oamaru, through the local Pasifika community service and that it will allow people who call up to be able to receive a local crisis response." The service will start on August 1. Waitaki MP Miles Anderson said he was pleased the crisis service would be available for Waitaki people. "This service is a result of local advocacy by the likes of Stronger Waitaki, which will take pressure off our emergency department and other agencies. Mr Doocey said the roadshow built on initiatives already in train to improve rural healthcare services. "Budget 2025 delivered for Kiwis living in rural and remote communities. The government is investing $164million over four years to strengthen urgent and after-hours care nationwide, meaning 98% of Kiwis will be able to access these services within one hour's drive of their home. "We are also improving access to primary care, including access to 24/7 digital care, training more new doctors and investing to increase the number of nurses in primary care. "The third area where there was some discussion was the travel-assistance programme," Mr Doocey said. "It's been a common theme from the four roadshow meetings we've done that it is probably time to review the travel-assistance programme." That included wider discussion around travel and accommodation assistance, he said. While the allowance was recently increased from $120 to $140, people still felt they needed greater support. "So it is something we said we'd take away and look at because we've actually heard it in the other meetings as well."
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Minister marks resumption of site works
The government has been accused of reheating old announcements as the health minister was on site yesterday at the new Dunedin hospital. Health Minister Simeon Brown was in the city yesterday to mark the resumption of work for the inpatient building. He announced a timeline and the return of an engagement group which will help ensure the local community is kept informed as the project progresses. Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich, also present at the ceremony, said the group would bring together Health New Zealand (HNZ) leaders and a range of local stakeholders, including representatives from local government, infrastructure partners and tertiary institutions, to provide regular updates and support ongoing engagement throughout the project. The group will not provide advice on the building's design scope, clinical models of care or procurement decisions. Mr Brown also marked the beginning of a six-month job capping piles and pouring concrete to begin the resumption of work. "We're focused on the future today, we're focused on getting this building delivered and that's why we've got construction back under way here and that's my priority." Former head of the emergency department Dr John Chambers was somewhat cynical. "There seems to a bit of a drip feed of stories to reassure us that progress is being made. "Let's hope there are no more hiccups between now and September when the decision about the building contractor is to be finalised." Dr Chambers said the past two to three years has been "a sort of planning paralysis" and "we are close to being back to where we were — not least assisted by the intervention of the 35,000 citizens who marched last year and a sustained campaign by the city council". "The current stories about psychogeriatric beds and reduced numbers of paediatric beds are also a reminder that planners have made a number of assumptions about future requirements which are still open to debate and require careful clinical oversight." At the inpatients building site yesterday, Mr Brown confirmed the signing of the contract with CPB would happen "in the coming months", while a letter of intent had been signed between Health New Zealand and the Australian construction giant recently. Ceres would be responsible for the pile capping and CPB would manage the substructure. About 4300cum of concrete will be poured across the site, and about 490 tonnes of reinforcing steel used in total. The next major construction phase was the substructure expected to begin in early 2026. The 70,000sqm inpatient building is due to open in 2031. The existing Dunedin hospital faces millions of dollars of expenditure to "keep the lights on" as well as other remedial issues. Mr Brown acknowledged this. "That's why we're building a new building because the old building has a number of challenges." The government has also reappointed Evan Davies as Crown manager for the new Dunedin hospital project. "I think Mr Davies is someone with enormous experience. We're pleased to appoint him [as Crown manager] but, you know, he's only recently been appointed. "The Health New Zealand staff have been playing a critically important role in getting us to where we are here today." Mr Brown visited the city in January to announce the government would progress with the new Dunedin hospital on the former Cadbury site. In September, the government paused the project to consider whether to retrofit the existing hospital or progress with a new inpatients building.
