Plenty happening in health: Banks Peninsula MP Vanessa Weenink
Improved health services coming to Christchurch.
There were plenty of positive health sector announcements made by the Government throughout April.
Cantabrians will be able to access life-saving cancer treatment more easily, with a nationwide expansion of community infusion services underway. This expansion puts patients at the centre of their care, while enabling more locals to start treatment earlier, receive care closer to home, and spend less time travelling for appointments.
The Government is delivering 14 new infusion centres and expanding a further 14 sites across the country. One of these new infusion centres will be right here in Christchurch, allowing more people to receive essential treatment here each week.
It is also pleasing to see that home and community support workers will receive a temporary 30 per cent increase to their mileage rates to help offset rising fuel costs.
Home and community support workers play a critical role in delivering essential services to some of our most vulnerable people here in Christchurch. Temporarily increasing the mileage rate for these workers recognises the vital role they play in our health system and helps ensure they can continue delivering quality care to locals who need it most.
New Zealand’s frontline mental health and addiction workforce has also grown by more than 11 per cent, exceeding workforce targets, which gives more Cantabrians faster access to support.
One of the biggest barriers to timely support has been workforce shortages. Prioritising the growing of the frontline Health NZ mental health and addiction workforce means that 83 per cent of Kiwis are being seen within one week for primary mental health support, and nearly 82 per cent are seen within three weeks for specialist support, both exceeding the target of 80 per cent.
These are just a few examples amongst many of how the Government is focused on fixing New Zealand’s healthcare system and ensuring all Kiwis get timely, quality care.
Vanessa.weenink@parliament.govt.nz
