44788 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

44788 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What, if anything, has the Government’s ruthless focus on driving efficiency in the health system to deliver timely, quality healthcare to all New Zealanders achieved so far and when, if at all, will we see further decisions in this area?

Hon Simeon Brown: Our Government’s relentless focus on improving efficiency across the health system is putting patients first and helping more New Zealanders access timely, quality healthcare. While there is still more work to do to reduce wait times and make sure patients are seen faster, our continued focus is driving progress. For some examples, I refer the Member to my press releases on the Beehive website: • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-podiatry-clinic-brings-much-needed-service-wairoa • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/hawke%E2%80%99s-bay-patients-benefit-new-and-improved-radiology-and-cancer-treatment-services • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/first-plunket-site-begins-delivering-childhood-immunisations • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/decision-reached-dunedin-hospital • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pharmac-funding-decision-will-increase-medicines-access • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/significant-milestones-north-shore%E2%80%99s-t%C5%8Dtara-haumaru-hospital • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-renal-centre-will-provide-life-saving-care-patients • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/bringing-cataract-care-closer-home • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-pipes-auckland-city-hospital • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/whang%C4%81rei-hospital-transit-lounge-open-patients • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-ai-diabetes-screening-pilot-programme-gamechanger-wait-times • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-inpatient-unit-be-built-hawke%E2%80%99s-bay-hospital • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/healthcare-boost-means-seeing-gp-faster • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-locally-trained-doctors-primary-care • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/greater-role-nurses-primary-care • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/bowel-screening-changes-save-hundreds-lives • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/health-minister-outlines-5-key-health-priorities • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/putting-patient-first • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/increased-penalties-23-illicit-drugs • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pharmac-funding-decision-will-increase-medicines-access-0 • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-high-dependency-unit-will-expand-critical-care-services-wellington • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/first-stage-manukau-health-park-expansion-open-patients • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/construction-begins-new-adult-mental-health-building-christchurch • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/enhanced-urgent-care-service-napier • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/reducing-red-tape-put-patients-first • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-mobile-dental-clinic-will-reach-thousands-children • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/elective-boost-delivers-more-2000-procedures • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/health-targets-focusing-system-delivering-more-patients • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/expanding-prescriber-rights-will-increase-access-medicines • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/expanded-emergency-department-auckland-city-hospital-will-see-capacity-increase • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/decision-increase-medicines-access • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-mental-health-and-addictions-facility-officially-opened-whang%C4%81rei • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/health-infrastructure-plan-released • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/over-200000-new-zealanders-benefit-medicines-funding-boost • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/podiatrist-prescribers-will-increase-access-medicines • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-900-health-graduates-receive-financial-boost-through-bonding-scheme • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/world-immunisation-week-shows-importance-health-targets • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/physician-associates-be-regulated-workforce • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/huge-benefits-available-medical-conferences • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/taup%C5%8D-hospital-accredited-train-next-generation-rural-doctors • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-weekend-urgent-care-service-launched-tair%C4%81whiti • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-data-highlights-progress-childhood-immunisation-rates • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/third-procedure-room-expand-endoscopy-capacity-hawke%E2%80%99s-bay • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/decision-increase-medicines-access-0 • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/childhood-immunisation-rates-hit-three-year-high • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-and-improved-urgent-and-after-hours-healthcare • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/whang%C4%81rei-and-counties-manukau-receive-247-urgent-care-boost • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/tauranga-benefit-urgent-care-boost-region • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/palmerston-north-and-lower-hutt-receive-new-and-improved-urgent-care-services • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/urgent-care-boost-dunedin-invercargill-and-timaru • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/billion-dollar-investment-hospitals • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/record-investment-health-delivery • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/12-month-prescriptions-put-money-patients%E2%80%99-pockets • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-deliver-redevelopment-nelson-hospital • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget-2025-boosts-primary-care-funding • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-emergency-department-wellington-regional-hospital • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/59-million-boost-ensure-completion-taranaki-base-hospital-redevelopment • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-christchurch-health-accommodation-will-provide-those-need • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/bringing-ent-care-closer-home-northland • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/stage-3-major-auckland-hospital-upgrade-funded • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/radiology-backlog-cleared-taranaki-base-hospital • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/elective-boost-delivers-over-9500-additional-procedures-so-far • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-and-improved-radiology-services-auckland-city-hospital • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/successful-childhood-immunisation-programme-delivering-results • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-modular-units-will-expand-bed-capacity-during-hospital-upgrades • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/putting-patients-first-government-refocus-health-system-outcomes • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-ct-scanner-improve-cancer-services-invercargill • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/crown-manager-appointed-drive-delivery-new-dunedin-hospital • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/targets-continue-get-health-back-track • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/delivering-better-orthopaedic-care-northland • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-day-stay-unit-starship-children%E2%80%99s-hospital-will-increase-capacity • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/strong-interest-new-programme-overseas-trained-doctors • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/gps-receive-record-funding-boost • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-mental-health-centre-transform-care-wellington-region • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-digital-platform-help-women-detect-breast-cancer-earlier • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/kiwis-can-now-access-247-primary-healthcare-anywhere-new-zealand • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/elective-boost-get-more-kiwis-out-pain • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/construction-new-dunedin-hospital-resumes • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/engagement-group-be-formed-new-dunedin-hospital-project-enters-next-phase • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-ct-unit-will-boost-diagnostic-services-palmerston-north • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-governance-health-new-zealand • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/bringing-dialysis-care-closer-home-blenheim • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/childhood-immunisation-rates-continue-climb • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-international-doctors-be-fast-tracked • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-welcomes-first-medical-conferences-following-rule-change • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-cardiac-cath-lab-will-support-cardiac-care-across-central-north-island • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-waikato-medical-school-gets-green-light • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/modernising-heart-failure-treatment-hawke%E2%80%99s-bay • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/strengthening-primary-care-better-meet-patient-needs • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/faster-cancer-diagnosis-pathway-women-auckland • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/orthopaedic-waitlists-fall-across-central-north-island • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/boosting-nurse-practitioner-workforce • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/better-urgent-care-services-lower-hutt • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/faster-access-neurosurgery-south-islanders • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-cancer-patients-taup%C5%8D-getting-treatment-closer-home • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/fewer-kiwis-waiting-heart-and-lung-surgery-waikato • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/faster-heart-specialist-access-northland • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-icu-and-hdu-will-boost-critical-care-services-tauranga • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/midwives-play-greater-role-immunisation-efforts • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/faster-more-accurate-brain-tumour-diagnoses-kiwis • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-aucklanders-getting-faster-access-heart-specialists • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-kiwis-receiving-surgery-elective-boost-exceeds-first-target • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/digital-health-service-delivering-faster-access-primary-care • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/health-workforce-regulations-put-patients-first • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/upgraded-dental-unit-opens-whanganui • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-hub-will-bring-outpatient-services-together-christchurch • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nurse-led-cystoscopy-clinics-delivering-timely-cancer-care-dunedin • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-dunedin-hospital-construction-contract-signed • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/work-ramps-nelson-hospital-redevelopment • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/100-million-boost-upgrade-hospitals-nationwide • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/20-million-boost-ed-staffing • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pharmac-saves-money-spend-new-medicines • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-diagnostics-tests-and-faster-answers-kiwis • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/cath-lab-upgrade-complete-christchurch-hospital • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/strengthening-prostate-cancer-care-southern • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/health-targets-reducing-wait-times-and-putting-patients-first • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/health-targets-better-care-patients-northland-and-auckland • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/health-targets-faster-access-care-waikato-and-surrounding-regions • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/health-targets-faster-care-central-and-lower-north-island • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/health-targets-shorter-waits-and-faster-care-south-islanders • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/certainty-medical-device-procurement • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/health-targets-physiotherapist-boost-will-cut-orthopaedic-wait-times • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/health-targets-faster-gynaecology-care-counties-manukau • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/bowel-screening-expansion-underway-save-more-lives • https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/strong-interest-programme-train-nurse-practitioners