Disability support services strategic plan 2014 to 2018

The Ministry of Health’s Disability Support Services (DSS) group has developed a four-year Strategic Plan for 2014 to 2018. Summary The plan sets out the vision for Disability Support Services – that disabled people and their families are supported to live the lives they choose – along with some guiding principles that informed the development of the plan. Context for the plan’s development is outlined, including: the strategies and commitments that guided its development information on disability support in New Zealand demographic analysis. It also includes an action plan for the Disability Support Services group. One of the priority areas contained in the plan is the implementation of the Putting People First quality review. The plan was developed with input and guidance from stakeholders to ensure it reflects a shared direction and commitment to the vision and related activities

Designated auditing agency handbook: Ministry of Health auditor handbook (revised 2015)

Introduction: This handbook outlines the Ministry of Health\u27s requirements of designated auditing agencies for auditing and audit reporting for the certification of health care services under the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001. The handbook also gives providers of health care services a guide to specific requirements for various types of audits.     &nbsp

Implementing medicines New Zealand 2015 to 2020

Summary Medicines play a significant role in helping New Zealanders get well, stay well and live well. We have already made positive changes in this area, but there are substantial challenges ahead of us. We need to buy, use and manage medicines wisely. We need to meet the needs of our ageing population and meet the needs of the increasing numbers of people with multiple chronic conditions. And we need to meet these needs in a way that is more efficient, more coordinated and achieves the most from our limited health dollars. Medicines New Zealand (the New Zealand medicines strategy) provides the overarching framework to govern the regulation, procurement, management and use of medicines in New Zealand. The three core outcomes for the medicines system as set out in the Strategy are: access optimal use quality, safety and efficacy. Implementing Medicines New Zealand is about the changes required to deliver on Medicines New Zealand. This action plan supports the achievement of the Strategy’s outcomes by: making the most of every point of care enabling shared care through an integrated health care team optimal use of antimicrobials empowering individuals and families/whānau to manage their own medicines and health optimal medicines use in older people and those with long-term conditions competent and responsive prescribers removing barriers to access. This will be done by harnessing the collective efforts of all health professionals, including those working in community organisations, primary health care, pharmacies, hospitals, rest homes and end-of-life care

Evaluation of the maternity quality and safety programme

This report presents findings on the impact of maternity quality and safety programmes in New Zealand. Overview Local maternity quality and safety programmes have been operating in each district health board (DHB) since 2012 and have raised the profile of maternity quality and safety by establishing more effective governance structures, enhanced clinical leadership and better engagement with the sector and consumers. In 2014/15, the Ministry contracted Allen + Clarke, policy and regulatory specialists to evaluate the impact of the local maternity quality and safety programmes. They found that the programmes had started to deliver meaningful improvements and there was significant value in continued Ministry of Health investment and support. The report highlights some of the challenges DHBs have faced in implementing the local maternity quality and safety programmes and provides useful information for DHBs as they move into the next phase of their local programmes. In mid-2015 the Ministry of Health confirmed ongoing funding for DHB maternity quality and safety programmes

National drug policy 2015 to 2020

Overview Over a lifetime, 44 percent of New Zealanders will try an illegal drug and 93 percent will drink alcohol.  While not every instance of alcohol and other drug use is harmful, the effects of these substances can be significant. They contribute to immediate harms such as car crashes, as well as long term harm such as health conditions and family breakdown.  Alcohol and other drug issues are closely intertwined with social factors such as income, employment, housing and education.  This means that effective government intervention requires a cross-agency response.  The National Drug Policy 2015 – 2020 is the guiding document for policies and practices responding to alcohol and other drug issues.  The Government will use the Policy to prioritise resources and assess the effectiveness of the actions taken by agencies and front-line services. The Policy aims to guide decision-making by local services, communities and NGOs, to improve collaboration and maximise the effectiveness of the system as a whole.  To do this, the Policy sets a shared goal, objectives, strategies and priorities for action over the next five years

Statement of Intent 2015 to 2019: Ministry of Health

Summary: The Ministry of Health’s Statement of Intent 2015–2019 identifies outcomes for the health system and the Ministry: New Zealanders live longer, healthier and more independent lives. The health system is cost-effective and supports a productive economy. The Ministry has three high-level outcomes that support the achievement of the above health system outcomes: New Zealanders are healthier and more independent. High-quality health and disability services are delivered in a timely and accessible manner. The future sustainability of the health and disability system is assured. The Statement of Intent outlines the strategic direction for the Ministry, work that will be undertaken to deliver priorities and how success will be measured. Success against the six national health targets is just one example of how the health system continues to improve outcomes for New Zealanders. &nbsp

Cancer patient survival 1994 to 2011

The report shows a broad overview of cancer survival in New Zealand, and provides information for 24 cancers. Summary The cancer registration data analysed in this report is from the years 1994 to 2011, with follow-up (mortality) information to 31 December 2013. Survival is presented by age, sex, ethnic group, extent of disease and deprivation. Survival data has been analysed over time, to show how one-year and five-year survival has changed between 1998 and 2011. Cumulative relative and interval-specific survival is also presented to show survival for up to 10 years after the date of diagnosis

Evaluation of funded family care

Executive Summary The Funded Family Care (FFC) policy was introduced on 1st October 2013. The Ministry commissioned an evaluation to assess the impact and effectiveness of Funded Family Care and the reasons influencing its uptake in its first year of operation. Evaluation participants who contributed their perspectives of FFC were: 45 disabled persons and/or family/whānau carers (40 who were accessing FFC and five who were not); 13 Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) representatives; five organisations representative of disabled people and family/whānau carers one manager from the Funding Advisory and Support Service (FASS). In almost all of the 45 interviews with disabled persons and/or family/whānau carers, it was the family/whānau carer who did most of the talking. Many of the disabled persons were profoundly intellectually disabled which severely limited their ability to participate in the interview process

Report on maternity, 2012

A focus on women who gave birth, and the babies who were born, in New Zealand in 2012. Summary In 2012, 62,321 women were recorded as giving birth. This equates to a birth rate (the proportion of females aged 15–44 years in the population) of 68.9 per 1000 females of reproductive age, similar to the 2011 rate of 68.6 per 1000 females of reproductive age. Overall, birth rates remained stable from 2008 to 2012, ranging from 68.6 to 71.1 births per 1000 females of reproductive age. The distribution of birth rates by age group, ethnic group and deprivation quintile of residence also remained fairly consistent over this time

Report of the parliamentary review committee regarding the New Zealand cervical screening programme: 2015

Highlights National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) successes and identifies key areas that will further strengthen the programme. Executive summary The National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) has been highly successful in reducing the incidence of and mortality from cervical cancer. From 1991, when the NCSP commenced, to 2011, cervical cancer mortality declined from 6.2 to 2.4 per 100,000 for all women, and from 13.0 to 5.4 per 100,000 for Māori women. Between 1996 and 2012, cervical cancer incidence declined from 10.5 to 6.2 per 100,000 for women of all ethnicities, and from 25.0 to 12.7 per 100,000 for Māori women (NSU 2014a). The many high-quality achievements and initiatives of the NCSP, clinicians and staff working within the programme since its inception must be acknowledged. The NCSP is among the most successful cervical cancer screening programmes in the world, and this achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of many people. This commitment to ensuring New Zealand women have access to a high-quality cervical screening programme includes the regular, ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the programme’s performance as well as open and transparent reviews such as the one delivered with this report. The New Zealand Government and all staff working within the programme are to be congratulated