It’s official, more Kiwis are taking notice of their health and feeling good about it. A recent national health survey shows that many New Zealanders are making positive steps to a healthier future.

Key results from the recently-released New Zealand Health Survey – the largest-ever survey of the country’s health – shows that as a nation we’re lifting our act.
 
Kiwis have cut back on harmful habits such as smoking; more people are visiting health professionals and picking up prescriptions, and many believe they have excellent access to health services. Also on the upside is that the increase in obese New Zealanders is slowing down, compared to recent years where it was increasing much more quickly.

For the first time, child health has been surveyed in detail. Overall our children seem to be healthy. Nine out of 10 parents rate their child’s health as excellent or very good. In comparison, three out of five adults rate their own health as excellent or very good.

Over 17,000 Kiwis volunteered their health information for the purposes of the survey conducted in 2006 and 2007.

THE GOOD NEWS
One of the survey’s most positive results was the reduction in smokers. The survey showed a record low of 19.9% of the population, over the age of 15, now smoking. Monitoring of smokers began more than 30 years ago.
 
Another positive was that almost all adults had visited a healthcare worker in the past 12 months and only 1.7% said the cost had stopped them from going. Prices for prescriptions had also become more affordable.

More children under the age of six were benefiting from free GP visits, with an increase from 56% to 67% in 10 years. Use of emergency departments for children had also dropped.

Health minister David Cunliffe says that Kiwis are also living longer. Over the last nine years life expectancy has risen 3.5 years for men and 2.2 years for women.

ON THE FLIP SIDE
New Zealand health is not all rosy. Many of us are not exercising enough or eating enough fruit and vegetables. Also, Maori and Pacific peoples as well as those living in areas of high deprivation continue to have poorer health than other New Zealanders.
 
Health Minister David Cunliffe says the health disparities show up in obesity-related diseases, dangerous levels of alcohol, and smoking.
 
“In our society, these are neither fair nor acceptable. All sectors of government and the community need to work towards greater health equity. We all have a role to play to move us closer to a New Zealand where everyone is able to have a healthy life.”

NATIONAL'S VIEWPOINT
The National Party’s health spokesperson Tony Ryall is also concerned about obesity. Although slowing down, it is still increasing. He says this will have future implications with obesity-caused diabetes (and other chronic diseases) placing an enormous financial burden on the health system.

He says much greater improvement needs to be made if the health system is to cope with the increasing demands on it.
 
Ryall also points out that the survey does not cover people’s greatest concerns with the public health system: endless waiting, never-ending crises, packed emergency departments, staff shortages, and costly bureaucracy.

“We believe primary healthcare, the frontline nurses and GPs, are very important and want more services available as close to home as possible. We will tackle bureaucracy and put that money into frontline healthcare,” he says.

LOOKING AHEAD
Overall, the survey is good news for the government in election year. Cunliffe says he’s proud of the gains made and the government’s plans for the future. He says the health sector will receive $2 billion over four years to prepare the country for population growth and cost increases.

There will also be $52 million spent over four years to fight obesity, plus millions more on health technology systems, vaccinations, oral health and more doctors.
Both Labour and National say they are committed to improving and supporting New Zealanders’ health, though National’s Ryall says people have a right to make their own choices, rather than being told what to do by the government.

Eitherway, New Zealanders can look forward to much debate about the nation’s health in the lead-up to the election. No doubt the survey will be a major talking point and be discussed in great depth. However, with its many positive results, we may be lucky enough to see some genuine smiles.

by Briony Hill


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