Health targets: shorter waits for central and lower North Island
Patients in Whanganui, the Manawatū, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, and Wellington are benefiting from shorter waits and faster access to care, the latest health target results show, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“The Central region now leads the country on shorter waits for elective treatment and specialist assessments. Whanganui recorded the largest improvement nationally for elective treatment, and MidCentral and Wairarapa have both now met the 2030 elective treatment target,” Mr Brown says.
“We know there is more work to do, and that is exactly why now is the time to build on this progress.”
These results mark the second annual milestone toward the 2030 health targets. Key results in the Central region from April to June include:
- Shorter waits for elective treatment: the Central region is the highest performing in the country. MidCentral and Wairarapa have met the 2030 target of 95 per cent four years early, and Whanganui recorded the largest gain of any district in the country, up 20.8 percentage points.
- Shorter waits for first specialist assessments: also the highest performing region in the country, with MidCentral leading on 79.6 per cent, Wairarapa up 6.4 points to 76.9 per cent, Whanganui up 6.7 points to 76.3 per cent, and Capital and Coast up 4.2 points to 68.6 per cent.
- Faster cancer treatment: Wairarapa has met the 2030 target of 90 per cent four years early, up 4.6 points to 94.5 per cent, with MidCentral up to 88.0 per cent and Hawke's Bay up to 86.9 per cent.
- Improved childhood immunisations: Capital and Coast on 89.7 per cent, the highest result of any district in the country, with Wairarapa up 2.1 points to 86.4 per cent, MidCentral up to 85.7 per cent, and Hawke's Bay up to 84.3 per cent.
- Shorter stays in emergency departments: Capital and Coast up 10.2 points to 63.2 per cent, the second-largest annual gain of any district in the country, with Hutt Valley up 4.3 points to 72.8 per cent.
Mr Brown says the latest figures show encouraging progress in ensuring more patients across the Central region receive their elective surgeries within four months, including hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery.
“Behind every one of these numbers is someone who is off the waiting list and on the way to getting their life back. We thank our doctors, nurses, and other frontline staff whose daily commitment makes this improvement possible.
“Improving health outcomes is exactly why this Government has been so focused on responsible fiscal management. Careful management of the books is what allows us to keep investing in the services New Zealanders rely on most, while keeping taxes low.
“There is still more work to do. Too many people are still waiting too long, and we will not stop until every New Zealander has timely access to care. With a record $32 billion annual investment, we are rebuilding the system around patients, holding it accountable, and driving better outcomes on the way to 2030.”
Central region report card here
