Big reduction in waiting times for surgery at Waikato DHB

Monday, 20 August 2012, 4:11 pm
Press Release: Waikato District Health Board

Big reduction in waiting times for surgery at Waikato DHB

Local Hamilton MPs Tim Macindoe and David Bennett have congratulated Waikato District Health Board staff for their excellent achievement in elective surgery.

On behalf of Health Minister Tony Ryall, Mr Macindoe and Mr Bennett today presented staff at the DHB with a certificate recognising ‘outstanding performance’.

This is a remarkable achievement. Huge credit is due to DHB staff for their strong focus on improving frontline patients for patients

Last year Waikato had 650 patients waiting longer than six months for either a specialist’s appointment to assess whether or not they needed treatment, or for the operation itself.

This year they had 63 people waiting longer than six months, a reduction of over ninety per cent in long waits.

These improvements are very good for patients.

Health Waikato chief operating officer Jan Adams, Waikato and Thames hospitals group manager Mark Spittal, assistant group manager Jo-Anne Deane, Operational Support service manager Paul Taumanu and elective services manager Debi Whitham met the MPs and showed them around the $130 million Meade Clinical Centre which opens on 10 September.

Mr Macindoe, MP for the Hamilton West electorate in which the Waiora Waikato Hospital campus is, said prompter treatment improves recovery and gets patients back to normal life sooner.

“I’d like to personally thank our theatre teams and staff for their hard work and dedication in improving health services for the people of Waikato.

“Nationally, 17 out of 20 DHBs have reduced their waiting times to zero patients waiting over six months for surgical appointments.

“Over 10 years ago there were around 45,000 people waiting over six months for a surgical appointment. Now, excluding Canterbury, there are just 150,” he said.

This is also the fourth year of record increases in the number of elective operations under National. An extra 7,500 patients across the country received elective surgery in the last 12 months, meaning 153,000 people got the operations they need.

“Waikato is also to be congratulated for again exceeding its elective surgery targets –performing 850 more operations than last year,” said Mr Macindoe.

Mr Bennett also paid tribute to Waikato DHB staff.

"There has been a lot of work over many years and we thank you.

"(Health Minister) Tony (Ryall) is very impressed."

ENDS

About Waikato District Health Board and Health Waikato:

Waikato DHB is responsible for planning, funding and providing quality health and disability support services for the 372,865 people living in the Waikato DHB region. It has an annual turnover of $1.2 billion and employs more than 6000 people.

Health Waikato is the DHB’s main provider of hospital and health services with an annual budget of more than $701 million and 5238 staff. It has six groups across five hospital sites, three primary birthing units, two continuing care facilities and 20 community bases offering a comprehensive range of primary, secondary and tertiary health services.

A wide range of independent providers deliver other Waikato DHB-funded health services - including primary health, pharmacies and community laboratories.

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Waikato District Health Board

Healthy People. Excellent Care

Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.

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