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.