More Lakes patients receive specialist assessments

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says new data shows a record number of Lakes patients received a medical or surgical First Specialist Assessment (FSA) in the last year.

“Increasing access to specialist care has been a priority for this Government. New data shows more New Zealanders than ever before are receiving FSAs,” says Dr Coleman.

“Across the country around 10 per cent of New Zealanders had one or more FSAs in the last financial year for either medical or surgical needs.

“In the last financial year 14,294 Lakes patients received a medical or surgical FSA compared to 10,546 in 2008/2009 - an increase of 36 per cent.”

5,060 Lakes patients received a medical FSA in the last financial year, compared to 3,809 in 2008/2009 – a 33 per cent increase. 9,234 patients received a surgical FSA in the last financial year, compared to 6,737 in 2008/2009 - an increase of 37 per cent.

As a result of speeding up access to FSAs more Lakes patients are getting the operations they need. In the last financial year 4,035 elective surgeries were carried out, compared to 2,856 in 2007/2008 - a 41 per cent increase.

“While there is still more to be done, we are heading in the right direction. The answer to increased demand is to do more – whether it’s assessments or operations,” says Dr Coleman.

“These improvements are a credit to our dedicated health workforce, and are supported by the $400 million extra invested into health in Budget 2015.”

This is supported by the $54 million funding increase Lakes DHB has received over the last seven years. This includes $6 million in new money for this year, taking the DHB’s total funding to $304 million for 2015/2016.

ENDS

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