Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman
Minister of Health
22 August 2017
Health targets improve outcomes in Auckland
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the latest health target results show that Auckland DHB is making good progress.
“Under this Government the six national health targets have helped to drive improvement in performance across the health
system,” says Dr Coleman.
“These publically reported targets make a real difference to the quality of care in the health system and have saved
lives.
“The latest health target results for April to June 2017 show that Auckland DHB continues to perform well, but there’s
always more to do.
“The latest health targets show that 93 per cent of patients were admitted, discharged or transferred from Auckland DHB
EDs within six hours through the Shorter Stays in EDs Target.
“Recent New Zealand research found that this target is saving lives, with around 700 fewer deaths than predicted in 2012
if pre-target trends continue.
“Nationally the Improved Access to Elective Surgery Target of 100 per cent was again achieved, this time surpassed by
six per cent. Auckland DHB was close to the target, achieving 98 per cent.
“Auckland DHB met the Increased Immunisation Target for eight-month olds. The DHB surpassed the Better Help for Smokers
to Quit target, achieving 92 per cent and also achieved 100 per cent of the Raising Healthy Kids Target.
“Further work is needed however on the Faster Cancer Treatment Target which is just 4 per cent shy of the goal of 85 per
cent of patients receiving their first treatment within 62 days of a high suspicion of cancer.
“I’d like to acknowledge all the health professionals in Auckland for their continued hard work to improve key health
services for New Zealanders.”
These results are supported by the $436 million funding increase Auckland DHB has received over the last nine years.
Auckland DHB received an extra $69 million in new money this year, taking the DHB’s total funding to $1.413 billion for
2017/18.
Overall an extra $888 million has been invested into the health sector this year taking the health budget to a record
$16.8 billion in 2017/16.
The results for Quarter 4 2016/17 can be found at:http://www.health.govt.nz/new-zealand-health-system/health-targets
ends