Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman
Minister of Health
22 August 2017
Health targets improve outcomes in Southland
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the latest health target results show that Southern 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 Southern DHB continues to perform well, but there’s
always more to do.
“The latest health targets show that 90 per cent of patients were admitted, discharged or transferred from Southern 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 6
per cent. Southern DHB was close to the target, achieving 99 per cent.
“Southern DHB was 1 per cent from the Increased Immunisation Target for eight-month olds.
“The DHB improved from 78 per cent in the quarter 3 results for the Raising Healthy Kids Target to 87 per cent in
quarter 4, which is an increase of around 9 per cent.
“Further work is needed however on the Faster Cancer Treatment and the Better Help for Smokers to Quit targets.
“I’d like to acknowledge all the health professionals at Southern DHB for their continued hard work to improve key
health services for New Zealanders.”
These results are supported by the $226 million funding increase SouthernDHB has received over the last nine years.
Southern DHB received an extra $41 million in new money this year, taking the DHB’s total funding to $923 million 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