Government Meets Key Healthcare Milestones, Acknowledges Challenges
Health Minister Simeon Brown has praised the healthcare system's progress, with the Government meeting three out of five key milestones in its first year. Improvements in waiting times and treatment initiation have been noted.
The Government has achieved a significant milestone with 63.9% of patients now waiting less than four months for elective treatment. This meets the set target and reflects the Elective Boost plan's success, which added over 16,000 procedures between February and June, helping to reduce wait times.
In another positive development, 90% of patients are receiving cancer treatment within 31 days of the decision to treat. This demonstrates a notable improvement in cancer care services.
However, challenges persist. While 62% of patients are waiting less than four months for a first specialist assessment, the Government acknowledges that more work is needed to meet all its health promises. Additionally, the six-hour target for emergency department patients was narrowly missed, with 73.9% of patients admitted, discharged, or transferred within the required timeframe.
In the realm of child immunisation, while 82% of children were immunised at 24 months of age this quarter, this falls short of the 95% target. Regional disparities are evident, with Northland having the lowest immunisation rates at 62.3%.
The Government's healthcare initiatives have shown promising results, particularly in reducing elective treatment wait times and improving cancer care. However, there is still significant work required to meet all health milestones, especially in child immunisation and emergency department performance. Minister Brown has acknowledged these challenges and committed to continued efforts to improve the healthcare system.
