Monday 23 November 2009

Southland DHB’s health targets performance

Southland District Health Board exceeded targets and made significant health care delivery gains in the government’s key priority health target areas for the first quarter of 2009/10.

Each of the 2009/10 health targets reflects a priority health area for the government. The targets focus on improving the health sector’s performance, and ensuring our health and disability system is contributing to maintaining and improving health outcomes in these important areas.

Southland DHB met all three of the Minister of Health’s hospital performance focused targets, which aim to achieve shorter stays in the emergency department, improved access to elective surgery and shorter waits for cancer treatment.

Southland DHB Chief Operating Officer Lexie O’Shea said these results were indicative of excellent team work of Southland DHB staff and their commitment to improving health outcomes for Southlanders.

“These results are pleasing and we will continue to strive to improve in these areas.”

The other three health targets focus on preventative measures, with increased immunisation, better help for smokers to quit and better diabetes and cardiovascular services.

“The aim is for 80% of hospitalised smokers to be provided with help and advice to quit by July 2010 and we achieved 27% in the first quarter,” said Mrs O’Shea.

“This target is new and it has taken time to effectively collect the information about how many patients are being offered advice and help. Staff are offering smoking cessation advice and support but our biggest challenge is to retrieve the data to demonstrate this.”

Southland continued to have one of New Zealand’s highest rates of immunisation coverage for children turning two years old, with the DHB exceeding the target of 80% of two year olds being immunised by 10% and ranking third in the country.

Southland DHB also achieved a 64% progress improvement average for its diabetes and cardiovascular services and condition management.

Regional General Manager (Planning and Funding) David Chrisp said these results would be used as a baseline to measure future progress as it was the first time the DHB had gathered the information for this target.

“We will be working closely with the primary care sector (GP practices) to improve this result,” he said.

Targets information is also being published on the Ministry of Health website, www.moh.govt.nz

ENDS