MEDIA RELEASE

August 27, 2013

Performance remains strong in key health targets

Canterbury District Health Board’s performance in key health targets has remained strong with more people receiving complex surgeries than ever before.

According to the fourth quarter results of the national health targets released today, the Canterbury District Health Board met or exceeded four of the seven government targets to end the 2012-2013 financial year.

David Meates, CDHB chief executive, says ongoing efforts from those across the health system continued to pay dividends in the health targets performance.

“Amazing efforts have been made despite the challenges of living and working in and around construction zones post earthquakes,” Mr Meates says.

“We have seen impressive gains, particularly in ensuring more people get their operations in a timely manner or receive the critical cancer treatment they desperately need as soon as possible.”

However, Mr Meates says reduced hospital capacity post quakes has meant the Emergency Department target has been harder to achieve over the last four quarters.

“We reached the target, but it’s taken a massive whole health system effort to maintain patient flow through our system.

“Strategies to care for people in the community remain highly successful, and the hospital’s new Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU) has now opened, the ED target will continue to be challenging until more capacity comes on line with the hospital rebuild programme.”

Mr Meates says the Canterbury health system has achieved a lot in the last year, but still has a long way to go.

“I am impressed with the continued efforts the primary health teams have made to improve results in the smokers and heart health checks targets. It’s good to see steady progress being made. Improvements to the way this data is recorded should see further increases next quarter.

Mr Meates says the next year will bring even more challenges as the health system heads into another challenging year of post earthquake recovery.

“It will take ongoing focus and commitment from across the health system to maintain the best patient care possible,” Mr Meates says.

How CDHB performed:

Shorter Stays in Emergency Departments

Target: 95%
Canterbury: 95%

Improved Access to Elective Surgery

Target:16,110
Canterbury: Achieved 106% of the full-year electives health target, delivering 17,066 elective surgeries.

Shorter Waits for Cancer Treatment

Target: 100%
Canterbury: 100%

Increased Immunisation

Target: 85%
Canterbury: 92%

Better Help for Hospitalised Smokers to Quit

Target: 95%
Canterbury: 93%

Primary Care Better help for Smokers to Quit

Target: 90%
Canterbury: 35%

Primary Care More Heart and Diabetes Checks

Target: 75%
Canterbury: 33%

Further information on the Quarter 4 Health Targets is available here:
For the 2012-13 Quarter Four Health Target results click here.
For FAQs click here.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Canterbury DHB

CDHB

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is a Christchurch, New Zealand based hospital and healthcare provider for the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Our region extends from Kekerengu in the North, to Rangitata in the South and Arthurs Pass in the West and comprises the six Territorial Local Authorities of Kaikoura, Hurunui, Waimakariri, Christchurch City, Selwyn and Ashburton.

We collaborate with other health and disability organisations, stakeholders and our community to decide what health and disability services are needed and how to best use the funding we receive from Government to improve, promote and protect the health, wellbeing and independence of our population.

At the Canterbury DHB, our vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Canterbury.

CONTACT CANTERBURY DHB

• Website - www.cdhb.govt.nz
• Media Contact - Amy Milne

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