[Sitting date: 26 November 2014. Volume:702;Page:5. Text is subject to correction.]

5. BARBARA KURIGER (National - Taranaki - King Country) to the Minister of Health : What reports has he received on progress on the National Health Targets?

Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health): The National Health Targets first quarter results have been released and are very strong. District health boards across the country provided 42,343 elective surgery discharges from July to September, 2,120 more than planned. Emergency departments also had the strongest winter performance since health targets were introduced, with 93 percent of all emergency department patients admitted, discharged, or transferred within 6 hours.

Barbara Kuriger : What changes are being made to the National Health Targets to deliver faster treatment for cancer patients?

Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN : This quarter all 20 district health boards ensured that all patients ready for treatment received their radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment within 4 weeks. From 1 October the Government introduced and will be reporting against a new faster cancer treatment target. Our goal is to ensure that by June 2017, 90 percent of patients will receive their first treatment within 62 days of seeing their general practitioner. That is the international gold standard for cancer treatment

ENDS

© Scoop Media