More MidCentral patients receive specialist assessments

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says new data shows a record number of MidCentral patients received a medical or surgical First Specialist Assessment (FSA) in the last year.

“Increasing access to specialist care has been a priority for this Government. New data shows more New Zealanders than ever before are receiving FSAs,” says Dr Coleman.

“Across the country around 10 per cent of New Zealanders had one or more FSAs in the last financial year for either medical or surgical needs.

“In the last financial year 24,895 MidCentral patients received a medical or surgical FSA compared to 19,474 in 2008/2009 - an increase of 28 per cent.”

9,914 MidCentral patients received a medical FSA in the last financial year, compared to 6,320 in 2008/2009 – a 57 per cent increase. 14,981 patients received a surgical FSA in the last financial year, compared to 13,154 in 2008/2009 - an increase of 14 per cent.

As a result of speeding up access to FSAs more MidCentral patients are getting the operations they need. In the last financial year 6,985 elective surgeries were carried out, compared to 4,782 in 2007/2008 - a 46 per cent increase.

“While there is still more to be done, we are heading in the right direction. The answer to increased demand is to do more – whether it’s assessments or operations,” says Dr Coleman.

“These improvements are a credit to our dedicated health workforce, and are supported by the $400 million extra invested into health in Budget 2015.”

This is supported by the $98 million funding increase MidCentral DHB has received over the last seven years. This includes $9 million in new money for this year, taking the DHB’s total funding to $559 million for 2015/2016.

ENDS

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