Taranaki District Health Board Health Targets

20 May 2010

The third quarter results of the Government's new health targets have been published in newspapers and on the Ministry of Health website www.health.govt.nz/healthtargets.

The Taranaki health sector continues working towards the targets, which are indicative of a wider range of services and efforts in priority areas.

“We are committed to working towards achieving the targets, while recognising there are areas for improvement,” said Planning and Funding, and Population Health General Manger Sandra Boardman.

She says a focus on the six key areas is important to continue to improve health, reduce inequalities and improve the quality of health services for local people. “The targets provide a useful indication of how we are doing.”

The health targets for quarter three are:

1) Shorter Stays in ED:  Target 95%  Achieved 94%
An Acute Pathway Project is underway to identify and reduce the barriers in achieving the target of shorter stays in our emergency departments. In this quarter, despite increasing numbers of patients attending the ED, we have maintained a 94% achievement of this target. Further improvement will take a whole of hospital view and the cooperation and intensive effort of all services.  

2) Improved Access to Elective Surgery:  Target 100% Achieved 98%
We are close to meeting this target but there have been various factors inhibiting the complete delivery of the elective targets over the past quarters. Contingency planning has occurred and we are moving towards this target by financial year end.

3) Shorter Waits for Cancer Treatment:  Target 100% Achieved 100%
We plan to continue our collaborative relationship with MidCentral DHB to maintain the 100% cancer waiting time target.

4) Increased Immunisation:  Target 85% Achieved 86%
Increasing immunisation rates continue to be a priority in order to reduce the incidence of preventable disease in our community. The DHB is working closely with the three PHOs in Taranaki to educate and inform the community on the benefits and importance of immunisation.

5) Better Help for Smokers to Quit:  Target 80% Achieved 19%
In the past, clinical staff have not always recorded when they give advice to patients about the dangers of smoking and the benefits of cessation. We have introduced new documentation to make it easier for staff to record this. We are also promoting the recommended ABC approach to smoking cessation to staff.

6) Better Diabetes and Cardiovascular:  Target: Achieved 75%
Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are among the main causes of ill health in Taranaki. The DHB supports the PHOs in ensuring there are services in place to meet this target. There have been successful initiatives within Primary Care towards achieving this target.

Please attribute comments about targets 4 and 6 to Planning and Funding, and Population Health General Manger Sandra Boardman and targets 1,2,3 and 5 to Clinical Services Manager Rosemary Clements.

If you have any queries please contact:

Sue Carrington
Taranaki DHB
Media Adviser
Ph 021 367 789

Last updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2011