Waikato DHB electives programme boosted

Waikato District Health Board has received half a million dollars in extra funding for three clinician-led programmes to speed up elective services for patients and reduce the number of cancelled operations. Health Minister, Tony Ryall says, "The way patients are prepared for surgery is being redesigned at Waikato, with nurses taking responsibility for patient assessments before surgery and managing the admission and discharge plan. "This frees up the surgeon's time, reduces delays, increases productivity and  significantly reduces day-of-surgery cancellations. "Waikato is a demonstration site for other DHBs wanting to re-design how they get patients prepared for elective surgery.

Health Minister Tony Ryall

"Waikato has also established an integrated operations centre, which puts key staff who manage hospital logistics together in the same office. It's modelled on airlines, who track aircraft on long distance flights. At any point on the journey, staff can see what's happening and make changes to improve performance and safety if needed.

"This government is protecting and growing the public health service. We have invested an extra $1.2 billion into health in two years, and we have made more elective surgery one of our top health priorities.

"After just over two years, we're giving operations to an extra 400 people every week, and with these programmes clinicians believe we can provide even more operations with the same resources," Mr Ryall says.

ENDS

Date: 22 March 2011

Media contact: Antony Byers 021 241 7449 or 04 817 9648