NMDHB is achieving well in most of the six national health targets set by the Ministry of Health.

The targets, set earlier this year, covered: Emergency Department waiting times, Smoking Cessation and support offered to patients in hospitals, Diabetes care, diagnosis, and management, access Elective Services, increased Immunisation, and Cancer treatment times.

The targets were negotiated by each DHB and took into account the health needs of the district. Collectively these targets contributed to a national improvement in each area.

NMDHB is achieving well in most of the six national health targets set by the Ministry of Health.

The targets, set earlier this year, covered: Emergency Department waiting times, Smoking Cessation and support offered to patients in hospitals, Diabetes care, diagnosis, and management, access Elective Services, increased Immunisation, and Cancer treatment times.

The targets were negotiated by each DHB and took into account the health needs of the district. Collectively these targets contributed to a national improvement in each area.

NMDHB General Manager Planning and Funding, Dr Sharon Kletchko said, "Overall we are pleased with the NMDHB first quarter results for National Health Targets.

"The DHB is achieving well in most areas, however we do have concerns about data collection and transfer in areas of diabetes detection and we are working through this and expect figures from the 09/10 year to show improvement."

The third place in Cancer Waiting Times represents one person on the Capital and Coast list for Radiation Oncology and two people on the Canterbury DHB list who were seen outside the six weeks target but within eight weeks. 

Dr Kletchko said, "We accept that this is not good enough and will continue to work with both cancer centres monthly to determine what steps can be taken to improve patient waiting times."