SCDHB

South Canterbury DHB continues to show good results in meeting the government's health targets.

The quarter three results, from January to March this year, have been released by the Minister of Health today.

South Canterbury DHB has placed second in the country for childhood immunisation and helping hospitalised smokers to quit. Improvement has also been made in the provision of cardiovascular and diabetes services to patients.

Chief Executive Chris Fleming says everyone is pleased to see the positive results.

"By and large we are doing very well. The cardiovascular/diabetes target continues to improve but more work is needed and the DHB is working with general practices on this.

"For the first time this quarter, the target for providing radiation treatment to cancer patients has changed from 'within six weeks' to 'within four weeks'.This challenges us to provide a higher level of care to cancer patients in South Canterbury, and they will benefit from it," Mr Fleming says. "Timely access to cancer treatment is vital."

Following the Christchurch earthquake, all Nelson/Marlborough, West Coast and South Canterbury cancer patients needing radiotherapy were referred to either Southern (Dunedin) or Capital and Coast (Wellington) DHBs.  As a result, five South Island patients waited greater than four weeks for radiation treatment. One of those patients was from South Canterbury and that person received treatment shortly after the four week deadline. Due to our small population size, that single patient accounts for our Health Target result of treating 97% of cancer radiation therapy patients within four weeks instead of 100%.

Frequently Asked Questions about Health Target Results

What are the overall quarter three health target results?

Nationally the quarter three 2010/11 health target results show performance improvement across all of the health target areas.

The national state of emergency due to the Christchurch earthquake in February, and subsequent movement of people and services out of Christchurch had an impact on health target performance for all DHBs this quarter. This impact will continue to be felt for some time.  In light of these circumstances, the health target results represent excellent performance particularly for Canterbury DHB.

How did each health target perform nationally?

Shorter Stays in Emergency Departments

There was continued improvement in the shorter stays in emergency department target with a 0.7 percent increase to 88.9 percent compared to 88.2 percent for quarter two 2010/11 and 80.3 in quarter one 2009/10.

Improved Access to Elective Surgery

The national improved access to elective surgery target has been achieved, with 104,404 elective surgical discharges provided year to date, against a target of 102,859 discharges. This is 1545 (2 percent) more than planned. 

Shorter Waits for Cancer Treatment Radiotherapy

Nationally, 99 percent of patients received their cancer treatment within four weeks of their first specialist radiation oncology assessment.  

Increased Immunisation

The total immunisation coverage rate for children turning 24 months has increased to 89 percent. Compared with quarter two 2010/11, this is an improvement of 0.5 percent for the increased immunisation target.

Better Help for Smokers to Quit

Further progress has been made in the better help for smokers to quit target with the national average increasing from 70 percent in quarter two to 74 percent of smokers receiving help and advice to quit nationally. 

Better Diabetes and Cardiovascular Services

National composite performance continues to make progress in the better diabetes and cardiovascular services health target with an increase of 0.3 per cent this quarter to 73 percent. 

Most DHBs are on track to achieve their targets in the performance of CVD risk indicators and diabetes free annual checks indicator.

DHBs are currently having less success achieving their 2010/11 targets for diabetes management, but nationally performance in this indicator did improve this quarter.

How has the move to a new four week cancer target gone this quarter?

Nationally, 99 percent of patients who were ready for treatment received their radiation treatment within four weeks of their first specialist radiation oncology assessment.  Twenty-one patients waited more than four weeks for capacity reasons but all were treated within six weeks.

This is the first quarter the results of the four week cancer treatment target have been publicly reported.  As a transition to the new target, both the four and six week results have been included in the national table of DHB performance.

For more information contact:

Arlene Goss

Communications Manager, South Canterbury District Health Board

Private Bag 911, Timaru

Ph: 03 687 2395, Fax: 03 688 0238, Mobile:  027 276 4259