What are the overall quarter one 2016/17 health target results?
Quarter one results show that the improved access to elective surgery target was met again this quarter at the national level. The maternity component of the better help for smokers to quit target was also met. The faster cancer treatment targetresult increased by 4.1 percent to 78.0 percent and the increased immunisation target result increased slightly by 0.4 percent to 93.2 percent. The shorter says in emergency departments and better help for smokers to quit (primary care) targets had small decreases in performance compared to quarter four 2015/16. In the first quarter that the raising healthy kids target is being publicly reported as a health target the confirmed national result is 49.0 percent.
How did each health target perform?
Shorter stays in emergency departments
The quarter one shorter stays in emergency departments (ED) health target result shows that93.1 percent of patients were admitted, discharged or transferred from an emergency department (ED) within six hours this quarter. This result is 0.8 percent less than the quarter four result, but 0.7 percent higher than the result for the same quarter 2015/16. Eight DHBs achieved the 95 percent target this quarter compared with 10 DHBs in quarter four.
Improved access to elective surgery
The improved access to elective surgery health target has been achieved this quarter with 51,622 elective surgical discharges provided, against a year-to-date plan of 49,227. This is 2,395 (4.9 percent) more than planned. Eleven DHBs are 5 percent or more ahead of their quarter one target and six DHBs are behind plan.
Faster cancer treatment
National achievement for the faster cancer treatment target is 78.0 percent this quarter, an increase of 4.1 percent from last quarter. Data is based on six months rolling data and includes patients who received their first cancer treatment between 1 April and 30 September 2016. Waitemata DHB is the first DHB to achieve the target, with a result of 86.3 percent this quarter.
The Ministry is continuing to monitor DHB performance against the previous cancer health target, shorter waits for cancer treatment. During quarter one 2016/17 no patients ready for treatment waited longer than four weeks for radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Increased immunisation
National immunisation coverage at age eight months was 93.2 percent in quarter one, a 0.4 percent increase compared with quarter four 2015/16. Of the 14,737 eligible children aged eight months in quarter one, 13,735 were fully immunised.Timely immunisation of another 266 children was needed to meet the target. Six DHBs achieved the 95 percent increased immunisation target, and a further six DHBs had immunisation coverage of 94 percent.
Better help for smokers to quit
The national better help for smokers to quit primary care target result is86.6 percent this quarter, a 1.5 percent decrease from the quarter four result. One DHB (Lakes) achieved the 90 percent target this quarter. Seven PHOs achieved the target, with 33 PHOs performing at 80 percent or higher.
From quarter one 2015/16 the target has shifted its focus to the entire enrolled population of people who smoke and not only those seen in primary care and covers advice provided over 15 months, instead of 12 months.
The better help for smokers to quit maternity target result was91.6 percent this quarter.
The better help for smokers to quit hospital target is no longer a health target, results will continue to be reported on the Ministry of Health’s website, along with the maternity target result
Raising healthy kids
This is the first quarter that raising healthy kids is being publicly reported as a health target. The target is that by December 2017, 95 percent of obese children identified in the B4 School Check (B4SC) programme will be offered a referral to a health professional for clinical assessment and family based nutrition, activity and lifestyle interventions. The national quarter one result is 49.0 percent. The Ministry is working with DHBs and their sector partners to support target implementation.
Why do the national DHB results differ from the national PHO immunisation health target results?
This quarter the national primary health organisation (PHO)increased immunisation target result is different from the national DHB result.Immunisation coverage at age eight months was 94.1 percent for children enrolled in PHOs, and 17 PHOs have target coverage of 95 percent or higher. This result is higher than the overall DHB result of 93.2percent because the DHB result also includes unenrolled children and immunisation rates are lower among unenrolled children compared with those enrolled with a PHO.
What are the changes to health targetsin 2016/17?
The better help for smokers to quit hospital target is no longer a health target, results will continue to be reported on the Ministry’s website
The more heart and diabetes checks results are no longer reported as a health target. From July 2016 results have been included as a DHB accountability measure and results continue to be made available on the Ministry’s website
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