1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,080 Speaker 1: The government's panning itself on the back for new data 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: showing it smashed its elective surgery targets. Sixteen thousand procedures 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: were done in June. By June thirty, I should say 4 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: that is far above the ten and a half thousand 5 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: that they promised. It includes more than five thousand cataracts, 6 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: six hundred and thirty eight hips, and seven hundred and 7 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: fifty one new knees. Simon Brown is the Health Minister 8 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: with us this morning. Minister, good morning, good morning. So yeah, 9 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: you're ahead of target. What does it mean for your 10 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: overall elective surgery target? 11 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 2: Well, overall, too many kiwis are still waiting too long. 12 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 2: Those are the number of people waiting on those wait 13 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 2: lists grew significantly in recent years and so the elective 14 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:44,239 Speaker 2: boost is designed to reduce those targets. Overall, though we've 15 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 2: seen a nine percent reduction in the overall number of 16 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 2: people waiting and an importantly a twenty two percent reduction 17 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 2: in the number of people waiting more than four months. 18 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:54,639 Speaker 2: And that's where we're really putting the effort into try 19 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 2: and make sure people can get seen in a more 20 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 2: timely manner. And that's where this sourcing arrangements in private 21 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 2: hospitals has been able to help support get those people 22 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 2: who have been waiting too long getting them seen sooner 23 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 2: so we can reduce those weightless. 24 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: So the target's ninety five percent of patients within four 25 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:13,119 Speaker 1: months by twenty thirty. What are you at now? 26 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 2: Correct? So we're still a long way from that target. 27 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 2: So ninety five percent of patient's being seen within four 28 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 2: months by twenty thirty. This puts us on track to 29 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 2: meet this year's milestone of sixty three percent. So, as 30 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,279 Speaker 2: I said at the start, too many people still waiting 31 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 2: too long, and that's why we've set another target for 32 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 2: this year of twenty one thousand additional surgeries this year 33 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 2: to continue making progress against those targets. 34 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: So what was it sixty three percent now? Is that 35 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: what you're saying? 36 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:42,320 Speaker 2: Correct? 37 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 1: And what was it when you came in, Well. 38 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 2: It dropped down to the Well, Unfortunately, the list kept 39 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 2: growing until about the beginning of this year, so it 40 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 2: dropped down to about fifty eight percent. And so this 41 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 2: has helped us to be able to catch up, but 42 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 2: we need to make we need to make signific can 43 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 2: progress in order to give keys that confidence that elective 44 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 2: surgeries can be delivered in a timely manner. And that's 45 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:10,079 Speaker 2: why we're partnering with private hospitals and making sure we're 46 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 2: maximizing what's delivered across both public hospitals and private hospitals 47 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 2: so that keys can get the treatment. And as I say, 48 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 2: I don't think many people really care who's delivering it. 49 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 2: They just want to I. 50 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: Don't think so either. I think you're right on that. 51 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 2: But the question couldn't get done. 52 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: The question has been around the private versus public pulling, 53 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: you know, the private pulling resources from the public. Has 54 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: the public kept up as selective surgery rates or are 55 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: they dropping as the private picks up the snack. 56 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 2: Now what we're seeing is we're seeing is additional surgery 57 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 2: is being delivered by making sure we're maximizing what's being delivered. 58 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 2: So we had a huge focus internally as well around 59 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 2: making sure we're maximizing theater rates sat A utilization, making 60 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 2: sure those surgeries are being done internally as well as 61 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 2: making sure we're outsourcing and maximizing what's being delivered so. 62 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: The rate the same. Are they doing the same or 63 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: more soies in public as they were previously pre private outsourcing, Well. 64 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 2: They're continuing to deliver what they planned within the public system. 65 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 2: This is about making sure we're delivering more by utilizing 66 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 2: our private hospitals, but also some of the investment we're 67 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 2: making is actually into some of Health New Zealand's own 68 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 2: surgical elective surgical hospitals as well. So Health New Zealand 69 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 2: has some of its own dedicated surgical hospitals which aren't 70 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 2: competing with its acute work. They've got two in Auckland. 71 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,079 Speaker 2: They've got Totra Homo Doo on the North Shore, they've 72 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 2: got the Manicap Health Park. It's also Burward Hospital in 73 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 2: christ Church. As some of those investments actually going also 74 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 2: into our own surgical hospitals to expand what they can deliver, 75 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 2: which are dedicated to getting as much elective surgery done 76 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 2: through the public system as well. 77 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: So I mean Brown, I appreciate your time this morning, 78 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: Health Minister. Sixty three percent targets ninety percent. There's still 79 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: a way to go, though they've given themselves a few 80 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:55,839 Speaker 1: years to get there. 81 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 2: For more from Early edition with Ryan Bridge, Listen live 82 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 2: to news Talks it'd be from five am weekdays, or 83 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 2: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.