Bay of Plenty District Health Board has failed to meet targets for cataract operations, the Labour Party says.
The party has hit out at the Government today, saying increases in elective surgery were not keeping up with the growth in the number of elderly people in New Zealand.
"The Government can go on saying they are doing more cataract and joint operations but the truth is that they are not keeping pace with demographics as the baby boomers reach retirement age," said Labour health spokeswoman Annette King.
Disturbingly over the same period, the growth rate of people over 65 using our district health boards has increased by 16.2 per cent.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has said that district health boards have exceeded his targets for increasing the number of elective surgeries. The Budget last May committed $98 million over several years to provide more elective surgery and improve the prevention and treatment of orthopaedic conditions.