Maori more likely to die after surgery - report on New Zealand's health system finds

A report published today has evaluated the state of our health system. Photo / 123RF

Maori are 60 per cent more likely to die after surgery and Maori mothers twice as likely to die in childbirth than their European counterparts, according to new report on the health system.

A report out today revealed glaring differences in health outcomes for Maori, Pasifika and lower socioeconomic communities.

The Health Quality and Safety Commission report found our health system delivers good quality care and value for money.

However, there are big differences in outcomes for Maori, Pasifika and those living in the most deprived populations, it found.

Commission health quality evaluation director Richard Hamblin said the disparities still existed once factors like socioeconomic status and multiple health conditions were taken into account.

The report also found "wide and unexplained variation" in access to treatments for individual diseases across the country.

However, fewer Kiwis were dying from conditions that can be treated and that
premature death and disability caused by ill health is reducing.

The burden of disease from premature death and disability was similar to most other English-speaking and Western European countries, but per-capita spending on health care was lower in New Zealand than in most of these countries.

There had also been significant and sustained decreases in falls in hospital, which can lead to other problems such as blood clots or broken bones.

"Where national programmes have concentrated on reducing harm, in most cases these harms have reduced."

Improving quality of care was good for Kiwis, helping them live longer, healthier lives, and saved money, the report found.

"We estimate that the subset of reduced harms and potentially wasted expenditure
covered in this report has led to avoided costs of $90 million, and additional value to New Zealanders of nearly $400m."