Health minister happy with local DHB result

Wairarapa DHB has won ministerial praise for meeting its 95 per cent target for immunisation coverage of eight-month-olds and 91 per cent for heart and diabetes checks. PHOTO/FILE

Latest health target results show Wairarapa DHB is making steady progress, says Health Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Dr Coleman commended Wairarapa DHB for meeting its 95 per cent target for immunisation coverage of eight-month-olds and for meeting 91 per cent for heart and diabetes checks.

"These results are a credit to the health professionals in Wairarapa," he said.

"The health targets are not just about numbers -- they are about delivering better faster access to services.

"Nationally, progress towards the new faster cancer treatment target improved 6 per cent, up to 75 per cent -- the biggest quarterly increase to date." While Wairarapa achieved 75 per cent, it had dropped from the previous quarter.

"Delivering better cancer services is a top priority for the Government. We've made significant progress since 2008 and patients are getting better faster cancer care."

Dr Coleman outlined possible improvements that could be made in Wairarapa including continuing to make progress on elective surgery and shorter stays in ED.

Results showing steady progress for Wairarapa DHB are supported by the $29 million funding increase that has been received over the last seven years.

This includes $6 million in new money for this year, taking the DHB's total funding to $135 million for 2015/2016.

This funding increase is assisted by the $400 million extra invested into health in Budget 2015.

The new childhood obesity health target will replace the more heart and diabetes checks target from July 1. Heart and diabetes checks will remain an accountability measure for DHBs to ensure the gains made are not lost.