Minister praises patient care

Minister of Health Tony Ryall paid a visit to Wairarapa visiting the hospital and Masterton Medical centre.

He said the Wairarapa district health board has been one of the best performers in the country for a long time.

Mr Ryall had a short tour around the medical centre on Monday, chatting to staff before heading off to Whaiora health centre.

He was visiting as Masterton Medical is the biggest practice in New Zealand, Mr Ryall said.

His visit was also partly to recognise the hospital emergency department's success at reaching the Shorter Stays in Emergency Departments (EDs) national health target, which started five years ago.

"Wairarapa patients have some of the best ED care in the country," Mr Ryall said.

Nationally this quarter, 94 per cent of patients were admitted, discharged or transferred from EDs within six hours, a huge improvement of 30 per cent when compared to 2008, he said.

Mr Ryall said Wairarapa has one of the most advanced record systems in the country with the Shared Care Record project.

This means that if someone arrives in ED or needs after hours medical care at another practice, clinicians can see a summary of that person's GP's medical notes.

It reduces risk for patients and helps clinicians to treat patients faster and more confidently.

It also means patients doesn't have to explain their situation over and over to different staff, said Mr Ryall.

On Monday, the DHB announced that patients at Greytown and Featherston Medical Centres can now reap the benefits of shared records. This means 95 per cent of patients in the Wairarapa will now have a "shared care record".

Carterton, Whaiora, Martinborough and Masterton Medical Centres have been taking part in this project since it was launched in 2011.

Only registered health professionals have access to the Shared Care Record and only for the purpose of caring for a patient. Patients at participating practices can opt out of the project at any time.