Health board doing 'very well'

New Minister of Health Dr Jonathan Coleman (left) with DHB chairman Deryck Shaw (centre left) , chief executive Ron Dunham (far right) and Rotorua MP Todd McClay. Photo / Stephen Parker

The Lakes District Health Board is in great shape, but there's still plenty to do to help people with health issues in the region, according to new Minister of Health Dr Jonathan Coleman.

The MP for Northcote, a former surgeon, is also Minister for Sport and Recreation and is in the middle of a 20-district health board tour to engage with doctors, nurses and management around the country.

"I had a meeting with a range of clinical staff from both within the hospital and also, most importantly, from out in the community ... and also a long meeting with the chair and the chief executive.

"This DHB [district health board] is actually performing very well.

"They've had a 46 per cent increase in elective surgery here over the last six years and an extra 32 doctors and 19 nurses striving to meet those six health targets which we've set.

Dr Coleman said "There's still some improvement that could be made in the primary care area around the stop smoking and cardio-vascular disease and diabetes targets.

"The ED [Emergency Department] is doing well, but could still lift its performance a bit.

"But the impression I'm getting is that you have a very well managed health board here and, very importantly, a very committed staff working in clinical areas."

Dr Coleman said he had met some very dedicated doctors and nurses, "the people in Rotorua are getting a great service from their DHB".

He said the Lakes region also had more specific needs like access for children to long-term quality health care and high rates of diabetes.

"Health is one of those things that never stands still, we've still got to get more services out in primary care to keep up with demand.

"There are also big challenges around obesity and getting more mental health services in the communities and the concerns about diabetes."

Lakes DHB chairman Deryck Shaw said it was a positive visit.

"We gave him the opportunity to speak to our clinicians who are at the coalface, spoke to him about our current situation and future priorities and took him on a tour of our facilities.

"We are very proud with what we have done at Lakes and it's been very positive from our perspective while we are always looking to improve."