UPDATE TO THE 2014/15 PLANNING GUIDELINES
5 MAY 2014
The following items are included in this advice:








Health Target and Performance Measures Definitions
Accelerated Chest Pain Pathway
Shorter Stays in Emergency Departments˟
Improving Quality
Reduced incidence of Rheumatic Fever
Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health Project
Diabetes and Long-term Conditions
Maternal and Child Health
Health Target and performance measure definitions. (The amended documents have been
attached to the 2014/15 Updates to the CFA Schedules
Key updates:
1. Information on the transition to new cancer health target and changes to PP30: Faster
cancer treatment
Further clarification is included on Health Target and indicator definitions, including how the
62 day indicator will transition into a health target:
Part A: Faster cancer treatment
– 62 day indicator
This indicator will be included within PP30
for quarter one 2014/15 only
From quarter two 2014/15 this indicator
will become a health target.
Part B: Faster cancer treatment
– 31 day indicator
Part C: Shorter waits for cancer treatment
– radiotherapy and chemotherapy
This indicator will be included within PP30
for all quarters of 2014/15.
This indicator will be included within PP30
from quarter two 2014/15 (transitioning
from health target).
2. PP6: Improving the health status of people with severe mental illness through improved
access
It was proposed that this measure was refocused in 2014/15 towards ‘Improving the health
status of people with severe mental illness through improved HoNOS collection rates’. It has
subsequently been decided to revert back to the previous PP6 access measure.
3. PP28: Reducing Rheumatic fever
Addition of requirement to provide a report on root cause analysis of every rheumatic fever
case, including actions taken and lessons learned. Clarification that DHBs with a lower
incidence of rheumatic fever are not required to report against their Rheumatic Fever
Prevention Plan.
Accelerated Chest Pain Pathway
A letter was sent by Dr Gerry Devlin (Chair of the National Cardiac Network) to DHB CEs on 7
April enclosing a general framework to guide the development of Accelerated Chest Pain
Pathways (ACPPs) in Emergency Departments. RSPs and DHB Annual Plans need to
incorporate this advice.
Shorter Stays in Emergency Departments
The Ministry recommends that as a minimum, DHBs take a staged approach to
implementing
the framework from 2014/15:
· During quarter one 2014/15, DHBs need to have in place an initial quality framework for
their ED which incorporates the quality measures outlined in the framework. The DHB’s
framework must be appropriately structured (structure refers to what is there to do the
job eg, people and plant) and developed according to the framework and the needs of
the DHB in improving quality. DHBs need also to be assessing their own performance
against the mandatory measures defined in the framework.
· By quarter three 2014/15, DHBs need be measuring and responding to all the mandatory
measures, and adding non-mandatory measures to provide a more comprehensive
approach to quality.
A copy of the document “A Quality Framework and Suite of Quality Measures for the ED
Phase of Acute Patient Care in NZ” can be accessed from the Updates to the 2014/15 DHB
Planning Guidelines
Improving Quality
A sector workshop was held at the end of February to review the 2013/14 Quality Accounts.
Further advice resulting from this workshop will be sent out by the HQSC by end of May
2014.
Reduced incidence of Rheumatic Fever
A template was sent to DHBs on 10 April 2014 for reporting on the lessons learned and
actions taken following the root cause analysis to the Ministry each quarter. The template is
available from the Updates to the 2014/15 DHB Planning Guidelines
Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health Project
The expectation to expand the use of HEEADSSS Wellness Checks in schools and primary
settings has been removed from the DHB Annual Plan guidance. Training will be available
during 2014/15 for the sector.
Diabetes and Long-term Conditions
DHBs to comment on quality improvements required for better outcomes for people with
diabetes as identified in the Health Quality and Safety Commission Atlas of Healthcare
Variation for Diabetes.
Maternal and Child Health
DHBs are expected to begin implementing the national guideline for the screening, diagnosis
and management of gestational diabetes once it has been published in 2014/15. There will
be further communication during quarter one.