What are the overall quarter one 2014/15 health target results?
There are two key changes to the health target set in 2014/15. The Shorter waits for
cancer treatment health target is being replaced by the Faster cancer treatment
health target which came into effect on 1 October 2014. The other key change is an
increase in the immunisation target from 90 to 95 percent of all eight-month-olds to
be fully immunised by December 2014. This aligns with the Better Public Services
goal to meet and maintain 95 percent immunisation coverage for this group of
children through to 30 June 2017.
Nationally, three health targets have been met in quarter one:
 Improved access to elective surgery target (105% against a target of 100%)
 Shorter waits for cancer treatment (100% against a target of 100%)
 Better help for smokers to quit hospital target (95% against a target of 95%).
How did each health target perform?
Shorter stays in emergency departments
National performance in the Shorter stays in emergency department target
decreased by 1.2 percent to 92.7 percent. This is a strong result given the traditional
increase in acute presentations during the winter months and is the highest quarter
one result since the target began. Seven district health boards (DHBs) met the
target.
Improved access to elective surgery
The national Improved access to elective surgery target has been achieved with
42,343 elective surgical discharges provided, against a year-to-date target of 40,223.
This is 2,120 (5 percent) more than planned. Fourteen DHBs met the target. Ten of
these are 5 percent or more ahead of their target.
Shorter waits for cancer treatment
The Shorter waits for cancer treatment health target has been met during quarter
one. This means that all patients who were ready-for-treatment received their
radiotherapy or chemotherapy within four weeks. This follows 100 percent
achievement in quarters two, three and four, and 99.9 percent achievement in
quarter one of 2013/14. All DHBs met the 100 percent target.
Increased immunisation
The national coverage result for infant immunisation at 8 months of age was 92.4
percent, an increase of 0.8 percent on quarter four. Three DHBs have already met
the December 2014 target with at least 95 percent of eight-month-olds fully
immunised, and a further four DHBs had coverage of 94 percent at the end of
quarter one.
Better help for smokers to quit
National performance in the Better help for smokers to quit primary care target is
88.4 percent, a 2.6 percent increase compared with last quarter. Eight DHBs have
achieved the target and six more are achieving over 80 percent.
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The Better help to smokers to quit hospital target was achieved for the seventh
consecutive quarter with a result of 94.7 percent, a decrease of 1.0 percent on
quarter four. Fourteen DHBs met the 95 percent target.
More heart and diabetes checks
The national quarter one result for the More heart and diabetes checks target is
85.7 percent, an increase of 1.3 percent on last quarter’s final result. Five DHBs
achieved the 90 percent target this quarter and 14 DHBs are over 85 percent.
Increased immunisation health target
What vaccinations does the immunisation health target refer to?
The health target for 95 percent of infants to be fully immunised on time by
December 2014 refers to a 3-dose series of vaccinations intended to be given at 6
weeks, 3 months and 5 months of age. Whether the child is fully immunised is
measured at 8 months of age, by which time the child should have received the “6
week”, “3 month” and “5 month” doses.
Why has the immunisation target been set at 95 percent?
Immunisation not only provides individual protection but also population-wide
protection by reducing the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases and preventing
spread to vulnerable people. A high level of immunisation coverage (around 95
percent) is required to prevent community spread of two common infectious diseases
(measles and whooping cough). Immunisation coverage is also considered to be an
indicator of how well primary care services are reaching our children in New
Zealand. It is important that all of the health sector, including DHBs, primary health
organisations (PHOs) and general practices, aim at a minimum 95 percent coverage
for infant immunisation.
Faster cancer treatment health target
What is the new cancer health target?
The new Faster cancer treatment health target is that 85 percent of patients receive
their first cancer treatment (or other management) within 62 days of being referred
with a high suspicion of cancer and a need to be seen within two weeks by July
2016, increasing to 90 percent by June 2017.
Why is the new cancer health target being introduced?
The previous Shorter waits for cancer treatment health target focused on waiting
times for chemotherapy and radiotherapy and has been consistently achieved by all
DHBs.
The new target is much broader, covering the test and investigations needed to
confirm a diagnosis of cancer, through to all forms of treatment. This allows us, for
the first time, to monitor the whole journey for a cancer patient, from first referral to
first treatment.
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The target sits alongside a wide range of activities to ensure continued improvement
in the quality of cancer services and provides DHBs and the Ministry of Health with
an additional tool to monitor and increase that progress.
Why doesn't the new target cover all patients?
It is estimated that up to 25 percent of cancer patients will fall within the group
covered by the Faster cancer treatment health target. The remainder of cancer
patients are diagnosed through screening programmes, in the private sector, or an
acute presentation to hospital.
While the target only applies to a particular group of patients who come through an
outpatient pathway, monitoring of that pathway covers the breadth of services and
will help identify where improvements can be made that will benefit all cancer
patients.
Why isn't the target set at 100 percent?
A small proportion of patients will not begin treatment within 62 days based on
clinical evidence of what is most effective - for example if the patient developed an
infection before scheduled surgery. A small number of patients may also choose to
delay treatment because of personal circumstance.
Where did the 62-day timeframe come from?
The 62-day timeframe for cancer treatment to begin is based on measures used
internationally. In many cases patients will start treatment sooner. Within the 62
days a range of tests are likely to be carried out to confirm the diagnosis and extent
of the disease, and the case is likely to be discussed at a multidisciplinary meeting
that brings together health professionals from different specialties to recommend the
best course of treatment, followed by treatment planning and initiation.
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