The Southern Primary Health Organisation failed to meet targets for delivering primary health measures to high-needs patients in seven of nine categories in the six months to December 2011.
The PHO missed targets for high-needs patients in screening for breast and cervical cancer; cardiovascular risk assessments; diabetes follow-up after detection; flu vaccinations; recording smoking status and helping smokers quit. It exceeded targets for detecting ischemic cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
For the total population, the PHO met the target in four categories, but not in cardiovascular risk assessments, diabetes follow-up after detection, flu vaccinations, recording smoking status and helping smokers quit.
The primary health results, released late last week by District Health Boards New Zealand, were listed by DHB in league tables.
The results meant Southern District Health Board ranked 7th equal of 20 district health boards for breast screening high-needs patients, and 5th for breast screening the total population.
Other results by DHB: cervical cancer screening, high needs: equal 10, total population: equal 6; ischemic cardiovascular disease detection, high needs: 14, total population: 14; cardiovascular risk assessments, high needs: 14, total population: 16; diabetes detection, high needs: 16, total population: 16; diabetes follow-ups, high needs: 16, total population: 17; flu vaccinations, high needs: equal 5, total population: equal 6; smoking status recorded, high needs: 19, total population: 19; helping smokers quit, high needs: 7, other: 13.
Southern PHO chief executive Ian Macara could not be contacted.
High-needs patients are defined as Maori, Pacific Islanders, or from deprived areas.
