Health Minister Tony
Ryall's decision to publish tables showing whether district
health boards are meeting targets has been welcomed by Otago
board chairman .
"I think it is a wonderful idea, and [it] will show how well
Otago does perform in relation to national standards."
If the board was shown to be "dragging the chain in some
areas" it would deserve criticism, he said.
One of the targets the Otago board has been unable to meet is
the requirement that 95% of patients are admitted, discharged
or transferred within six hours of arriving at a hospital
emergency department.
Mr Millar said it would be interesting for people to see how
Otago compared with other parts of the country on this
target.
Of the six health targets, which will be published in
newspapers, three focus on reducing patient waiting times in
public hospitals: more elective surgery, faster cancer
treatment and shorter waits in emergency departments (EDs).
In response to an Otago Daily Times query, Mr Ryall's office
advised that the tables were expected to be cost neutral, or
close to it.
- elspeth.mclean@odt.co.nz
