It is a target DHBs nationwide struggle to meet, and in recent months the SDHB has had to hold emergency clinics to address waiting lists for ophthalmology and urology services.
''It is a challenge, but it is something we are working collectively on,'' Michele Henderson said.
''I think that is one of the things coming newly into this role which is really exciting
to see, is all of the services working together to try and address those in a consistent manner.''
Mrs Henderson has a background in IT, and had worked for the SDHB in that field before joining the South Island Alliance to implement patient management systems across the South.
She described her new role as ''a huge balancing act'' where she and her team had to co-ordinate the availability of operating theatres, clinicians and patients and balance it against available resources.
''I think the important thing is equity, and making sure that patients are treated on an equitable basis, looking at what they are presenting with and making sure that we are looking at them in terms of their need and what we have the capacity to deliver,'' Mrs Henderson said.
''It is important that we are consistent and we are trying to use prioritisation tools to help ensure it's not just a personal perspective and that there are guidelines for us to determine what the criteria are for patients.''
The SDHB has prioritised elective procedures, for which it can claim revenue, as one way of addressing its sizeable budget deficit.
Work was already under way to explore expanding operating facilities in Dunedin Hospital and building an extra theatre in Southland Hospital, and that would continue, Mrs Henderson said.
''The organisation is trying really hard to find ways to free up capacity and so we are working alongside clinicians to identify where there are opportunities and, therefore, we can look to address some of the patients who have been waiting a long time and get them scheduled in ... but it also has to be financially sustainable.
''Our focus at the moment is looking at those patients who have been waiting a long time, as well managing the new people coming through who urgently require care.''
SDHB specialist services executive director Patrick Ng said the organisation would also continue outsourcing elective procedures to be performed at Mercy and Southern Cross hospitals.
''Outsourcing will be a key part of how we deliver out services going into the next financial year, and we have a new contact with Southern Cross Southland to do a regular weekly outpatient list down there.''
