19778 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

19778 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Does the Minister intend to continue the initiative ‘Maintaining planned care capacity’ under ‘Priority Area 4: Maintaining Planned Care Under System Pressure’ within the Winter Preparedness Plan 2023?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised in addition to maintaining planned care capacity, Health New Zealand's system pressures plan is focused on specific actions for districts to protect planned care delivery during periods of higher acute demand, including though: • Day of surgery admissions. • Improving theatre efficiency and utilisation by driving down late starts and taking advantage of early finishes. • Using stand-by lists and reducing day of surgery hospital-initiated cancellations. • Standing up additional acute theatre capacity at periods of known peak demand.