39308 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

39308 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter January to March 2024 on the recommended focus area ‘Increase utilisation of modernised booking and scheduling tools, including patient led bookings to better meet the needs of patients and whānau’ under ‘System-wide solution 5: Coordination and support services’ in the Cancer Control Agency ’Cancer Services Planning’ document?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that substantial work is underway to define national standards and policy for operational access, booking and waitlist processes. The goal for Health New Zealand is to reduce variation between districts and regions and provide patients with greater certainty that their referral will be managed in the same way no matter where they live. This area will also be further considered within the cancer services planning work that is under development.