43849 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

43849 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What actions, if any, have been taken in the last quarter (January to March 2024) to implement the recommendation ‘Develop nationally consistent policies regarding “did not attend”. These policies should include the role of cultural support/culturally appropriate health navigation services’ as part of Te Whatu Ora Planned Care Taskforce Reset and Restore Plan?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that in the January to March 2024 quarter, Health New Zealand developed the Planned Care Patient Pathway initiative which will create consistent national standards for the operational management of referrals and appointments. This includes how missed appointments are managed. Health NZ has good examples of where cultural support and navigation services have been established; for example, Pacific health navigators in Waitemata district are partway through a project focused on reducing missed appointments. Learnings from this initiative will be shared across other hospitals with the increased focus on timely access to planned care.