43855 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

43855 (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 ‘Confirm an explicit prioritisation framework for restarting services that have been deferred’ as part of Te Whatu Ora Planned Care Taskforce Reset and Restore Plan?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that districts and regions work hard to ensure deferred patients receive a date for treatment as soon as it is available, and that this is part of current BAU practice for operational managers within district services. I am further advised that during the January to March 2024 quarter, work commenced on developing a national operational access, booking, and waitlist management policy through the Planned Care Patient Pathway. This will set clear standards on how deferred patients are to be managed.