44329 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

44329 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What actions, if any, have been taken in the quarter (January to March 2024) to implement the recommendation ‘As per the planned care Directive from Te Whatu Ora, scheduling must address those patients waiting over 365 days with priority within this group to Māori and Pacific. Actively tackle long waiting lists and schedule ESPI 5 patients waiting >12 months by 31 Aug 2022’ as part of Te Whatu Ora Planned Care Taskforce Reset and Restore Plan?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that during the January to March 2024 quarter, districts and regions maintained an operational focus on reducing the number of patients waiting >365 days for treatment. Districts established individual-level plans for each long-waiting patient and monitored the reduction in long-waiting patients by ethnicity. The percentage of long-waiters, by ethnicity, service, and region is monitored routinely through Health New Zealand's National Planned Care dashboard.