46559 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

46559 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Further to his reply to Question 39607 (2025), what are all of the specialties that Health New Zealand have made significant progress in reducing elective treatment waiting lists and for each such specialty, by how much has the waiting list been reduced?

Hon Simeon Brown: As the Member will be aware, the waiting list for elective treatment had progressively grown to more than 83,000 people in previous years, but has now fallen to around 75,000. This improvement includes reductions across a range of specialties. I refer the member to the attached table and my press releases which are available on the Beehive website, which show some examples: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/fewer-kiwis-waiting-heart-and-lung-surgery-waikato; https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/faster-access-neurosurgery-south-islanders; https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/orthopaedic-waitlists-fall-across-central-north-island. While there is still a long way to go, these shifts mean more New Zealanders are getting the care they need faster.