66578 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

66578 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What actions, if any, have been taken in the quarter April to June 2024 to implement the recommendation ‘Pathways and facilities that make access to diagnostic imaging easier should be prioritised in each region’ as part of Te Whatu Ora Planned Care Taskforce Reset and Restore Plan?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that during the April to June 2024 quarter, Health New Zealand progressed the following four actions to implement this recommendation: • Early work, including aligning eligibility criteria across Hutt Valley and Capital Coast, on a $30 million investment for community-referred radiology to deliver better access to services closer to home. This will allow GPs and other community providers to have direct access to x-rays, CT scans, and ultrasound without the need for patient co-payments. • A nationally consistent approach to the prioritisation of diagnostic imaging equipment to ensure more consistent access as part of capital planning. • Ongoing work on the Radiology Transformation Programme. • Collation of a national radiology dataset to assess current levels of access.