66587 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

66587 (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 ‘Develop tools to assess unmet need’ as part of Te Whatu Ora Planned Care Taskforce Reset and Restore Plan?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that assessing unmet need is challenging for health systems globally. Health New Zealand acknowledges unmet need exists, particularly for more rural communities or communities where higher deprivation exists. I am further advised that improving data, including by developing the capability to capture referral decline rates consistently at a national level, will help Health NZ to assess unmet need more accurately.