81021 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

81021 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has occurred to achieve the initiative 'Lift the number of people seen through improved clinic utilisation, clinic scheduling to treat long-waiters, and weekend clinics or regional transfers' included on page 14 of High Level Implementation Plans - Achieving the Health Targets, as at 16 December 2024?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that districts are putting a significant focus on improving clinic utilisation and the scheduling of long-waiting patients. This includes ensuring routine priority patients are booked in order of time waiting (noting urgent and semi-urgent patient cohorts are seen first), which is now able to be monitored at a district and specialty level. I am further advised that districts are also providing additional weekend clinics where required, such as recent Saturday clinics each month for general surgery, otorhinolaryngology, and gynaecology in Counties Manukau district.