81023 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

81023 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has occurred to achieve the initiative 'Release capacity by eliminating unnecessary follow-ups through developing alternative outpatient models of care (e.g., patient-directed follow-ups, default follow-up pathways, virtual and remote monitoring, telehealth)' 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 regions are implementing initiatives such as patient-directed follow-ups. These are already used by many services within the Northern region, and the approach is to be applied across Te Manawa Taki and Te Waipounamu. I am further advised that a recent review of operational data indicated that 15% of follow-ups provided across the country were delivered by telehealth.