Media release from Southern District Health Board

Southern District Health Board's Otago-based service has made steady heath care delivery gains in the government's key priority health target areas in 2009/10, according to end of year results released yesterday.

Each of the 2009/10 health targets reflects a priority health area for the government. The targets focus on improving the health sector's performance and ensuring our health and disability system is contributing to maintaining health outcomes in these important areas.

The quarter four results show the DHB ranked third in the country for increased immunisation rates for two year olds, with the team exceeding the target of 85 % of children in this age group being fully immunised by July 2010 by 8%.

The DHB also improved on its two other preventative measures focused targets - better diabetes and cardiovascular services and better help for smokers to quit.

The smoking cessation team made an impressive 37% gain in the number of hospitalised patients being provided advice and support to quit smoking since quarter one, with an end of year result of 52%.

Otago Chief Operating Officer Vivian Blake said she was very proud of the results and the on-going efforts DHB staff have made to improve in these priority areas.

"Everyone has worked extremely hard and it is reflected in these great results.

"While we still face many challenges, I am confident that with the team we have here at Otago we will continue to improve."

Otago continued to meet two of the hospital performance based targets, which aim to improve access to elective surgery and ensure shorter waits for cancer treatment radiotherapy.

However the target to ensure 95% of patients are admitted, discharged or transferred from an Emergency Department within six hours has remained a significant challenge. The DHB has introduced a number of initiatives such as simulation modelling and is considering patient stream mapping to help identify where our solutions will lie.   

Note: While the Otago and Southland DHBs merged on 1 May 2010 to form the Southern DHB, the organisation is reporting the former DHBs' individual health targets up to quarter four of 2009/10.

Southern DHB combined results will be reported from quarter one of 2010/11.