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Health Target questions and answers

What are Health Targets?

Health Targets are a set of national performance measures specifically designed to improve the performance of health services. They provide a focus for action.

The impact they make can be measured to see how they are improving health for all New Zealanders.

Health Targets were introduced to the New Zealand health system in 2007/08.

They are reviewed annually to ensure they align with government health priorities.

Why these Health Targets?

Each of the Health Targets reflects a priority health area for the government. The targets focus on improving the health sector’s performance, and ensure our health and disability system is contributing to maintaining and improving health outcomes in these important areas.

Who is responsible for the Health Targets?

The Ministry of Health and the district health boards (DHBs) are collectively responsible for the Health Targets.

DHBs have negotiated local targets taking into consideration the health needs of their communities. Collectively these targets contribute to a national improvement in each area.

In addition, the Ministry of Health has appointed ‘Target Champions’ who work with and provide support to the health sector.

What support will the Ministry of Health give to DHBs?

Health Target Champions have been appointed to work with and provide support to the health and disability sector, and to be an identifiable point of contact.

A series of health target booklets have been developed to highlight some of the different innovative approaches taken to improve services related to achieving the Health Targets. The booklets aim to share professional learnings across each of the six health target areas. Copies of the booklets are available at:

Who are the Target Champions?

  • Shorter stays in Emergency Departments
    Professor Mike Ardagh, National Clinical Director of Emergency Department Services
  • Improved access to elective surgery
    Clare Perry, Manager, Electives
  • Shorter waits for cancer treatment
    Dr Andrew Simpson, National Clinical Director, Cancer Programme
  • Increased immunisation
    Dr Pat Tuohy, Chief Advisor, Child and Youth Health
  • Better help for smokers to quit
    Karen Evison, National Programme Manager
    John McMenamin Co-Target Champion (Primary Care)
  • More heart and diabetes checks
    Helen Rodenburg,  Clinical Director - Long Term Conditions

How will Health Targets be reported on?

Progress on Health Targets will be reported on as at 30 September, 31 December, 31 March and 30 June. In turn, the Ministry of Health will report the findings to the Minister.

Reports will be reviewed to determine current performance trends, gaps that may be emerging and factors related to success.

Ranking of DHBs performance is a normal part of the quarterly reporting process and these results are publicly available at both a national and regional level.

How have DHBs been ranked on their performance?

DHBs have been ranked against each target area as shown below.

Health Target Ranking
Shorter stays in Emergency Departments Ranking from 1 to 20 is based on the percentage of patients presenting to each ED admitted, discharged or transferred within six hours.

The goal of 95 percent is highlighted.
Improved access to elective surgery Ranking from 1 to 20 is based on the percentage of volumes delivered, relative to phased targets agreed with DHBs.

The goal of 100 percent is highlighted.
Shorter waits for cancer treatment Ranking from 1 to 20 is based on the percentage of patients who started radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment within 4 weeks of their first specialist assessment, displayed by DHB of domicile rather than by Cancer Centre.

The goal of 100 percent is highlighted.
Increased immunisation Ranking from 1 to 20 is based on the percentage of children who turned eight months old in the quarter who were fully immunised before they turned eight months old.

The goal of 85 percent is highlighted.
Better help for smokers to quit Ranking from 1 to 20 is based on the percentage of hospitalised smokers that have been offered advice to quit smoking.

The goal of 95 percent is highlighted.

More heart and diabetes checks

 Ranking from 1 to 20 is based on the percentage of completed cardiovascular risk assessments for all eligible persons within the last five years.

The goal of 75 percent is highlighted.

What results will be made publicly available?

Every quarter the Health Target results are published in some of the major metropolitan newspapers.

Results are also published on the Ministry website. This includes a results summary, an overview of performance of the DHBs in each target area, source data and comments from the Target Champion and questions and answers that summarise the quarterly results.

The source data is presented in the form of an interactive excel spreadsheet. DHBs are ranked relative to the overall sector goal. Results are available by target area, including by ethnicity for some targets, and/or by DHB. The source data also includes a time series of national performance against each target and graphs of regional performance against the health targets.

Health Target results are also made publicly available through the release of annual reports and publications such as the Health and Independence Report.

DHBs make their own quarterly results available on their websites and use a series of local community newspapers, newsletters and e-newsletters to ensure their local communities are aware of their performance.

Why public reporting?

The Ministry believes that public accountability through clearly promoting the targets in the public domain, through the media, will help make the targets real for the community.

These are vitally important targets and progress towards them is a matter of significant public interest.

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Page last updated: 23 April 2013