Health targets are a set of national performance measures specifically designed to improve the performance of health services that reflect significant public and government priorities. They provide a focus for action.
The impact they make can be measured to see how they are improving health for all New Zealanders. Three of the six health targets focus on patient access, and three focus on prevention.
This section provides information on the health targets, the reasons for them, who is responsible and how they are measured and reported on.
The 2017/18 health targets
Health targets are reviewed annually to ensure they align with health priorities. The current targets are listed below.
Shorter stays in emergency departments
95% of patients will be admitted, discharged, or transferred from an emergency department within six hours.
Improved access to elective surgery
The volume of elective surgery will be increased by an average of 4000 discharges per year.
Faster cancer treatment
90% of patients receive their first cancer treatment (or other management) within 62 days of being referred with a high suspicion of cancer and a need to be seen within 2 weeks.
Increased immunisation
95% of 8-months-olds will have their primary course of immunisation (6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months immunisation events) on time.
Better help for smokers to quit
90% of PHO enrolled patients who smoke have been offered help to quit smoking by a health care practitioner in the last 15 months.
90% of pregnant women who identify as smokers upon registration with a DHB-employed midwife or Lead Maternity Carer are offered brief advice and support to quit smoking.
Raising healthy kids
95% of obese children identified in the B4 School Check programme will be offered a referral to a health professional for clinical assessment and family-based nutrition, activity and lifestyle interventions by December 2017.
Latest health target results
Health target results are published 4 times a year. For the latest results see How is my DHB performing?