October 26, 2022
Equity focus in planned care restart
The number of people waiting more than four months for a first specialist appointment or referrals to radiography and endoscopies more than trebled over the COVID 19 period.
Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand’s Planned Care Taskforce hopes to change that with its Reset and Restore Plan unveiled yesterday.
Its report sets out 101 recommendations, including a focus on reducing inequity.
It found just 53 percent of Māori received treatment within four months of seeking a first specialist assessment, compared to 58 percent of non-Māori and 62 percent of Pasifika.
Dr Rawiri McKree Jansen, the chief medical officer for the Māori Health Authority Te Aka Whai Ora, says it’s important not to go back to the previous system.
“I think the focus on equity is appropriate. It’s important we don’t go back to a system that was delivering some very significant inequities and I’m pleased the report has a focus on work that needs to be done to achieve equity,” he says.
Dr Jansen says implementation of about 30 of the recommendations will begin this year while others will be phased in over the next few years.