Waikato’s ED times ‘are worst’

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Latest Health Ministry figures show Waikato ranked equal-last out of 20 district health boards when it comes to shorter stays in its emergency department. The Government’s target is 95 per cent of patients will be discharged from emergency departments within six hours. The Waikato DHB has never met the mandatory six-hour target since its introduction in 2009.

DHB director of hospital services Brett Paradine, speaking at February’s board meeting, said the latest figures were ‘‘really disappointing’’ but work was under way to improve the ED’s performance.

The board recently got sign-off for its business case to boost staffing numbers in the department, including an extra 10 fulltime equivalent doctors and about 14 nurses. Paradine said the hiring drive would help improve times in ED.

‘‘About two-thirds of patients who attend the emergency department are discharged directly from the emergency department. They don’t end up entering a ward so that [extra staff] will be a huge help,’’ Paradine said.

The DHB is also investing in a comprehensive package of initiatives aimed at improving the flow of patients through the hospital and getting patients into wards more quickly. A report to board members said the mandatory six-hour target was consistently delivered during the junior doctor strike in January.

During the strike, senior doctors worked on the front line. In response, board member Dave Macpherson asked whether the experience might give rise to always having senior doctors placed in the emergency department. Paradine said having senior staff available did allow the ED to move patients through more quickly. However, a strike was a ‘‘particularly special period of time’’.

‘‘It’s not a great use of resources to have people sitting there just in case there are people coming,’’ Paradine said. ‘‘It definitely is helpful, it’s just a matter of what is the sweet spot as far as the best use of resources in that regard.’’

Board chairman Bob Simcock said during the junior doctor strikes, planned surgery was delayed.

‘‘There are beds available so it’s easier to manage the process,’’ Simcock said.

Meanwhile, Healthy Ministry data shows Waikato ranked fifth out of 20 DHBs when it comes to achieving the Government’s faster cancer treatment target.

The Health Ministry target is 85 per cent of patients receive their first treatment within 62 days of being referred with a high suspicion of cancer. Waikato also ranked well (sixth out of 20) in regard to the ministry’s raising healthy kids target. Raising Healthy Kids is part of the Health Ministry’s childhood obesity plan.

The target is that by December of this year, 95 per cent of obese children identified in the Before School Check programme will be referred to a health professional. Waikato achieved 79 per cent, above the national average of 72 per cent.