Ease surgery waitlists

those were on orthopaedic or general surgery lists.

Health New Zealand Chief Executive Margie Apa said 1622 patients who have been waiting the longest for treatment are now scheduled. There are 2069 waiting to be scheduled.

The number of people waiting longer than 12 months for a first specialist appointment – after being referred by their GP – has increased by 17-fold from 253 to 4255 patients.

However, the fragmented ‘‘post-code lottery’’ of care – where patients in some regions get treatment faster because the threshold for surgery is lower – will remain.

It was a touchstone for the new healthy system, but Health Minister Andrew Little said yesterday that it would take at least four months to set the same standards around the country.

About 6000 more referrals are made specialist services than are currently seen, which means the list continues to grow.