DHB defends not meeting surgery goal

The South Canterbury District Health Board has disputed figures released by Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean who says a drop in the number of elective surgeries at Timaru Hospital is ‘‘appalling’’.

Dean said the number of elective surgeries carried out in South Canterbury had decreased in the year to June by almost 9 per cent.

‘‘South Canterbury District Health Board saw over 200 fewer elective surgeries discharged in the year to June 2019 compared with the previous year,’’ Dean said.

‘‘That means 200 more New Zealanders waiting longer in pain, unable to access the healthcare they desperately need. It’s appalling!’’

However, SCDHB chief executive Nigel Trainor said Dean’s figures were out by 96 elective surgeries.

‘‘SCDHB over-delivered in some specialties such as gynaecology, cardiology and urology, however we also under-delivered on other specialties with the worst being orthopaedics.’’

Trainor said a shortage of orthopaedic surgeons and an increase in acute surgery delivery were the main reasons the DHB did not meet is elective discharges target.

‘‘SCDHB has been working hard to attract additional orthopaedic surgeons to South Canterbury,’’ he said.

‘‘We have secured a locum orthopaedic surgeon to cover the shortfall until the permanent orthopaedic surgeon commences at the SCDHB in October 2020.’’

There was a nationwide shortage of orthopaedic surgeons and the SCDHB had engaged Bidwill Hospital to assist with elective orthopaedic surgeries, Trainor said.

‘‘We can only apologise to those waiting for surgeries, and thank our hard-working orthopaedic surgeons for all of their extra work during the shortage.’’