South Canterbury District Health Board

The Minister of Health has set six health targets for DHBs to achieve.

South Canterbury DHB reports once every quarter on progress towards these targets.

First Quarter 2009/10 South Canterbury results

Second Quarter 2009/10 South Canterbury results, released on February 26, 2010

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 2009/10 health targets?

Targets	Indicators
Shorter stays in Emergency Departments	95 percent of patients will be admitted, discharged, or transferred from an Emergency Department (ED) within six hours.
Improved access to elective surgery	the volume of elective surgery will be increased by an average 4000 discharges per year (compared with the previous average increase of 1400 per year).
Shorter waits for cancer treatment	everyone needing radiation treatment will have this within six weeks by the end of July 2010 and within four weeks by December 2010.
Increased immunisation	85 percent of two year olds will be fully immunised by July 2010; 90 percent by July 2011; and 95 percent by July 2012.
Better help for smokers to quit	80 percent of hospitalised smokers will be provided with advice and help to quit by July 2010; 90 percent by July 2011; and 95 percent by July 2012. Similar target for primary care will be introduced from July 2010 or earlier, through the PHO Performance Programme.
Better diabetes and cardiovascular services	(a) increased percent of the eligible adult population will have had their cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessed in the last five years (b) increased percent of people with diabetes will attend free annual checks (c) increased percent of people with diabetes will have satisfactory or better diabetes management.

Why these health targets?

Each of the 2009/10 health targets reflects a priority health area for the government. The targets focus on improving the health sector’s performance, and ensure our health and disability system is contributing to maintaining and improving health outcomes in these important areas.

Who is responsible for the health targets?

The Ministry of Health and the District Health Boards (DHBs) are collectively responsible for the health targets.

DHBs have negotiated local targets taking into consideration the health needs of their communities. Collectively these targets contribute to a national improvement in each area.

How will health targets be reported on?

Progress on health targets will be reported on as at the 30 September 2009, 31 December 2009, 31 March 2010 and 30 June 2010. In turn, the Ministry of Health will report the findings to the Minister.

Reports will be reviewed to determine current performance trends, gaps that may be emerging and factors related to success.

How will DHBs be ranked on their performance?

DHBs will be ranked against each target area as shown below.

Health target	Ranking
Shorter stays in Emergency Departments	Ranking from 1 to 21 is based on the percentage of patients presenting to each ED admitted, discharged or transferred within six hours. The goal of 95 percent is highlighted.
Improved access to elective surgery	Ranking from 1 to 21 is based on the percentage of volumes delivered, relative to phased targets agreed with DHBs. The goal of 100 percent is highlighted.
Shorter waits for cancer treatment	Ranking from 1 to 21 is based on the percentage of patients who started radiotherapy treatment within 6 weeks of their first specialist assessment, displayed by DHB of domicile rather than by Cancer Centre. The goal of 100 percent is highlighted.
Increased immunisation	Ranking from 1 to 21 is based on the percentage of children who turned two years old in the quarter who were fully immunised before they turned two years old. The goal of 85 percent is highlighted.
Better help for smokers to quit	Ranking from 1 to 21 is based on the percentage of hospitalised smokers that have been given advice to quit smoking. For quarter one only, results are based on data coded in September 2009. The goal of 80 percent is highlighted.
Better diabetes and cardiovascular services	Ranking from 1 to 21 is based on an average of the progress made by DHBs towards the three target indicators of CVD risk assessment, diabetes checks and diabetes management.

Why public reporting?

The Ministry believes that public accountability through clearly promoting the targets in the public domain, through the media, will help make the targets real for the community.

These are vitally important targets and progress towards them is a matter of significant public interest.

DHB Performance