Taranaki Base Hospital. Photo: Google Maps
Taranaki Base Hospital has cleared its backlog of more than 6000 unprocessed radiology reports.
In March, RNZ reported more than 6000 x-ray reports, MRI and CT scans were sitting unprocessed causing unacceptable delays for patients needing diagnosis and treatment.
Health Minister Simeon Brown welcomed the clearance of the radiology backlog.
"People in Taranaki deserve access to timely, high-quality healthcare - and that includes getting diagnostic results back quickly. With the backlog now cleared and all results referred back to GPs, patients are now receiving their results."
To address the backlog, Health New Zealand made full use of available public radiology resources and engaged private imaging providers to boost reporting capacity and return results directly to patients' GPs, Brown said.
"This was a practical, solutions-focused response. By combining public capacity with private sector support, the backlog was cleared efficiently, and care has been sped up for thousands of people."
Outsourcing remained in place to manage ongoing demand and reduce the risk of future backlogs.
"Taranaki Base Hospital will continue to use private capacity where needed - an approach that is consistent with the Government's broader strategy to reduce waitlists across the health system," said Brown.
"Our focus on reducing waitlists has already resulted in more than 8600 additional elective procedures being delivered through outsourcing. It's a clear example of how we can apply the same approach to diagnostics - using targeted outsourcing to deliver faster care.
"We are committed to practical improvements that reduce delays, support frontline services, and deliver better outcomes for patients."
Brown said the result in Taranaki showed what could be achieved when the focus was on what mattered "making sure New Zealanders get the care they need, when they need it".
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