Appendix: Additional input, output and outcome data

Health and Independence Report 2007

From the Minister of Health

Date of publication: October 2007
Table of Contents:

From the Minister of Health

From the Director-General of Health

1 Introduction

2 Progress on Headline Indicators

3 Improving Quality

4 Health Targets

5 References

This report outlines the progress made with implementing our overarching vision for improving health and wellbeing – the New Zealand Health Strategy. This report also looks at a set of high-level indicators that mark our progress towards key health outcomes. As you will see, there is momentum across the entire spectrum of the health sector to realise our goals of better health for all and reduced inequalities.

The collection of indicators show many areas are progressing well and some where concerted effort is needed. Areas where more effort is needed align with the 10 national Health Targets that I launched in August of this year. These Health Targets support the achievement of the 13 population health objectives of the New Zealand Health Strategy and the Government’s health priorities.

One of the key findings reported here is the reduction in mortality disparity between ethnic groups, in particular for Māori. This is substantiation of the efforts made by the Government to reduce health inequalities. With the launch of Whakatātaka Taurua: Māori Health Action Plan 2006–2011 and the ongoing hard work on the Pacific Health and Disability Action Plan, the system-wide approach to achieving better health outcomes for all ethnicities looks set to continue.

The report includes progress by ethnicity or deprivation level wherever this information is available. In support of achieving in the national Health Targets, an emphasis on collecting data by ethnicity will expand the areas where health inequalities can be examined and addressed.

Case studies throughout the report demonstrate the remarkable impact of community projects that lead the way for many other local services and national initiatives. The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme has just started to be phased in across the country meaning that hearing impaired children can benefit from earlier identification of hearing loss and the additional Government funding for cochlear implant procedures. Another success story is the marae-based breast screening programme in BreastScreen South’s region, accomplishing a world first in attaining 70 percent coverage for ethnic minority women (Māori and Pacific women).

An important inclusion is the annual report on the Quality Improvement Strategy. This section describes the purpose of the newly established Quality Improvement Committee. This Committee will provide leadership and a shared learning environment to facilitate collaboration between DHBs and add impetus to the adoption of quality innovations across the health sector.

Hon Pete Hodgson
Minister of Health