From late August, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) will include estimated waiting times in letters notifying people they have been placed on a surgery waiting list, the organisation confirmed yesterday.
This information was already provided in some parts of the country, and the change in the South was part of a push to standardise national access, booking and waiting list management.
A Dunedin patient who has no idea how long he will be waiting for gallbladder removal said he wished the information could have been included sooner.
Earlier this month he received a letter informing him he was now on the waiting list, but not how long he would be waiting.
It was "pretty scary" not knowing, and he said he would like to switch to the private system but it was too expensive.
His condition had caused him to go to the emergency department several times this winter, and although hospital staff were caring, there was little they could do except provide stronger pain killers.
He was unable to do activities such as going tramping due to the risk of a flare-up, and a time estimate would give him peace of mind, he said.
"I just want to have the surgery as soon as possible and get on with my life."
A waitlisted person should receive treatment within four months according to government targets, but over-long wait times have been an ongoing issue as the health system struggles with a lack of resources.
HNZ Southern said earlier this year it was intending to make the change, but had not been able to provide a timeframe.
Southern group director of operations Hamish Brown said yesterday HNZ sympathised with patients facing health challenges waiting for elective surgery.
"Following our transition to the new South Island-wide patient management system, our letters will differ from those previously received by our Southern community.
"Currently this letter does not provide an estimated wait time.
Southern was working with other parts of the South Island to roll out a new letter template that included an indicative wait time for surgery.
"We expect these new letter templates to be ready in late August — these will provide consistency for all patients across Te Waipounamu."
Patients could contact hospital departments for an update on waiting times, he said.
Health and disability commissioner Morag McDowell said consumers had the right to information including estimated timeframes for treatment.
A lack of information could cause psychological distress, and undermine people’s ability to make an informed choice about their options.
"I acknowledge that there is a current national communication project focusing on communication with patients on waiting lists, and I am engaging with Health New Zealand’s national office regarding this issue."
