New Zealand doesn't yet have an elective surgery system that can demonstrate national consistency and equal treatment for all patients, Auditor-General Lyn Provost says in a report released today.
Her report on progress in delivering publicly-funded scheduled health services -- non-urgent medical and surgical services -- says about 90 percent of patients, 62,200 people, were being treated within the six-month time limit.
However, about 6800 were not treated within the limit and some had waited up to two years.
The report said in June 2003 there were 36,190 patients still waiting for treatment they should have received within six months.
District Health Boards made progress in reducing the number and by June 2007 there were 7688.
The report said there was no certainty that the "right" patients were always seen or treated in the appropriate order.
"Prioritisation matters because patients should not suffer unreasonable distress, ill health, or incapacity while they are waiting their turn or miss out on treatment," it said.
"Despite the encouraging improvements made in the last 10 years, we do not yet have a system for scheduled services that can demonstrate national consistency and equitable treatment for all."
Ms Provost says her audit suggested it was achievable and the Ministry of Health, DHBs and medical specialists should focus on making sure the right patients had access to treatment at the right time.
