Maximised theatre capacity reduces elective surgery waitlist: Northland

An additional 60 Northland patients, who had been waiting more than a year for elective surgery, received their procedure last month.

Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau took an opportunity to maximise the capacity at Whangārei Hospital theatres for a fixed, four week period to enable a focus on reducing the waitlist. 

During that time, an anaesthetist and surgeon who would normally travel to Kaitaia Hospital, worked at Whangārei Hospital instead.

“This was to enable the long waiting patients, who either couldn’t travel to Kaitaia for surgery or the type of surgery they needed was not appropriate for Kaitaia Hospital, to have surgery,” General Manager Surgical and Perioperative Services Katy Wilkinson says.     

“Over the course of the four weeks we were able to get an additional 45 patients, who had been waiting more than 365 days, and a further 15 patients who had been waiting 290 days, to theatre due to the extra capacity.”

The initiative has worked to support Government health targets, particularly for first specialist appointments and elective surgery. At its centre were patients waiting for an elective procedure for more than a year.

“For one patient, the wait had caused a lot of stress and anxiety,” she says, “especially when, three days before his original surgery date, he got a cold and his operation had to be postponed.

“Once he made it to theatre though, and his condition was treated, he felt very relieved. He’s still in recovery and things are going well for him,” she continues. “It’s just one example of how this temporary change is benefitting our patients.”

The four-week initiative was a testament to the invaluable contribution of a multi-disciplinary team of clinical and non-clinical staff. 

Their collective focus on supporting the patients in their surgical journey was instrumental in the initiative's success. 

"We put the patients at the centre of our mahi. Coordination of the extra theatre lists involved many people, and we are extremely grateful for the effort everyone put in," Ms Wilkinson says.

ENDS

Media contact: hnzmedia@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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