KEY POINTS:
New Zealand is lagging behind other developed countries in heart surgery rates and patients have to wait longer than they should, a new report says.
The study by cardiac surgeons also found that there was "little correlation" between how acutely a person needed surgery and when they received
it.
Health Minister David Cunliffe commissioned a working group of surgeons and others in the field to prepare the Cardiac Surgery Services in New Zealand report.
Today he said $50 million over four years would be reallocated from other areas to increase the level of heart surgery in New Zealand.
The report said New Zealand suffered a relatively high level of high disease but provision of surgery was lower than in comparable countries.
"More concerning is that waiting times for publicly funded cardiac surgery have been reduced to clinically acceptable levels in many other countries, but not in New Zealand."
The report said there was "significant" variation depending which part of the country a patient lived in.
The number of cardiac surgical operations declined between 2002-03 and 2006-07.
The level of service patients got in Australia was 85 per cent higher than in New Zealand. Canada was 75 per cent higher and the United Kingdom was 37 per cent higher.
The working group said cardiac surgery rates should be increased from 54 per 100,000 people to 73 over the next five years - a 35 per cent increase.
The report said funding was not the only factor limiting improvements and the biggest challenge was capacity of District Health Boards to deliver.
The working groups said cardiac surgery involved a "complex chain" of human and physical resources easily disrupted by things like cancellations. Better planning would help. Post-operative intensive care was "a major issue" in most areas.
The report said recruitment and retention of key staff was vital.
It also said a national prioritisation system was needed to ensure transparent and consistent prioritisation of patients for cardiac surgery.
The report said a Ministry of Health taskforce should be set up to implement and monitor the report's recommendations.
In response Mr Cunliffe said the Government has set a higher target than recommended in the report; over four years 65 operations per 100,000 - an increase of more than 600 patients a year.
"Moving towards nationally consistent prioritisation of patients across the five cardiac centres will ensure those with greatest need and ability to benefit get fairer access to services regardless of where they live," he said.
"The nature of this complex service means we are working closely with the sector to improve the service in a sustainable manner that will reduce surgery cancellation."
Mr Cunliffe said all recommendations would be implemented.
- NZPA