In July 2009 the Government demonstrated its commitment to improving the quality and timeliness of the care New Zealanders receive at an ED, by introducing a Health Target of ‘Shorter Stays in Emergency Departments’.
The Health Target requires District Health Boards, who run the country’s public hospitals, to ensure that:
- 95% of patients will be admitted, discharged or transferred from an ED within six hours.
This publication looks at how District Health Boards (DHBs) are working to achieve this Health Target, and discusses the real gains which are being made thanks to the creativity, teamwork and dedication of hospital staff, especially those on the frontline, and the people who provide health services and support in the community.