What immediate steps, if any, has the Minister directed or requested to reduce wait times for urgent cancer referrals in the Southern region?

Answer

I have been clear with Health New Zealand that improving timely access to cancer care is a priority for this Government. That is why we reintroduced the Faster Cancer Treatment health target, which requires 90 percent of patients to receive their first cancer treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat. Health New Zealand is responsible for operational decisions and service delivery, including in the Southern region. I expect Health New Zealand to actively monitor performance, identify bottlenecks, and take appropriate actions to improve timeliness of assessment and treatment for patients with suspected or confirmed cancer. The Government's focus is on ensuring more New Zealanders receive timely access to diagnosis and treatment, and the reintroduction of health targets is helping drive greater accountability and focus on delivering results for patients.