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The Bay of Plenty is falling behind other New Zealand health boards in helping to provide smokers with quitting advice and services according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health.
Figures released for the 2011-2012 quarter three on Sunday show the BOP District Health Board is ranked fourteenth in New Zealand, down six places from eighth.
The Government is aiming to provide 95 per cent of hositalised smokers with quitting advice and assistance by July 2012.
The BOP DHB is currently providing 88 per cent of hospitalised patients.
The data covers patients presenting to Emergency Departments, day stay and other hospital-based interventions.
Minister of Health Tony Ryall says ‘Better Help for Smokers to Quit’ made significant improvements nationally with 91 per cent of smokers now getting advice and help to quit compared to less than half when the targets began in 2009.
Figures also show record success for emergency departments with hospitals treating patients at a fastest rate yet.
The BOPDHB ranked thirteenth in NZ for shorter stays in hospital, currently at 92 per cent in performance.
The target is for 95 per cent of patients to be admitted, discharged or transferred from ED within six hours.
BOPDHB recorded no change in the number of elective surgeries in the last quarter, still ranked tenth in NZ.
It did jump one place in the number of immunisations for under two-year-olds from 16th to 15th in the last quarter.
“We are very close to achieving the target nationally – only 367 extra children who are about to turn two need to be immunised before 30 June to bring the national coverage up to 95 per cent,” says Tony.
Figures show BOPDHB is in third place in the number of heart and diabetes checks, behind Wairapra and Whanganui.
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Posted on 28-05-2012 18:32 | By Donnaw
Why....why should they be banned from smoking during working hours....they have the right to 3 breaks per day, and what they do in their break is their own business. The people sitting outside the pubs drinking all day along the strand are not setting a very good example either BUT they have a right to do what they will with their own time too, so pull your head in and stop being so critical. Doctors & Nurse are human too you know and have the right to do what they want in their own time, just like you and i.