23 March 2021
OIA Reference #: OIA2021020102
PN
Email:
[FYI request #14592 email]
Tēnā koe PN
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) – Response – OIA 2021020102
Thank you for your official information request regarding average wait times of outpatient
appointments at Wellington Regional Hospital, which was received by Capital & Coast District Health
Board (CCDHB) on 1 February 2021. You requested the following information:
“I would like to request the longest, shortest, median and average wait times for outpatient-
patients (referred by GPs to see a specialist (First appointment) at Wellington hospital over the
last 6 months, and 1 year). Please provide the wait times data split by each specialty eg. Your
response should tell the wait times specifically for each specialty like number of days to see a
cardiologist or urologist or gynecologist etc.”
On 2 March 2021, we notified you that you could expect a response from us on or by 23 March 2021.
Our response to your request is outlined below.
Response Table 1 below summarises the number of days between the referral receipt date and the attendance
date for a patient attending a publicly funded first specialist assessment (FSA). The data applies to the
period 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2020. It has been split by speciality where the patients were
recorded as being referred from a general practitioner and seen at Wellington Regional Hospital.
Table 1. Outpatients First Specialist Appointments 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2020 (six months)
Average
Median
Minimum Maximum
of
of
Number
Number
Number
Number
of Days
of Days
of Days
of Days
Cardiology - 1st attendance
1
177
71
89
Cardiothoracic - 1st attendance
8
140
46
74
Dermatology - 1st attendance
10
228
127
119
Diabetes - 1st attendance
2
159
65
81
Capital & Coast DHB | Private Bag 7902, Newtown, Wellington 6242
Wellington Regional Hospital, Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021
www.ccdhb.org.nz | Phone: 04 385 5999
| Fax: 04 385 5856
Ear Nose and Throat - 1st attendance
0
224
63
112
Endocrinology - 1st attendance
1
195
86
98
Fracture Clinic - 1st attendance
0
170
10
85
Gastroenterology - 1st attendance
7
190
95
99
General Medicine - 1st attendance
0
196
127
98
General Surgery - 1st attendance
5
299
95
152
Gynaecology - 1st attendance
0
260
74
130
Haematology - 1st attendance
2
141
35
72
Immunology (excludes rheumatology) - 1st
attendance
53
164
96
109
Infectious Diseases (incl. HIV/Aids) - 1st
attendance
3
105
45
54
Medical Oncology 1st attendance
5
40
19
23
Neurology - 1st attendance
0
153
65
77
Neurosurgery - 1st attendance
0
168
77
84
Ophthalmology - 1st attendance
0
243
35
122
Orthopaedics - 1st attendance
0
267
102
134
Paediatric Medical Outpatient - 1st
attendance
0
248
60
124
Paediatric Surgery Outpatient - 1st
attendance
3
123
37
63
Radiation Oncology 1st Attendance
1
57
28
29
Renal Medicine - 1st attendance
1
125
48
63
Respiratory - 1st attendance
3
163
64
83
Specialist Paediatric Cardiac - 1st Attendance
6
137
52
72
Specialist Paediatric Endocrinology - 1st
attendance
1
174
61
88
Specialist Paediatric Neurology Outpatient 1st
attendance
3
97
34
50
Specialist Paediatric Respiratory 1st
attendance
0
136
60
68
Urology - 1st attendance
0
224
92
112
Vascular Surgery Outpatient - 1st attendance
3
202
81
103
Table 2 below summarises the number of days between the referral receipt date and the attendance
date for a patient attending a publicly funded FSA during the period 1 January 2020 to 31 December
2020. It has been split by specialty where the patients were recorded as being referred from a general
practitioner and seen at Wellington Regional Hospital.
Capital & Coast DHB | Private Bag 7902, Newtown, Wellington 6242
Wellington Regional Hospital, Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021
www.ccdhb.org.nz | Phone: 04 385 5999
| Fax: 04 385 5856
Table 2. Outpatients First Specialist Appointments 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 (one year)
Average
Median
Minimum Maximum
of
of
Number
Number
One Year
Number
Number
of Days
of Days
of Days
of Days
Cardiology - 1st attendance
1
263
60
132
Cardiothoracic - 1st attendance
7
140
44
74
Dermatology - 1st attendance
1
262
134
132
Diabetes - 1st attendance
2
179
60
91
Ear Nose and Throat - 1st attendance
0
261
50
131
Endocrinology - 1st attendance
1
210
88
106
Fracture Clinic - 1st attendance
0
226
9
113
Gastroenterology - 1st attendance
7
190
82
99
General Medicine - 1st attendance
0
270
90
135
General Surgery - 1st attendance
1
299
83
150
Gynaecology - 1st attendance
0
266
84
133
Haematology - 1st attendance
1
141
32
71
Immunology (excludes rheumatology) - 1st
attendance
4
251
88
128
Infectious Diseases (incl. HIV/Aids) - 1st
attendance
0
105
35
53
Medical Oncology 1st attendance
5
51
20
28
Neurology - 1st attendance
0
154
42
77
Neurosurgery - 1st attendance
0
211
72
106
Ophthalmology - 1st attendance
0
322
40
161
Orthopaedics - 1st attendance
0
277
92
139
Paediatric Medical Outpatient - 1st
attendance
0
309
52
155
Paediatric Surgery Outpatient - 1st
attendance
3
241
35
122
Radiation Oncology 1st Attendance
1
250
28
126
Renal Medicine - 1st attendance
1
125
38
63
Respiratory - 1st attendance
1
195
53
98
Specialist Paediatric Cardiac - 1st Attendance
2
137
47
70
Specialist Paediatric Endocrinology - 1st
attendance
1
174
61
88
Specialist Paediatric Neurology Outpatient 1st
attendance
3
97
37
50
Specialist Paediatric Respiratory 1st
attendance
0
136
54
68
Urology - 1st attendance
0
250
93
125
Vascular Surgery Outpatient - 1st attendance
1
202
73
102
Capital & Coast DHB | Private Bag 7902, Newtown, Wellington 6242
Wellington Regional Hospital, Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021
www.ccdhb.org.nz | Phone: 04 385 5999
| Fax: 04 385 5856
In relation to the results in the tables above, patients who either rescheduled their proposed visit to a
later date – or failed to attend their first appointment and were rebooked and attended at a later date
– have been excluded from the dataset.
Tables 1 and 2 include 47 patients (out of a total of 14,485 FSA patients over the year) who waited
more than 240 days. The majority were COVID-related or relating to staff vacancy.
I trust this information fulfils your request. You have the right, under section 28 of the OIA, to seek an
investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a
complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or you can free phone 0800 802 602.
Nāku ite noa, nā
Fionnagh Dougan
Āpiha Whakahaere Mātāmua | Chief Executive
Capital & Coast DHB | Private Bag 7902, Newtown, Wellington 6242
Wellington Regional Hospital, Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021
www.ccdhb.org.nz | Phone: 04 385 5999
| Fax: 04 385 5856