10 September 2024
Rob Greene
[FYI request #27387 email] Tēnā koe Rob
Your request for official information, reference: HNZ00054199
Thank you for your email on 11 July 2024, asking Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora for the
following under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
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 12 months). 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.
If the Data exists please additionally provide the wait-times for GP referrals to the
specialists at a national level as well, not just for wellington hospital.
Essentially updated and extended upon data to what was previously provided in this OIA.
(OIA2021020102.)
On the 8 August 2024 we let you know that Health NZ would need more time to prepare for this
response.
Response
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 12 months). 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.
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora remains committed to the ongoing health and wellbeing of
people, whānau and communities across the motu.
Throughout Aotearoa, our services continue to see growing demand from patients with increasing
complexities and acuity. This can exacerbate staffing pressures – due to annual leave, general
illness, and other unexpected personal reasons. These combined factors mean that patients may
sometimes wait longer for a First Specialist Assessment (FSA) or planned care than we would like.
We are working hard to enable a nationally consistent approach to waitlists so that we can speed
up the time people are currently waiting for treatment. We acknowledge that, in some instances
wait times for planned care have increased and understand this can be distressing for people in
this situation. We encourage anyone whose condition changes to see their GP. If appropriate, their
referral can be updated.
The table below summarises the number of days between the referral receipt date and the
attendance date for patient attending a publicly funded first specialist assessment during the period
1st July 2023 to 30th June 2024 by specialty where the patients was recorded as being referred
from a General Practitioner and seen at Wellington Regional Hospital.
Please note that this data is provisional and used for operational purposes. It has not been through
the full quality assurance process that we use before publishing data and therefore is subject to
change.
Number of Days from Referral Receipt
July 2023 to June 2024 (12 Months)
to Visit Date
Specialty
Max
Min
Average Median
Cardiology - 1st attendance
486
0
125
126
Cardiothoracic - 1st attendance
203
13
70
77
Dermatology - 1st attendance
377
1
148
135
Diabetes - 1st attendance
271
5
43
47
Ear Nose and Throat - 1st attendance
419
0
93
92
Endocrinology - 1st attendance
392
2
58
110
Fracture Clinic - 1st attendance
211
0
10
15
Gastroenterology - 1st attendance
216
2
68
65
General Medicine - 1st attendance
417
0
56
95
General Surgery - 1st attendance
358
1
101
104
Gynaecology - 1st attendance
490
1
101
103
Haematology - 1st attendance
129
1
32
39
Immunology (excludes rheumatology) - 1st
attendance
668
3
100
128
Infectious Diseases (incl HIV/Aids) - 1st attendance
92
3
38
37
Medical Oncology - 1st attendance
61
4
27
28
Neurology - 1st attendance
295
0
34
49
Neurosurgery - 1st attendance
345
1
62
85
Ophthalmology - 1st attendance
335
0
6
38
Orthopaedics - 1st attendance
552
0
98
110
Paediatric Medical Outpatient - 1st attendance
393
0
57
63
Paediatric Surgery Outpatient - 1st attendance
202
4
19
25
Radiation Oncology - 1st Attendance
118
0
37
38
Renal Medicine - 1st attendance
267
4
66
62
Respiratory - 1st attendance
672
0
117
124
Specialist Paediatric Cardiac - 1st Attendance
251
6
63
66
Specialist Paediatric Endocrinology - 1st attendance
223
6
75
77
Specialist Paediatric Neurology Outpatient - 1st
attendance
82
3
22
29
Specialist Paediatric Respiratory - 1st attendance
173
7
46
59
Urology - 1st attendance
546
0
77
92
Vascular Surgery Outpatient - 1st attendance
468
7
171
170
If the Data exists please additionally provide the wait-times for GP referrals to the
specialists at a national level as well, not just for wellington hospital.
I am refusing this part of your request under section 18(g) of the Act as the information you have
requested is not held by Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora and we have no grounds to believe that the
information is held by another entity subject to the Act.
How to get in touch
If you have any questions, you can contact us at
[email address].
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
by phoning 0800 802 602.
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, Health NZ may proactively
release a copy of this response on our website. All requester data, including your name and
contact details, will be removed prior to release.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Jamie Duncan Group Director Operations
Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley
