The Government’s focus on restoring performance and accountability in the health system is delivering real outcomes for Southern patients.

The latest quarterly results show progress in delivering access to timely, quality healthcare.

From January to March, key improvements in the Southern region included shorter emergency department stays for local people, with 76 percent of patients admitted, discharged, or transferred within six hours, above the national average of 74 percent.

Childhood immunisations of 86 percent are also well above the national average of 79.3 per cent in the Southern Region, making us one of the top performers in the country.

There was also faster cancer treatment, with 82 percent of patients starting treatment within 31 days, up from 80.5 percent in 2024.

Shorter wait times for elective procedures were at 52.7 percent between January and March this year, compared to 51 percent in 2024.

These results reflect meaningful progress for Southern patients and while there is still more work to do this is a positive step in the right direction.

The Government also recently made the biggest funding boost ever for GP clinics, targeted 100 new clinical placements for overseas-trained doctors, offered recruitment incentives for up to 400 graduate nurses annually and 100 additional doctor training places at our medical schools

Invercargill’s new, state-of-the-art CT scanner will also deliver significant advancements, meaning faster, more accurate diagnosis for a wide range of conditions, including cancer and heart disease.

After years of decline, our health system is being rebuilt, and Southlanders are benefiting.

Funded by Parliamentary Services