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Access to care for people with mental illness
This indicator looks at the number of people in Southern seen by Mental Health and Addictions services. People may be seen by Te Whatu Ora Southern services and/or by non-government organisations (NGO), such as Kaupapa Māori services.
Why is this important?
- Around 1 in 5 people in New Zealand experience a mental illness or addiction.
- Mental illness and addiction can have an impact on individuals, whānau/families and communities.
- Making sure people have access to mental health and addictions services when they need them may help prevent people from developing more severe mental illness or addiction.
What do these pictures show?
- Around 13,000 people (about 3–4%) of Southerners were seen by Mental Health and Addictions services in 2020/21. This has been relatively consistent since 2011/2012 and is similar to Aotearoa/New Zealand as a whole.
- Access to Mental Health and Addictions services varies by age:
- Those aged under 20 years accessing services was around 5% in 2020/21. This has been increasing since 2011/12.
- Adults aged 20–64 years accessing services has consistently been around 3-4%.
- Adults aged 65 years and over accessing services has consistently been around 1%.
- Access to Mental Health and Addictions services varies by ethnicity:
- Generally, about 3% of non-Māori & non-Pacific populations access services and between 3.5 - 6% of Māori & Pacific populations Mental Health and Addictions services.
- In 2020/2021, the majority (over 60%) of people were seen by Te Whatu Ora provided services.
What this means for Southern.
- This indicator is a national performance measure (PP6(MH01)). It measures the number and percentage of people accessing specialist mental health and addiction services. It is not diagnosis based.
- There are health sector targets set for this indicator which vary by age group:
- 3.75 % aged under-20 years are seen
- 3.75% aged 20–64 years are seen
- 1.00% aged 65 years and over are seen
- The targets are a proxy (or alternative way) to measure improving the health status of people with severe mental illness through improved access.
- Although Southern is meeting the targets for the percentage of people accessing mental health and addictions services, this measure does not confirm that those with severe mental illness are accessing services or that their health status is improved.
- There is still a need to work to improve access to these services.
For mental health and addiction services near you or your whānau in Southern, see:
Acute Bed Days
This indicator looks at the use of inpatient* services in hospitals, also known as acute bed days*. An inpatient is when a person spends at least one night in hospital. This is measured as the number of bed days for acute hospital stays per 1000 people.
Why this is important?
- Looking at acute bed days can help planners:
- understand if changes in health care outside of the hospital are helping to reduce admissions to hospital.
- understand how much health care is needed in a hospital rather than the community.
- develop appropriate services in the community.
What do these pictures show?
- Over time, in Southern, acute bed days have been going down.
- In the 2018/2019 reporting period, the rate of acute bed days in Southern was 367 per 1,000 people compared to 2020/2021 when the rate was 331 acute bed days per 1,000 people.
- In the 2021 reporting period, the average rate of acute bed days for Aotearoa/New Zealand was 409 per 1,000 people.
- Acute bed days differs across ethnic groups in Southern:
- In 2020/2021, Māori had 402 acute bed days per 1,000 and Pacific people had 468 per 1,000.
What does this mean for Southern?
- By 2024, Southern is aiming to have fewer than 300 acute bed days for every 1,000 people. With equity of outcome for Māori.
- Although the trend is coming down, improvement is still needed to reduce bed days and equal out the gaps.
- Addressing, community and primary care services to reduce the need for Southerners to be hospitalised. Southern DHB Annual Plan 2020-21 (p11-12)
Acute hospital readmissions
This indicator looks at acute readmission rates* in Southern hospitals within 28 days after discharge. Acute readmissions are when a patient returns to hospital unexpectedly after they are discharged.
Why is this important?
Unplanned readmissions to hospital after discharge often happen because some part of the health system could be improved to help prevent them.
Better understanding acute readmissions may help target improvements to quality of care in the hospital and community such as safety and quality process, treatment and support on discharge.
What do these pictures show?
- The rate of acute readmissions in Southern has stayed largely the same between 2017 – 2021; about 12% (or 12 out of 100).
- This is a similar pattern seen nationally in Aotearoa.
What does this mean for Southern?
- The national target for acute readmissions is ≤11.7% annually.
- Southern hospital services and the WellSouth Primary Healthcare Network have a number of initiatives in place to try and reduce acute readmissions such as the Home Team, Health Care Homes and Client Led Integrated Care.
Antenatal care registration
This indicator looks at healthcare for pregnant women before the baby is born (antenatal or maternity care) by a lead maternity carer*(LMC/midwife). The indicator shows how many women registered for antenatal care in the recommended time, before 12 weeks of the pregnancy.
Why is this important?
- The sooner a pregnant woman signs up with an LMC/midwife, the more she can be supported through important parts of the pregnancy.
- Early care in pregnancy helps give the best chance of a healthy baby and mother.
What do these pictures show?
- More pregnant women are getting early antenatal care from an LMC/midwife.
- Early care in pregnancy differs across ethnic groups:
- Pregnant New Zealand European women were most likely to be signed up with an LMC/midwife early.
- The gap in early antenatal care registration between ethnic groups has not improved over time.
What does this mean for Southern?
- The number of pregnant Southern women signing up with a midwife is getting better but it is not the same for all ethnicities.
- Health planners and service providers need to work with communities:
- to support more pregnant women to have an LMC/midwife early.
- to understand why there are gaps by ethnicity and to eliminate these gaps.
To find an LMC/midwife click here. If you are pregnant and need support, please phone your LMC/midwife, doctor, nurse or a helpline.
Healthline: 0800 611 116
PlunketLine: 0800 933 922
Parent Helpline: 0800 568 856
CT and MRI scan wait time
This indicator looks at wait times for computerised tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, also known as CT scans* and MRI scans*. A CT scan is a special type of x-ray. An MRI scan uses magnetic fields and radio waves. Both give a detailed picture of the organs and other structures in the body.
Why is this important?
- CT and MRI scans can be part of the diagnosis, management and monitoring of many health problems.
- Access to timely CT and MRI scans helps healthcare providers make decisions about the type of care needed, improves referral processes and decreases the wait time for treatment.
What do these pictures show?
- On average, during 2021 about 67% (67of 100) people received their CT scan within 42 days or were still waiting for their scan for less than 42 days.
- On average, during 2021 about 39% (39 of 100) people received their MRI scan within 42 days or were still waiting for their scan for less than 42 days.
What does this mean for Southern?
- There is a national target that 95% (95 of 100) patients will have their CT scan and 90% (90 out of 100) patients will have their MRI scan in less than 42 days from the acceptance date of the referral.
- Too many patients are not receiving CT and MRI scans in the recommended timeframe.
- Several factors can affect wait times for diagnostic images such as CT and MRI. Southern radiology services are currently addressing several of these such as personnel and equipment. Southern Annual Report.
Emergency Department Use
This indicator looks at people presenting for medical care at Te Whatu Ora emergency departments (EDs) in Southern.
Why is this important?
- Emergency Departments are an important place for getting medical care in Southern.
- Ideally, EDs should be used for urgent health problems such as serious illness or injury.
- Reviewing patterns of ED attendance may help planners understand if there is unmet need in primary care.
What do these pictures show?
- Presentations to EDs increased between 2016 and 2022, apart from during the COVID lockdown March-June 2020. Lakes District experienced the largest increase, followed by Southland and Dunedin Hospitals.
- Emergency Department presentations vary with age. People aged 20-39 years generally had the highest number of ED presentations.
- The majority of ED presentations are for people assigned as triage categories* three and four (moderately low urgency). This has stayed roughly the same over time.
What this means for Southern
- Emergency Departments presentations have increased since 2016. This may be related to unmet need in other parts of the healthcare system.
- There is work underway within Te Whatu Southern to look at the provision of emergency and urgent care.
Falls - Older Southerners requiring hospitalisation
This indicator looks at people aged 75 and over who are admitted to a hospital because they have had a severe fall in the community.
Why is this important?
- Admission to the hospital after a fall indicates that there was a serious injury. Recovery from a serious injury can take a long time and can lead to loss of independence and quality of life.
- Falling is not a natural part of the ageing process.
- Many falls are preventable with appropriate supports.
What does this picture show?
- The number of hospital admissions related to falls in older people has stayed relatively constant overtime.
- In 2020/2021, there were 1152 people aged 75 years and over admitted to hospital as a result of a fall.
- Southern’s older people aged between 80-89 years have the highest numbers of falls requiring hospitalisation.
For more data on falls in Southern and around Aotearoa/New Zealand see - Falls & Fractures Outcomes Framework
What this means for Southern
- According to the Falls & Fracture Outcomes Framework, the rate of hospital admissions for falls in Southern are about the same or less rates for Aotearoa/New Zealand overall. Falls & Fractures Outcomes Framework
- Southern DHB and WellSouth, have established a B-Well, Falls & Fracture Prevention Team to help keep people well and independent.
- Information on falls admissions can help prevention groups better understand those who are at risk of a fall.
For more information on preventing falls see:
GP Healthcare Portals
This indicator looks at people who are enrolled* with a GP practice that offers a healthcare portal* also known as a patient portal*. Healthcare portals allow people to be more involved with their own healthcare, such as book appointments online, seeing their medical notes and seeing their lab results.
Why is this important?
- Patient portals can help improve health literacy* and patient involvement with their own healthcare.
- Patient portals allow people to have convenient and secure electronic access to their health information.
- Portals allow patients to be part of managing their own healthcare. Patient portals | Ministry of Health NZ
- Patient portals can help improve efficiency within a GP practice, such as repeat prescriptions, appointments, reminders, and lab results.
What do these pictures show?
- In 2021, about 68% (or 68 of 100) practices in Southern offered a healthcare portal. This number has been going up overtime.
- At the beginning of 2021, approximately 77% (or 77 out of 100) patients enrolled with a practice were registered to use a portal.
- Not all patients who have registered for a portal have activated it so that they can use it.
- About 42% (or 42 of 100) people who have registered for a portal have also activated it.
- More younger patients (aged under 40 years) are enrolled with a practice that also has a portal available.
- There are some differences based on ethnicity and portal access:
- Over time, people with Asian backgrounds are more likely to enrolled with a practice where a portal is available compared to other ethnic groups.
What this means for Southern.
- As part of the Southern Health Literacy Action Plan, the target is for at least 65% (or 65 of 100) patients to be enrolled with a practice that offers a patient portal.
- Although more than 65% of patients are enrolled with a practice that offers a portal far fewer have activated the portal.
Heart Disease risk assessments
This indicator looks at cardiovascular risk assessments (CVRA)* also known as heart checks that are done in primary care.
Why is this important?
- According to the Heart Foundation, over 170,000 people in Aotearoa/New Zealand have heart disease. Heart Foundation
- Heart disease causes the second highest number of deaths in Southern.
- Most heart disease is preventable.
What do these pictures show?
- The number of people enrolled* in a GP practice, aged 35-75, who have had a heart check in the last five years has decreased from around 85% in 2016 to 74% in 2020.
- Females are more likely to receive a heart check than males.
- Over 70% (70 of 100) people aged 60 years and over have had a heart check, and around half of eligible 35-39 year olds.
What this means for Southern
- The national target is that 90% (90 out of 100) of patients aged 45-79 have had a heart check in the last 5 years.
- In general, Southern is not meeting the target and the percentage of people getting heart checks is decreasing.
To do an online heart health check see:
Depending on your health background, heart checks could be recommended from age 25.
Immunisation in Southern infants
This indicator looks at immunisations* for pēpē/babies.
Why this is important?
- Aotearoa/New Zealand has a timetable (or schedule) of recommended immunisations that all pēpē/babies and tamariki/children should receive between 6 weeks and 12 years of age to give them the best possible protection from disease.
- Immunisation is the most effective way to protect pēpē/babies and tamariki/children from preventable diseases like whooping cough, rotavirus and diptheria. Immunisation Advisory Centre
What do these this picture show?
- On average, in Southern, between 2017-2021 about 92-95% (92-95 out of 100) pēpē are fully immunised at 8 months of age.
- There is some variability in immunisation rates between ethnic groups:
- New Zealand European and Asian populations tend have the highest rates of immunisation in Southern.
What does this mean for Southern?
- The target is that 95% (95 of 100) pēpē are fully immunised at 8 months of age. Southern DHB Annual Plan
- The rates of immunisation at 8 months for 2021 in Southern were generally above those of the national average of 87% (or 87 of 100 pēpē). Ministry of Health NZ
- Given the variability of immunisation rates among different parts of the community, whanau/families need continued support to help get more pēpē immunised.
Influenza vaccination in older Southerners
This indicator looks at the number of Southerners aged 65 years and older who have received an influenza* vaccination*.
Why this is important?
- Influenza is a viral illness that spreads quickly between people and can be serious or fatal.
- Older people are at higher risk of serious complications, like lung infections, hospitalisations and even death from getting infected with influenza.
- Getting an influenza vaccination every year can help reduce the chance of having serious complications. Ministry of Health NZ
What do these pictures show?
- Influenza vaccination rates for people aged 65 years and older have generally gone up between 2015 – 2019.
- 2015 – 43% (43 out of 100) were vaccinated
- 2019 – 50% (50 out of 100) were vaccinated
- Overall, Southern has slightly better influenza vaccination rates compared to the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
- From 2020, there was a spike in the influenza vaccination rate thought to be related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Influenza vaccination rates for people aged 65 years and older varies across ethnic groups:
- Asian populations are consistently less likely to be vaccinated in Southern.
What does this mean for Southern?
- The target is that 75% (75 of 100) people aged 65 years or older get an influenza vaccination.
- Overall, Southern has not reached the target between 2015 and 2021. This is similar to the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
- Southern is actively working in improve influenza immunisation rates including working with pharmacies. Southern DHB Annual Plan 2020-21
For more information on getting an influenza vaccine see Getting a flu shot.
To help track the flu join Flutracking.net | Tracking Influenza Across Australia and New Zealand.
Medication Side Effects Communication
This indicator looks at whether or not medication side effects were discussed with patients before being discharged from hospital.
Why is this important?
- Asking people about their health care experiences are an important way of understanding and improving the quality of the health care they receive.
- Helping people to understand the medications used to treat their health problems through good communication while in hospital is linked to improving health outcomes.
What does this picture show?
- Approximately half of adults leaving hospital have had the side effects of their medications explained to them before discharge. This has not changed much over time.
- Communication about medication side effects in Southern is similar to patients across the whole of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
What this means for Southern
- The target is that 90% (90 of 100) patients report receiving communication about their medication and the side effects. More patients could benefit from communication around their medication.
- Southern has a number of activities to address this issue including patient engagement with Clinical Pharmacists, Kaupapa Māori Health Services and the Home Team.
For more information on patient experiences with healthcare see: He Ara Aupiki, He Ara Auheke/Aotearoa New Zealand patient experience survey.
If you have questions about your medication see: University of Otago Pharmacy Clinic or Clinical Pharmacists » WellSouth These are free medications services available to those throughout Southern.
Mental health transition (discharge) plans
This indicator looks at wellness and transition (discharge) plans for people being discharged from an inpatient mental health service.
Why this is important?
- Mental health problems affect many New Zealanders; about 1 in 5 people.
- At times, people with mental health problems need to stay in hospital in an inpatient mental health unit.
- Ideally, people discharged from a mental health unit are discharged with a wellness or transition plan in place. These plans should consider a person’s wider health and social needs in an effort to facilitate them staying well in the community and avoiding a relapse. Office of Auditor General
What does this picture show?
- Overall, in Southern, clients being discharged from mental health units with a transition or wellness plan has been increasing.
- In the latter part of 2021/22, about 54% of people leaving a mental health unit had a transition or wellness plan.
- Generally, Southern has provided less transition and wellness plans compared to the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand, but this seems to be improving.
- Some of the dips during 2020/21 may be explained by COVID-19.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Mental ill-health is a leading cause of disability and general health loss. Wellness and transition plans are a key strategy help to prevent relapse for people and protect their overall health.
- The target is that 95% (or 95 of 100) clients discharged from a mental health unit have a quality transition or wellness plan. In recent years, this target has not been met. More support to increase the number of people leaving a mental health unit with a transition plan.
For mental health and addiction services near you or your whānau in Southern, see:
Mental health services | Ministry of Health NZ
Southern Health A-Z | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu
Older Southerners supported to live at home
This indicator looks at people, aged 65 years and over, who are supported to live in their own homes through Home and Community Support Services (HCSS)*. Home and Community Support Services
Why is this important?
- Supporting older people to live independently in their own homes can:
- help improve their quality of life.
- reduce the need for acute health care services.
- can help delay the need for shifting to residential care.
What do these pictures show?
- Although it has gone up and down, between July 2017 and September 2021, around 6-8% (or 6-8 of 100) eligible older people received home and community support services (HCSS).
- There is some variation between ethnic groups who receive HCSS:
- People of New Zealand European/Other ethnicity tend to receive the most HCSS (7-8%), while Asians receive the least (1-2%). This trend has stayed roughly the same between 2017-2021.
- The notable dip in 2020 coincides with the COVID lockdown (Level 4 through to Level 2), and the level of support returned to similar pre-lockdown levels.
What does this mean Southern?
- The overall percentage of those aged 65 and over supported at home by HCSS, has changed little over time in Southern.
- Southern needs to keep supporting older people to stay independent for as long as possible. This may mean giving people help to be able to stay living in a home setting.
- For older people who require care in supported accommodation e.g. rest homes, it is important that they are supported to be positive members of whānau and communities.
- Our services will need to adapt to the increase in an aging population (as shown in the Demography section).
For more information on:
- Getting a needs assessment see: Having a needs assessment | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu
- Living at home see: Home as my First Choice | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu
Older Southerners taking more than 11 medications
This indicator looks at people aged 65 years and over who take lots of different medicines (polypharmacy*). For these visuals, polypharmacy means being dispensed more than 11 medicines that have been prescribed by a doctor.
Why is this important?
- When people take lots of medicines:
- they have more chance of side effects (bad reactions or admission to hospital).
- they may not take the medicines they really need.
- When people have side effects to medicines it can decrease their quality of life.
What do these pictures show?
- A small number (around 5% or 5 out of 100) of Southerners, aged 65 years and over, are dispensed more than 11 medications.
- Polypharmacy varies by ethnicity:
- All ethnic groups have people who take lots of medicines.
- In Southern, similar to the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand, Pacific people take the most medicines and Asian people take the least.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Older people often need lots of different medicines and this can be ok.
- Overall, older people in Southern take more medicines than the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
- To reduce the side effects from too many medicines, Southerners need support to safely take less medicines.
Ask your doctor or nurse practitioner about your medicines or contact The Pharmacy Clinic. For more information about your medicines see My Medicines.
People under community treatment orders
This indicator looks at the people placed under a Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992: Section 29 Community Treatment Orders (CTOs)*. A section 29, CTO is a court order where a person is required to have a period of assessment and treatment for a mental health disorder in an outpatient setting, for up to 6 months.
Why is this important?
- Around 1 in 5 people in New Zealand experience a mental illness or addiction.
- Mental illness and addiction can have an impact on individuals, whānau/families and communities.
- A CTO is used where the severity of illness compromises the person’s ability to understand the impact of their ‘mental disorder’ on their ability to manage their current health, welfare and/or safety. With regular follow up and treatment, clinicians work to engage the person in care and develop insight into the reason treatment is considered necessary.
- Better understanding the patterns of CTOs can help planning and services to prevent people from developing severe mental illness.
What do these pictures show?
- In 2020/2021, around 40 per 100,000 people in Southern were placed under a section 29 order. The rate of people under a section 29 order in Southern has decreased since 2017/2018 and has been consistently lower than the rates nationally.
- While the rate of Māori in Southern placed under a section 29 order is lower than the order rate for Māori at a national level, it is still higher than the rate of orders non-Māori are placed under. This has been a consistent pattern since 2017/18.
What does this mean for Southern?
- In general, there are less people under Section 29 CTOs in Southern overtime. There is however, variation across ethnicities.
- The rate of Māori being placed under a Section 29 CTO has declined slightly in Southern; with about 100 per 100,000 Māori under an order in 20/21. This rate is three times more than non-Māori.
- The health sector sets an annual goal to reduce the rate of Māori placed under a Section 29 CTO order by at least 10%. Southern Annual Plan.
- Southern continues to keep supporting whanau to help narrow this gap via the Māori Mental Health services Te Oranga Tonu Tanga and Te Korowai Hou Ora. Southern Annual Report.
- Southern has embarked on a small project to understand the factors influencing the initiation and continuation of CTO’s for Māori Consumers for longer than 3 years. The aim of this work is to assist in reducing current CTO numbers for Māori, reduce the number of Māori going onto a CTO, and to begin addressing these issues in the general population.
For more information on mental health resources and services see:
Māori Mental Health | Southern | Te Whatu Ora | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu
Shorter Stays in Emergency Departments
This indicator looks at how long patients are in the emergency department (ED) before they are admitted to hospital, discharged home or transferred. In 2009, the Ministry of Health set a nationwide target that 95% (or 95 of 100) patients who go to the ED should be admitted, discharged or transferred within six hours of arrival. Health targets | Ministry of Health NZ (note the targets were changed in 2020 to Health System Indicators).
Why is this important?
- Length of stay and crowding in emergency departments can lead to delays in treatment, poorer patient outcomes and difficulty for doctors and nurses following management guidelines.
- Setting the six-hour target was one strategy to help improve a patient’s journey through the health system.
What do these pictures show?
- Overall, there has been a decline in the three EDs in Southern achieving the six-hour target. It went from from 94% (94 out of 100) of patients in 2015 to 80% (80 out of 100) in 2022.
- There is variation between hospitals and shorter stay performance in ED.
- Between 2015-2021, Lakes District Hospital consistently achieved the six hour target while Ōtepoti/Dunedin and Southland Hospitals steadily declined.
- There is small amount of variation in EDs achieving the six hour target between ethnic groups.
- In 2022, the six-hour target was met for 76% of Asian, 73% of Māori, 72% of Pacific and 67% of New Zealand European/Other patients.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Overtime, the number of patients experiencing a shorter stay in the ED has gone down. This is similar to the trend seen around Aotearoa/New Zealand. How is my DHB performing?
- This target is a measure of the the flow of acute (urgent) patients through public hospitals and home again. It is important for planners to understand these patterns in order to help improve patient flow in the hospital.
- There are several initiatives within Te Whatu Ora Southern to help improve the patient journey e.g., the Fit2Sit trial, the OPAL unit, the Home Team and the Acute at Home pathways.
Specialist assessment and treatment waiting times
This indicator looks at the waiting times for First Specialist Assessments (FSA)* and Specialist Treatment. These are also known as Elective Services Patient Flow Indicators (ESPIs)*.
Why this is important?
- Elective Services Patient Flow Indicators (ESPIs) help measure the performance of District Health Boards when it comes to a person’s journey through planned care, like seeing a specialist hospital or getting a planned surgery.
- Patients have a much better chance of recovering and getting on with their lives when they are diagnosed, treated, and return home quickly.
What do these pictures show?
- In Southern, during 2021 and 2022:
- between 20-30% (20-30 out of 100) patients waited longer than four months for their first appointment to see a hospital specialist.
- between 27-55% (27-55 out of 100) patients waited longer than four months for treatment of their condition after being told they need treatment
What does this mean for Southern?
- The target is that no patients (0%) should wait more than four months for a first appointment with specialist or for treatment.
- A range of strategies to improve planned care are under development in Southern; these include introducing Clinical Priority Criteria, acuity indexes to support prioritisation and telehealth infrastructure greater flexibility for patients and whānau to attend clinics.
Unmet need and barriers to accessing primary health care
This indicator looks at unmet need and barriers to accessing primary health care* involving either general practice or after-hours services.
Why is this important?
- Primary care provides important health services, “including diagnosis and treatment, health education, counselling, disease prevention and screening”.
- Community-based primary health care should be easy to access across Aotearoa/New Zealand. Being able to access health care when needed is important for maintaining and improving people’s health and well-being.
- Barriers or challenges getting primary health care can contribute to poor health outcomes and inequities in health outcomes.
What do these pictures show?
- Unmet need for:
- adults in Southern has been around 30% (30 out of 100 people) over the years.
- children in Southern has been around 13 to 18% (13-18 out of 100 people) over the years.
- Cost and transport are common factors in unmet need:
- On average about 18% (18 of 100) adults and 3% (3 of 100) children in Southern experience cost as a barrier to accessing primary care. Note: most primary care for children aged 0-14 is free at their enrolled practice.
- On average about 3% (3 of 100) adults and 2% (2 of 100) children in Southern experience transport as a barrier to accessing primary care.
What this means for Southern DHB
- Overall, the unmet need in Southern is similar to the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
- Southern children have slightly less unmet need compared to the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
- Understanding the patterns around barriers to accessing primary care in Southern is important to support whānau to help protect their health and wellbeing.
Definitions of unmet need:
Unmet need for primary health care is defined as having experienced one or more of the following types of unmet need for primary health care in the past 12 months:
- Unmet need for a GP due to cost
- Unmet need for an after-hours medical centre due to cost
- Unmet need for a GP due to lack of transport
- Unmet need for an after-hours medical centre due to lack of transport
- Unmet need for a GP due to lack of childcare for other children
- Inability to get an appointment at their usual medical centre within 24 hours.
Unmet need for GP services due to cost is defined as having had a medical problem but not visiting or talking to a GP because of cost, in the past 12 months.
Unmet need for GP services due to lack of transport is defined as having had a medical problem but not visiting or talking to a GP due to lack of transport, in the past 12 months.
For more reports on access to primary care see:
New Zealand Health Survey Annual Data Explorer
Prevalence and Consequences of Barriers to seeing a GP for children - Ministry of Social Development (msd.govt.nz)
Health service access: Health Quality & Safety Commission (hqsc.govt.nz)
Non-urgent mental health wait times (youth)
This indicator looks at how long people aged under 20 years have to wait to be seen by non-urgent mental health and addiction services*.
Why is this important?
- Mental health problems affect many New Zealanders, including rangatahi/youth.
- Mental health problems and substance misuse often first appear in teenage years and early twenties.
- Timely access to mental health and addictions services is important to help prevent adverse outcomes.
What do these pictures show?
- During the period 2016 - 2022:
- young people seen by Mental Health and Addiction services within 3 weeks has decreased.
- young people waiting more than 8 weeks to be seen by Mental Health and Addiction services has increased.
- In 2022, wait times varied based on ethnicity. Asian and European groups were more likely to be seen within 8 weeks compared to Maori and Pacific groups.
- In 2022, wait times varied by TLA. Southland had the largest percentage seen within 3 weeks and Gore had the largest percentage waiting more than 8 weeks.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Southern has not met the wait time targets for seeing under 20 year olds referred to Mental Health and Addiction services since 2016. The target is that once a referral is received and accepted, most people should be seen within three weeks (target 80%) and nearly all within eight weeks (target 95%).
- The wait times for young people to be seen by Mental Health and Addiction services in Southern have gradually increased since 2016.
- There is variation to Mental Health and Addiction services access across geographic and ethnic groups within the Southern region.
- Reducing the length of time people are waiting to access mental health and addiction services helps improve health outcomes.
For mental health and addiction services near you or your whānau in Southern, see:
Mental health services helplines| Ministry of Health NZ
Southern Health A-Z | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu