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Samples of a colon biopsy to be sent to a laboratory.
Photo: A. BENOIST / BSIP
The reduction in the number of outsourced colonoposcopies for the private sector last year was due to a temporary “increase” in the previous year – paid by the rest of covid financing, says Health NZ.
However, despite the peak of private outsourcing, the growth of publicly financed colonoscopy was leveling, compared to previous years, before back in 2024.
Waiting times for all types of colonoscopy (urgent, non -urgent, surveillance and screening) increased last year as the number of procedures decreased from 62,957 by 2023 to 58,447 by 2024.
This is equivalent to 4510 patients unless they obtain their procedures through the public system.
Health NZ had already blamed greater demand and scarcity of workforce.
However, NZ Cancer Bowel said the data suggested that it was also the result of “reduced delivery”.
In an RNZ monitoring response, NZ’s national medical director Dame Helen Stokes Lampard said the peak in 2022/23 is due to a temporary increase in planned care financing.
“Excess financing was made available after the COVID-19 response and recovery fund closes at the end of 2022.
“Part of this money was used to target planned service waiting lists – especially for people waiting 12 months or more. This included colonoscopies.”
Outsourced Colonoscopy of the Financial Year (daytime and only outpatient case)
2019/20 6389
2020/21 7753
2021/22 7552
2022/23 10.325
2023/24 9577
Overall, there was “an upward trend” for outsourced dogs, with “a peak” in the financial year of 2022/23, said Stokes Lampard.
However, NZ Health data showed that, despite the increase in outsourcing, the growth of the total number of colonoscopy -financed by the public (in public and private) was slower in 2022 and 2023 compared to previous years.
Comparing civil years, year -by -year growth increased by 8.8 % between 2017 and 2018, then 12.8 % (2019), 4.3 % (2020), 6.3 % (2021), 3.7 % (2022) and 3.4 % (2023) before decreasing 7.2 % by 2024.
The medical director of NZ Frank Frizelle of NZ that the fall in 2024 occurred at the top of the loss of the “usual increase for changes in population demography, ie the aging population.”
Based on an average increase of 6.4 % in the previous six years (ranging from 3.4 % to 12.8 %), this would mean 4000 more procedures, he said.
“Therefore, it can be said that the Health NZ Teu is actually providing a total of 8500 fewer colonoscopies (4500 reduction from the previous point plus 4000 of the failure to continue the growth of changes in the population) than the previous standard suggests that we need.”
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