Waikato Reduces Heart and Lung Surgery Waitlist by 70% in Major Health Boost

“Heart and lung conditions can be life-threatening if left untreated, so it is fantastic news that more people in Waikato are getting the treatment they need faster,” Minister Brown said.

Patients in the Waikato region are receiving life-saving heart and lung surgeries significantly faster, with the cardiothoracic treatment waitlist reduced by 70% since November 2023. Health Minister Simeon Brown says the progress marks a major step toward ensuring every New Zealander can access timely, high-quality healthcare when they need it most.

Between November 2023 and March 2025, the number of people awaiting cardiothoracic treatment in Waikato dropped from 90 to just 27. Those waiting longer than four months for surgery also saw a sharp decrease — from 13 to only 4.

“Heart and lung conditions can be life-threatening if left untreated, so it is fantastic news that more people in Waikato are getting the treatment they need faster,” Minister Brown said. “Putting patients first means delivering timely, quality healthcare for all Kiwis, and that’s exactly what is happening here.”

Frontline Focus and Expanded Surgical Capacity

The Health Minister credited the improvements to the dedication of Waikato’s frontline health professionals and the region’s strategic approach to meeting government health targets. Efforts to prevent surgery cancellations and expand surgical capacity have been central to the waitlist reductions.

“This success reflects the hard work and commitment of local healthcare teams,” Brown said. “Their focus on patient care has been essential to achieving these results.”

The Waikato region has implemented measures such as:

• Better scheduling systems to maximise theatre use and reduce downtime.

• Proactive patient management to ensure timely pre-surgical assessments and readiness.

• Collaboration between clinical teams to reduce bottlenecks in operating room availability.

• Flexible staffing arrangements to accommodate higher surgical volumes.

Real-Life Impact for Patients

Minister Brown emphasised that the statistics translate into real-life benefits for individuals and families. “Whether it’s a grandparent receiving a heart bypass and enjoying more time with their grandchildren, a young mum recovering from lung surgery and returning to her family, or a farmer getting back to work after life-saving treatment — this is about delivering outcomes that matter,” he said.

Government’s National Health Targets

Reducing wait times for elective procedures, particularly for critical surgeries, is a key health target for the Government. The goal is that by 2030, 95% of patients will be treated within four months of specialist assessment.

To reach this, the Government is:

• Investing in the health workforce to ensure staffing levels can meet patient demand.

• Validating and managing waiting lists to ensure accuracy and fairness.

• Boosting surgical capacity through infrastructure improvements and efficiency measures.

• Strengthening partnerships with hospitals to align resources with patient needs.

Minister Brown says these actions form part of a nationwide plan to improve patient access to specialist care, regardless of location. “We want every New Zealander — whether in Waikato or anywhere else — to get the care they need sooner,” he said.

With the Waikato’s cardiothoracic success story, health officials hope similar improvements can be achieved across other regions and medical specialties, bringing New Zealand closer to its vision of a healthcare system that delivers timely, high-quality treatment for all.