Massive Reduction in Outpatient Angiogram Waiting Times

Massive Reduction in Outpatient Angiogram Waiting Times

Teamwork and careful planning has lead to a dramatic reduction in waiting times for outpatient angiograms at Christchurch Hospital.

After the September 4 earthquake the number of people waiting for an outpatient angiogram jumped to 303 – a 102 percent increase.

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) Cardiologist David Smyth said the cardiology team has since developed a detailed plan with CDHB’s planning and Funding department to address the big increase in need.

A contract was arranged with St George’s Hospital, where CDHB Cardiologist Dr Sally Aldous began carrying out extra procedures.

Numbers had since significantly reduced to just 55 patients waiting with 51 of these booked to have the procedure in the next few weeks.

“Since January we’ve gone from having about 168 patients waiting more than six months for an angiogram, to just one patients waiting longer than six months,” Dr Smyth says.

“It is hoped to improve this target further to have no patients waiting more than 29 days by the end of this month.”

An angiogram is a procedure where dye is injected in a person’s arteries and viewed on an x-ray called an angiogram to determine where arteries may be blocked.

If there are any blockages a patient may need to have a further procedure to restore blood flow to their heart.

ENDS

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