Health Minister Tony Ryall put some light on the largest ever annual increase in waiting list patients who want to receive elective surgery. About 134,763 patients underwent operations last year.

It clearly indicates that more than 12,000 extra people got surgery in 2009 as compared to those in 2008.

Mr. Ryall said, “Elective surgery is a priority for New Zealanders, and this result reflects the great work of hospital staff up and down the country”.

The people had been benefited from operations. Be it a joint replacement or a cataract removal.

According to Ryall, the new Government for the first three years in office had aimed to deliver an extra 4000 elective operations per year.

The result exhibits DHBs moving resources to improve frontline services. The staff in the hospitals around the country has really worked hard to get those patients seen.

National and DHBs have broken down barriers to elective surgery for thousands more New Zealanders and they are resolute to do better for patients.