30 Aug 2010

Elective surgery numbers increase

8:42 pm on 30 August 2010

There has been an increase in the number of patients receiving elective surgery over the past year.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says 138,443 people had elective surgery in the year to June, an increase of 8600 on the previous year.

Mr Ryall says improving access to elective surgery has been a top priority and district health boards have responded very well.