National Cardiac Surgery Clinical Network

The National Cardiac Surgery Clinical Network  has been established to lead and oversee improvements to New Zealand's cardiac surgical services. It is among the first of a series of clinician-led networks.

Members of the Network include five of New Zealand's leading heart surgeons and clinical directors of cardiac surgery, as well as nurses, anaesthetists, intensive care specialists, the Ministry of Health and high level District Health Board (DHB) representation.

The Network's overall goal is to reform, improve and strengthen health care around cardiac surgical systems across New Zealand.  This will be achieved through increasing the number of funded cardiac surgeries performed, prioritising people with the greatest need and improvement in the quality and productivity of services.

Dr Andrew Hamer, head of the Network says these goals are best achieved on a regional and national level through, "a strong network made up of clinicians working in partnership with the DHBs."

John Ayling, Co-ordinator for the National Cardiac Surgery Clinical Network, says that, "in the first year since its creation, more cardiac surgery procedures for patients have been achieved than the previous year, and we anticipate we'll exceed the target for 2009/10."

Through the Network patients are provided with more certainty about when their cardiac surgery will be provided.  From the perspective of surgeons and clinical teams, they are more engaged and involved with how services are organised, and how patients are prioritised into those services.

"Effective clinical networks and leaders are fundamental drivers for delivering improvements to frontline services," says Chai Chuah, National Director, NHB.

"The National Cardiac Clinical Network is a good example of the NHB and clinical networks working together, to improve surgical services and provide them to those who need them most, and in a timely manner," Mr Chuah said.

The cardiac surgery network's goals are to;

• Increase delivery of  publicly-funded cardiac surgery
• Improve equity of access to cardiac surgery
• Improve the quality of service of cardiac surgery
• Ensure the development of appropriate systems and processes to support these goals
• Support District Health Boards, health professionals and the Ministry of Health to enhance the provision of publicly-funded cardiac surgery in New Zealand.