$5m to avert heart wait-list deaths (New Zealand)

"Auckland and Northland patients needing state-paid heart surgery have been assured waiting times will shorten following a $5 million boost. Health Minister Tony Ryall announced the cash yesterday after audits at Auckland City Hospital revealed that 141 patients had in May been waiting too long for surgery. The maximum wait under clinical guidelines ranges from two weeks to three months, depending on each patient's condition. Yesterday, the hospital promised to cut waiting times to a maximum of three months by October 31." - NZ Herald