Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has again done well in the national health targets for the 2011/12 year that ended on June 30 2012.

The immunisation target of having 95% of two year olds fully immunised by July 2012 improved in the last quarter to reach 87% for the end of year, however the target was not met.

Nelson and Marlborough Emergency Departments saw 98% of people within six hours against a target of 95% of people seen within this timeframe.

In the target "Shorter waits for Cancer Treatment" again the DHB achieved 100%. The target will now include chemotherapy treatment as well as radiotherapy delivered in tertiary centres.

The "Better Help for Smokers to Quit" target of offering advice to 95% of smokers who enter DHB services was met in Nelson Marlborough with 96%.

In "Improved Access to Elective Services" the DHB completed 103% of the target number of elective or planned procedures for the year. This combined with having no patients waiting for longer than six months for treatment is a major achievement for the district.

"More Heart and Diabetes Checks" finished the year on 50% of the eligible population having cardiovascular risk assessments done in the last five years, short of the target of having 60% of the eligible population checked. The target for the 2012/13 year is now 75%.

On the immunisation target Community Based Service Directorate, Service Director Peter Burton said, "We are pleased with the result, given that about 9% of parents actively decline to immunise their children in Nelson Marlborough. This makes it challenging to reach the target and to keep diseases, such as whooping cough, at bay.

"General Practice and the Outreach Immunisation Service continue to follow up and provide opportunities to these families immunise their children."

Mr Burton said we endeavour to ensure that parents making this decision have all of the information they need to make an informed decision.

"Immunisation of children remains a very important public health measure," he said.

NMDHB works closely with Nelson and Marlborough Primary Health Organisations to ensure every child in the district can access their free vaccinations.

He said it is important that parents understand the consequences if they chose not to vaccinate.

"For instance unvaccinated children can be asked to stay at home for up to two weeks, during a disease outbreak, and of course children can become seriously unwell."

During the recent whooping cough outbreak 49 babies in Nelson Marlborough aged less than one year had the disease.

"Some of these babies were too young to be vaccinated and the low rate of vaccination in the community put them at higher risk of contracting the disease," said Mr Burton.

The target for the next year is to have 85% of eight month olds immunised.

"Immunisation is free, and is one of the most effective ways of protecting your child and the community from serious illnesses. If you have any questions about immunisation please contact your general practice or immunisation co-ordinator," said Mr Burton.