Wellington, Aug 26 NZPA - Eighty seven percent of two-year-olds are fully immunised, up from 81 percent a year ago, new district health board (DHB) figures show.

Health Minister Tony Ryall, releasing the figures in Parliament today, said the goal had been to have 85 percent of two-year-olds immunised by July.

Southland led the way, with 95 percent, followed by Wairarapa on 94 percent and Otago on 93 percent. However, Bay of Plenty and Northland lagged well behind, on 76 and 77 percent respectively.

The immunisation target is one of six the Government set the nation's 21 DHBs a year ago.

Another was for shorter waits for cancer treatment, and the figures showed 99 percent of patients nationally had received radiation treatment within six weeks of their first specialist assessment. The target of 100 percent was achieved by 18 DHBs, with Nelson/Marlborough and Canterbury achieving 97 percent each.

However, in South Canterbury only 89 percent of cancer sufferers received radiation within six weeks.

A six-hour turnaround for hospital emergency departments was achieved for 87 percent of patients -- up from 81 percent but still well below the 95 percent target.

MidCentral was the only DHB not to meet the elective surgery target of 100 percent, achieving 96 percent.

"The first full year of the Government's new health targets show DHBs are delivering more frontline services for our significant investment in the public health service," Mr Ryall said.

"We are improving frontline services by both a strong focus on what matters to patients, and giving doctors and nurses more say."

But Labour Party health spokeswoman Ruth Dyson disputed Mr Ryall's claim New Zealanders were getting improved services.

"Significant cuts in mental health services are occurring around the country, the increase in elective surgery funding and operations is in part to deal with the thousands of people no longer receiving treatment through ACC and at least $12 million was cut from smoking cessation programmes in the last budget," she said.

"The reality is New Zealanders are missing out on home support care, they are being dumped by ACC and forced on to DHB waiting lists and money is being cut from mental health and smoking cessation services."