Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in New Zealand and accounted for 40% of deaths in 2002. Cardiovascular disease is also the leading cause of disability for New Zealanders. Many cardiovascular diseases are preventable and approximately 80% of the population have 3 or more modifiable risk factors such as smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet and being overweight. Despite improvements over the last few decades, the health and economic burden of cardiovascular disease exceeds that of any other condition.

The Central Region Cardiology Clinical Network was established in April 2008 and is guided by the following key principles and service improvement initiatives.

• Regional collaboration for service improvement and innovation across the continuum
  
• Equity of access across the Central Region
  
• Provision of a quality service, which is locally provided where this is safe, affordable, and sustainable
  
• More and better services within the constraints of the total regional budget
  
• Workforce development as a key enabler of service development