There are 21 District Health Boards in New Zealand and they have existed since 1 January 2001 when the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 came into force. Whanganui is one of the smallest health boards in New Zealand.

What Does the Whanganui District Health Board Do?

Currently around 63,000 people live in Whanganui’s district and the District Health Board is responsible for “improving, promoting and protecting” their health and the health of the communities in which they live.

This involves assessing the health status of the district, and determining what funds should be directed to preventing illness, in both the primary health and public health service, while continuing to provide and improve existing hospital and other specialist services. The quantity, value and diversity of health and disability support services is large, and Whanganui District Health Board receives around $192 million each year.

The Whanganui District Health Board ensures health services are available to its communities either by contracting with external providers, such as General Practitioners, rest homes, dentists and mental health providers, or providing the services directly, for example hospital services through its provider division. 

Whanganui District Health Board employs over 900 people to carry out its business. Assets valued at around $150 million are employed, including buildings and equipment.

Functions

Whanganui District Health Board has four key functions or core areas of business:

• Assessment of health needs, planning and monitoring of health and disability services
• Funding and purchasing health and disability services
• Providing health and disability services, through a directly managed Crown owned public hospital and other services
• Governance, administration and management of Whanganui District Health Board in regard to the function or core business areas above

Obligations & Objectives

The national obligations and objectives of District Health Boards, are as follows:

• Improve, promote and protect the health of communities
• Promote the integration of health services, especially primary and secondary care services
• Promote effective care or support for those in need of personal health services or disability support
• Promote the inclusion and participation in society and independence of people with disabilities
• Reduce health disparities by improving health outcomes for Maori and other population groups
• Reduce, with a view to eliminating, health outcome disparities between various population groups
• Exhibit a sense of social responsibility by having regard to the interests of the people to whom they provide, or for whom they arrange the provision of, services
• Foster community participation in health improvement, and in planning for the provision of health services and for significant changes to the provision of health services
• Uphold the ethical and quality standards commonly expected of providers of services and public sector organisations
• Exhibit a sense of environmental responsibility by having regard to the environmental implications of their operations
• Be good employers