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Snapshot of Waikato DHB

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About us

Snapshot of Waikato DHB

Our health district

Waikato District Health Board (DHB) is one of 20 district health boards in New Zealand.  District health boards are responsible for providing or funding the provision of health services in their district.

Waikato DHB serves a population of more than 390,000 and covers more than 21,000km2. It stretches from northern Coromandel to close to Mt Ruapehu in the south, and from Raglan on the west coast to Waihi on the east. 

The principal iwi (Māori tribal groups) in the Waikato DHB district are Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa, and Waikato. Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Whanganui iwi groups also reside within the district, and a significant number of Māori living here affiliate to iwi outside the district.

There are 10 territorial local authorities within Waikato DHB boundaries – Hamilton City, Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Otorohanga, (part of) Ruapehu, South Waikato, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato, Waipa, and Waitomo.

The board and executive offices of Waikato DHB are located in Hamilton city on the Waiora Waikato Hospital Campus.

 

  • Previously, Waikato DHB was governed by a board of up to 11 members. In May 2019 the Health minister replaced the board with a commissioner to oversee improvements in governance, financial planning and performance. 
  • The return to an elected board will follow elections in 2022. 
  • The chief executive reports to the commissioner.
  • Waikato DHB has a relationship with iwi within our health district through an Iwi Māori Council. Read more about the Iwi Māori Council.
  • Waikato DHB has a Consumer Council, which works in partnership with the DHB to provide a consumer perspective, help shape health services and make sure they meet the needs of Waikato communities.
  • Waikato DHB has an internal Clinical Governance Board of senior clinicians, professional leaders and clinical service managers. It reports through the chief executive.
  • Commissioner of Waikato DHB - Dr Karen Poutasi.
  • Deputy commissioners appointed by the commissioner - Dr Andrew Connolly, Chad Paraone and Prof Margaret Wilson.
  • Chief executive Dr Kevin Snee.
  • All executive members.

Vision: Healthy People. Excellent Care.
Mission: Enable us all to manage our health and wellbeing. Provide excellent care through smarter, innovative delivery.

Under this sit six key strategic imperatives:

  • Health equity for high need populations / Oranga.
  • Safe, quality health services for all / Haumaru.
  • People centred services / Manaaki.
  • Effective and efficient care and services / Ratonga a iwi.
  • A centre of excellence in learning, training, research and innovation / Pae taumata.
  • Productive partnerships / Whanaketanga. 

Read more

People at heart / Te iwi ngakaunui:

  • Give and earn respect / Whakamana. 
  • Listen to me, talk to me / Whakarongo. 
  • Fair play / Mauri Pai. 
  • Growing the good / Whakapakari. 
  • Stronger together / Kotahitanga.

Waikato DHB receives funding from government to undertake its functions.  

About 60 per cent of funding received by Waikato DHB is used to directly provide hospital and health services, including:

  • five hospital sites including a tertiary teaching hospital (Waikato Hospital in Hamilton), a secondary hospital in Thames, and three rural hospitals in Tokoroa, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui
  • two continuing care facilities
  • one mental health inpatient facility
  • community based services
  • population health services.

The remaining 40 per cent is used to fund contracted services provided by non-government organisations (NGOs), primary health care organisations (PHOs), pharmacies and laboratories, including: 

  • aged related residential care facilities 
  • pharmacies
  • general practitioner (GP) practices
  • Māori organisations
  • Pacific organisations
  • primary health alliance partners.

Some services are funded and contracted nationally by the Ministry of Health and National Health Board, for example public health services, breast and cervical screening, as well as the provision of disability support services for people aged less than 65 years. 

As at May 2019:

  • we have 7754 employees (48.6 per cent full-time, 47.5 per cent part-time, and 3.9 per cent casual), making a total of 6474.9 FTEs (full-time equivalents)
  • we have employees from more than 50 different nationalities and ethnicities working together to provide health services
  • Māori make up 9 per cent of the workforce (but 23 per cent of our DHB population)
  • NZ European make up the single largest ethnic group of employees (48 per cent).

Breakdown of employee roles is as follows.

  • 11.5 per cent - medical. 
  • 48.2 per cent - nursing/midwifery.
  • 17.6 per cent - allied/technical health.
  • 5.3 per cent - support.
  • 17.4 per cent management/admin.

Map of the Midland health region

Midland DHBs or the Midland health region are terms that refer to the five district health boards across the central North Island - Waikato, Lakes, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Tairawhiti district health boards.

The Midland region serves a total population of more than 854,000 people.

There is increasing collaboration on clinical service planning and clinical record sharing across the Midland region and with the primary health care sector.  

  • Key publications and policies.
  • Quarterly magazine  called Waikato Health News, for public, patients, visitors and families. This is printed and distributed through our facilities, and is also available online.
  • Waikato DHB website.
  • News website - Waikato DHB Newsroom includes articles about our people and our organisation, plus our latest videos, local health alerts, and links to relevant articles published by other organisations.
  • Social media - we have a number of Facebook pages (primarily @WaikatoDHB and @WaikatoHospital), and a presence on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.