What a District Health Board does
MidCentral DHB has many legislative responsibilities, and these are documented in the NZ Public Health and Disability Act 2000 and the Crown Entities Act 2004. Its plans and performance are well documented and available to the public.
MidCentral District Health Board logo.
What does the MidCentral District Health Board do?
Currently around 160,000 people live in MidCentral’s district and the DHB 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 (via 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 MidCentral DHB receives around $544 million each year.
The DHB ensures health services are available to its communities either by contracting with external providers (such as GPs, rest homes, dentists, pharmacists, and Maori and mental health providers) or providing the services directly (eg hospital services) through its provider division, MidCentral Health. Some of the services provided directly by MidCentral Health are for a larger region. This includes cancer and renal services, public health, and specialist equipment services. Residents of MidCentral DHB’s region currently enjoy a health status in line with the national average.
MidCentral DHB employs over 2,000 people to carry out its business. Assets valued at around $150 million are employed, including buildings and equipment.
Who is a DHB Accountable to?
The Board of MidCentral DHB is accountable to the Minister of Health.
The NZ Public Health and Disability Act 2000 and the Crown Entities Act 2004 are the legislation which govern DHBs.
MidCentral DHB is categorised as a Crown Agent under section 7 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
Key Accountability Documents & Arrangements
Crown Funding Agreement
The Board is accountable to the Minister of Health. A “Crown Funding Agreement” is agreed on an annual basis between the District Health Board and the Minister. This document outlines the money to be provided by the Crown in return for the provision, or arranging for the provision, of specific services. The Crown Funding Agreement also contains the other two key accountability documents, being the Statement of Intent and the District Annual Plan.
Statement of Intent
This is a summary document specifying high level District Health Board objectives, outputs, obligations and performance measures (statement of service performance) and financial information for the year ahead, and a forecast for the following two years. It is a summary of the District Health Board’s Strategic and Annual Plan.
Annual Plan
The Annual Plan sets out the outputs and associated performance expectations to be achieved across the three main aspects of the District Health Board’s role:
i. governance and management of hospital and health services
ii. funding health and disability services
iii. governance and management of the District Health Board
The Annual Plan is linked to the Regional Services Plan, so that the various outputs and performance expectations lead to the achievement of the District Health Board’s long term health outcomes.
Annual Report
Each year, District Health Boards are required to publish an Annual Report, in accordance with the NZ Public Finance Act 1989. This report includes a Statement of Financial Performance and a Statement of Service Performance. These statements are audited by the Office of the Auditor-General, and reflect the service and financial measures contained in the Statement of Intent and the actual results for the year.
Regional Services Plan
District Health Boards are also required to develop a long term regional services plan. This plan ensures sustainability of health services across the central region which comprises MidCentral, Capital & Coast, Hawke's Bay, Hutt Valley, Wairarapa and Whanganui DHBs.. It informs the development of the annual plan and statement of intent.
Strategic plans have a longer term focus, and require the Minister of Health’s endorsement so as to ensure they are aligned to the Government’s overall policies.
Minister of Health’s Expectations and National Health Targets
Each year, as part of the District Annual Planning process, the Minister of Health outlines his expectations of District Health Boards for the forthcoming year. He also establishes National Health Targets of which there are six. These expectations and targets are incorporated into the Board’s Annual Plan. Quarterly reporting against the National Health Targets occurs.
District Health Board planning is to be consistent with national health and disability strategies, including but not limited to:
- The New Zealand Health Strategy
- The New Zealand Disability Strategy
- The Primary Care Strategy
- He Korowai Oranga: Maori Health Strategy
- The Health of Older People Strategy, 2002
- Te Tahuhu: Improving Mental Health 2005-2015 (2005)
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Last Updated 20/07/2011