MidCentral Health

MidCentral Health provides hospital and associated services costing around $284 million per annum.



Palmerston North Hospital's emergency department.

Image Caption Palmerston North Hospital's emergency department. 

MidCentral Health is an exciting, innovative and leading provider of primary, secondary and tertiary health services to the region of MidCentral District Health Board.

MidCentral Health employs the majority of MidCentral District Health Board’s staff (1,800) to deliver healthcare. There are over 350 resourced beds in two locations:

MidCentral Health provides some lower level tertiary services and some specialist community health services are provided on a wider regional basis. These include regional cancer treatment services (one of six in New Zealand), breast screening services, haematology, renal and public health services.  MidCentral Health’s position as a provider of regional services is growing in collaboration with other DHB’s within the region.

Secondary and community specialist health services are provided by MidCentral Health. Read more about the specialist services provided by MidCentral Health.

Specialist Services

Specialist services are provided throughout the patient’s continuum of care, including:

  • Medical and surgical services
    Includes inpatient and outpatient services in General Medicine, Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Medical Oncology, Radiotherapy, Clinical Haematology, Rheumatology, Nephrology and Dermatology.  A full range of surgical specialties and Emergency Services are provided from Palmerston North Hospital, with the exception of neurosurgery and cardiothoracic surgery. 
  • Maternity services
    Antenatal, delivery, postnatal services and community midwifery are provided from Palmerston North Hospital and Horowhenua Health Centre.  Specialist services including Gynaecology and Colposcopy are provided from Palmerston North Hospital.
  • Child health services
    A wide range of child health services are provided within Palmerston North Hospital as well as some services at Horowhenua Health Centre.  Public health nurses, district nurses, paediatric resource nurses, social workers, asthma educators and domiciliary therapists provide services in the community also.  There is a Level Two Neonatal Unit at Palmerston North Hospital.
  • Mental health and alcohol and drug services
    Within MidCentral District Health Board the Mental Health Service encompasses: mental health promotion and illness prevention, general psychiatry, community and rehabilitative psychiatry, acute assessment and treatment services, child adolescent and family mental health, alcohol, drug and substance abuse services, and specialist Maori mental health services.
  • Oncology services
    The Regional Cancer Treatment service provides medical oncology, radiation oncology, palliative care and haematology services.  It covers a population of 555,000 people over a catchment area which includes Gisborne (Tairawhiti) , Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Whanganui and Wairairapa.  It has a full range of cancer occupations, and participates in a number of national and international clinical trials.
  • ElderHealth, disability support and rehabilitation services
    A comprehensive medical and psychiatric service committed to promoting the quality of life of the elderly is provided through Palmerston North Hospital and Horowhenua Health Centre.  In addition District Nursing Services are provided in all areas. 
  • Public health services
    Public health services are population-based health promotion and health protection activities that are concerned with whole populations, or groups such as children or elderly people, rather than individuals. MDHB’s Public Health Service is made up of four core teams: Lifestyle and Health Development, Primary Care, Regulation, and, Sexual Health.
  • Associated clinical support
    A full range of clinical support services are provided, including medical imaging, nuclear medicine, ultrasound, pharmacy, and medical photography.  Laboratory services are provided by a contracted provider.

The clinical assessment, treatment and care provided by MidCentral Health is predominantly secondary with some tertiary intervention level and specialist input into primary.



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Last Updated 21/07/2011


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Horowhenua integrated family health centre.

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Palmerston North Hospital.

Palmerston North Hospital

General information about Palmerston North Hospital.

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