MDHB News

centralAlliance (Central Alliance) - Regional Women's Health Service

Information and updates about the centralAlliance (Central Allliance) Regional Women's Health Service project.

Background Information

Following a series of service delivery challenges that faced Whanganui DHB in late 2006, a Regional Child and Women's Health Services Taskforce was established to develop a conceptual plan for women’s and children’s health services in the Whanganui-MidCentral region.

The goal was to explore how a collaborative, regional approach could be used to ensure local access to safe, sustainable health services and in a way that optimises the overall use of scarce resources, such as medical, nursing and midwifery workforce.

Since this taskforce was implemented, both regional initiatives are sub-committees of the over-arching centralAlliance framework.

Progess and Updates

"Collaboration across DHBs is essential to ensure services are equitable and sustainable, and that quality and good health outcomes are delivered." This is the main focus of the Regional Women's Health Service sub-committee of the centralAlliance. The timeframe and focus the committee is working to is:

“Two sites, One service” - Target of a virtual single service entity by December 2010 and full operational integration by December 2011.

Progress to date has been significant with early benefits already realised through successful O&G consultant recruitment and acute cover across the region with 24 hour coverage for women at both base hospitals.