Whanganui District Health Board

The Whanganui District Health Board (Whanganui DHB or WDHB) was a district health board that provided healthcare to the Wanganui, Rangitikei, and parts of the Ruapehu districts of New Zealand. In July 2022, it was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand).

Whanganui District Health Board
AbbreviationWDHB
Formation1 January 2001 (2001-01-01)
FounderNew Zealand Government
Dissolved1 July 2022 (2022-07-01)
Legal statusActive
PurposeDHB
ServicesHealth and disability services
Parent organization
Ministry of Health
Websitewww.wdhb.org.nz

History

The Whanganui District Health Board, like most other district health boards, came into effect on 1 January 2001 established by the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000.[1]

On 1 July 2022, the Whanganui DHB and the other 19 district health boards were disestablished, with Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) assuming their former functions and operations including hospitals and health services.[2] The Waikato DHB was brought under Te Whatu Ora's Central division.[3]

Geographic area

The area covered by the Whanganui District Health Board was defined in Schedule 1 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 and based on territorial authority and ward boundaries as constituted as at 1 January 2001.[4] The area could have been adjusted through an Order in Council.[5]

Governance

The initial board was fully appointed. Since the 2001 local elections, the board had been partially elected (seven members) and in addition, up to four members get appointed by the Minister of Health. The minister also appoints the chairperson and deputy-chair from the pool of eleven board members.[6]

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200662,211—    
201360,120−0.49%
201864,599+1.45%
Source: [7]

Whanganui DHB served a population of 64,599 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 4,479 people (7.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 2,388 people (3.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 25,281 households. There were 31,731 males and 32,871 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female. The median age was 42.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 13,068 people (20.2%) aged under 15 years, 11,142 (17.2%) aged 15 to 29, 27,807 (43.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 12,579 (19.5%) aged 65 or older.[7]

Ethnicities were 78.5% European/Pākehā, 27.4% Māori, 4.0% Pacific peoples, 3.7% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.[7]

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.[7]

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 48.0% had no religion, 37.1% were Christian, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 5.6% had other religions.[7]

Of those at least 15 years old, 6,918 (13.4%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 12,087 (23.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $25,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 4,983 people (9.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 22,812 (44.3%) people were employed full-time, 7,788 (15.1%) were part-time, and 2,412 (4.7%) were unemployed.[7]

Hospitals

Public hospitals
  • Whanganui Hospital (39.943912°S 175.037783°E / -39.943912; 175.037783) in Gonville, Whanganui has 172 beds and provides children's health, maternity, surgical, medical, geriatric and mental health services.[8]

Private hospitals

Notes
  1. Rudman, Brian (13 February 2012). "Brian Rudman: Three health boards must marry and economise". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  2. "Health and disability system reforms". Ministry of Health. 5 July 2022. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  3. Brew, Andy (1 July 2022). "Dissolution Has Begun: DHB member fears 'loss of localism' with Health NZ". Stuff. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  4. Public Health and Disability Act 2000, Schedule 1.
  5. Public Health and Disability Act 2000, Section 19.
  6. "District health boards". Ministry of Health. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  7. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Whanganui (DHB 11).
  8. "Whanganui Hospital - Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  9. "Taihape Health - Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  10. "Belverdale Hospital - Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  11. "Hospice Wanganui - Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.

References
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