The Nelson Marlborough and West Coast District Health Boards are to investigate the benefits of greater collaboration say their respective chairpersons - Suzanne Win of NMDHB and Rex Williams of West Coast DHB.
West Coast DHB has been concerned for some time that its smallness and relative isolation presents specific challenges for the delivery of health care, especially keeping abreast of the rapid rate of development in health care services and delivery of them.
"As a totally separate entity our population-based funding is limited by our small size and despite top-ups from Government we need to make the most of every dollar we spend. We have a skilled and very dedicated staff but our isolation makes it difficult to recruit and hold staff. We are the smallest DHB in New Zealand and our real problem is our lack of scale," says Rex Williams.
"We can already refer our patients to other hospitals that offer a wider range of services, especially tertiary services. What we are really looking for is the close collegial relationships with clinical and management professionals from another DHB and the potential cost savings shared planning and administrative services would bring," he says.
Speaking of Nelson Marlborough DHB Suzanne Win says that while her DHB's population base is a lot larger, many of the things that are true of the West Coast are true of the Nelson/Marlborough area.
"We both have widely distributed populations with many living in small and rural communities. This calls for effective linkages between primary and secondary health services and is an area we can help each other with. Like West Coast, there are also tangible cost savings to be made in Nelson/Marlborough," says Suzanne Win.
Following this announcement a study will be undertaken to investigate how the collaboration will operate in practice. This will be completed by the end of May and the proposal will go to both boards for final consideration.
Features of the arrangement that have emerged from preliminary investigation and discussions include a shared management team, a shared CE and some shared clinical activity. The two organisations would each retain their boards and separate identities. They would report separately and would maintain close relationships with their respective communities.
"In effect, we would be looking for gains in day-to-day operations that would improve our services, use our limited funds to best advantage and provide a more stimulating working environment for our staff," says Win.
The idea of shared services between DHBs, especially in administrative areas, is not a new idea. We are looking to extend the integration further into clinical and management areas. A similar form of collaboration has been recently established between the Otago and Southland DHBs.
The Minister of Health the Hon Tony Ryall has indicated his support for the move if the two DHBs choose this direction. West Coast DHB has a number of clinical relationships with Canterbury DHB and is also considering formalising or extending these relationships.
For further information please contact:
Mr Joel George
Acting Chief Executive
West Coast District Health Board
Greymouth 7840
Ph (03) 768 2893 or (027) 452 6934
Mr Rex Williams
Chair
West Coast District Health Board
Ph (021) 334 197
Mr Bryan Jamieson
Community Liaison Officer
West Coast DHB
PO Box 387
Greymouth 7840
Phone (DDI): (03) 769-7665
Mobile: 027 245-9595
Email: