Southern District Health Board

The Southern District Health Board (Southern DHB) was a district health board which provided healthcare to an area covering the southern half of the South Island of New Zealand. In July 2022, the Southern DHB was dissolved as part of a nationwide overhaul of the district health board system. Its former functions and responsibilities were taken over by Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand).

Southern District Health Board
Formation1 May 2010; 14 years ago (2010-05-01)
FounderNew Zealand Government
Dissolved1 July 2022; 2 years ago (2022-07-01)
Legal statusActive
PurposeDHB
ServicesHealth and disability services
Parent organization
Ministry of Health
Websitewww.southernhealth.nz

History

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On 1 May 2010, the Otago and Southland DHBs were merged to form a new Southern DHB, with elected members coming from two constituencies – Otago and Southland – and the remainder appointed by the Ministry of Health, with the change taking effect from the 2010 local body elections.[1][2]

From 1 July 2010, a unified primary health organisation has covered the entire new Southern DHB region with primary health organisation (PHO) centres in Alexandra, Dunedin, and Invercargill with the mandate of providing PHO resources and services, replacing the previous nine PHOs.[citation needed]

COVID-19 pandemic

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On 11 November 2021, Southern DHB member Ilka Beekhuis resigned after she used her title to oppose Countdown's COVID-19 vaccine mandate on employees and voted against a DHB motion calling for a commitment to at least 90% vaccination rates across communities.[3]

Dissolution

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On 1 July 2022, the Southern District Health Board was formally disestablished as part of a nationwide overhaul of the district health board system. Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) assumed control over the former DHB's oversight of hospitals and health services. [4] As part of the overhaul, the Southern DHB's functions and operations were inherited by Te Whatu Ora Te Waipounamu, which covers the entire South Island.[5]

Geographic area

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The area covered by the Southern District Health Board is 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.[6] The area can be adjusted through an Order in Council.[7]

Governance

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The initial board was fully appointed. Since the 2001 local elections, the board has 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.[8] From 2015 to 2019 the elected board was replaced by a Commissioner appointed by the Minister.[9]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006286,224—    
2013297,420+0.55%
2018324,405+1.75%
Source: [10]

Southern DHB covered a population of 324,405 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 26,985 people (9.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 38,181 people (13.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 125,028 households. There were 160,581 males and 163,821 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. The median age was 38.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 57,030 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 69,372 (21.4%) aged 15 to 29, 144,042 (44.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 53,958 (16.6%) aged 65 or older.[10]

Ethnicities were 86.8% European/Pākehā, 10.5% Māori, 2.7% Pacific peoples, 6.6% Asian, and 2.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.[10]

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.[10]

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 54.2% had no religion, 34.9% were Christian, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 2.2% had other religions.[10]

Of those at least 15 years old, 54,003 (20.2%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 51,210 (19.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 38,088 people (14.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 134,193 (50.2%) people were employed full-time, 42,774 (16.0%) were part-time, and 8,490 (3.2%) were unemployed.[10]

Hospitals

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Public hospitals

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The following public hospitals are run by Southern District Health Board:

Gore had a public hospital, Seddon Memorial Hospital, which operated between 1908 and 1999. It had 130 beds and included medical, maternity and aged care services.[15]

Private hospitals

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The following private hospitals are located in the Southern District Health Board area:

Notes

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  1. ^ "New Southern DHB roles announced". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. 31 March 2010. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  2. ^ McKinnon, Malcolm (20 June 2012). "The first meeting of the Southern District Health Board, May 2010". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  3. ^ Steyl, Louisa (11 November 2021). "Southern DHB member resigns over vaccine mandate conflict". Southland Times. Stuff. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Health and disability system reforms". Ministry of Health. 5 July 2022. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  5. ^ 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 12 February 2023.
  6. ^ Public Health and Disability Act 2000, Schedule 1.
  7. ^ Public Health and Disability Act 2000, Section 19.
  8. ^ "District health boards". Ministry of Health. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Grant hopes new structure will 'future-proof' SDHB". Stuff. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Southern (DHB 22).
  11. ^ "Dunedin Hospital – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  12. ^ "Lakes District Hospital – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  13. ^ "Southland Hospital – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  14. ^ "Wakari Hospital – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  15. ^ "Gore Health History". gorehealth.co.nz. Gore Health.
  16. ^ "Ashburn Clinic – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  17. ^ "– Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  18. ^ "Clutha Health First – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  19. ^ "Dunstan Hospital – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  20. ^ "Gore Health – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  21. ^ "Hospice Southland – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  22. ^ "Mercy Hospital – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  23. ^ "Oamaru Hospital – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  24. ^ "Otago Community Hospice – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  25. ^ "Southern Cross Hospital Invercargill – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
  26. ^ "Winton Maternity Centre – Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.

References

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