PHO Enrolments Advancing Rapidly In Waitemata

Enrolment In Primary Health Organsations Advancing Rapidly In Waitemata

Some 352,000 Waitemata district residents are now enrolled with a Primary Health Organisation (PHO) according to latest figures for the April-June quarter.

The number represents around 75% of the district’s population and means Waitemata is running ahead of the predicted enrolment rate both for the district and nationally.

In its five year strategic plan (2002-2007) Waitemata DHB’s aim is to have 90% of the district’s population enrolled in PHOs by 2007.

However Waitemata DHB Chair Kay McKelvie says the rapid rate of enrolment means that the 90% target is expected to be reached later this year.

“It’s only 16 months since the first PHO in the district was established so having achieved 75% enrolment in that time is excellent progress. It means there are already a large number of people living in the district who can access the range of community-based health services being provided through their PHOs,” she says.

PHOs represent and support groups of health providers such as GPs, nurses, pharmacists and community health workers who work to look after the people enrolled with them. MORE…

They are central to the government’s Primary Health Care Strategy which focuses on areas like preventative care, community involvement and improving healthcare accessibility and affordability.

Waitemata DHB has five PHOs – one in North Rodney, two on the North Shore and two in West Auckland.

Throughout the country there are 68 PHOs servicing more than 3.17 million New Zealanders.

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