21 DHBS Respond To Tight Economic Conditions

21 District Health Boards

Media Release For Immediate Use
16 March 2009

21 DHBS Respond To Tight Economic Conditions

The Chairs of the 21 District Health Boards agree the DHBs must tighten their belts in response to a significant worsening of Government forecasts.

The DHBs already work collectively across a number of areas, including value for money, health procurement, workforce issues, employment relations, primary health, quality and information.

At a meeting in Wellington today, DHB Chairs heard about the significant challenges facing Government, and health in particular, from the Director General of Health, the Treasury, and the Chair of the Ministerial Group on Health. A serious deterioration in the fiscal position is forecast which will affect the health sector.

“Today’s briefings confirmed that DHBs will be under greater pressure to make significant savings and increase value for money over the next three to five years” says Peter Glensor, Chair of the DHB Chairs.

“It was especially powerful to get a clear sense of the economic environment in which we will be operating for some time yet.”

“The overarching priority, of course, is to make sure people get the best possible health care. Today’s meeting showed that all 21 DHBs are utterly focused on improving health services and using health resources wisely.”

DHB Chairs endorsed a new set of national collective priorities which deliver on the challenges facing health, including the Government’s priorities.

Peter Glensor says the DHBs are working with the Ministry of Health to make sure their work reflects the Government’s priorities.

The meeting agreed to provide collective 21 DHB advice to the Ministerial Group as soon as possible.

ends

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