HFA and Hutt Valley Health sign $71m contract deal

Hutt Valley Health and the Health Funding Authority (HFA) have signed a one year contract, worth $71 million, for personal health services and mental health services.

The contract represents a $2.3 million increase in Hutt Valley Health's budget for personal health services, and a $220,000 increase in the mental health budget.

Personal health services include medical, surgical, maternity and community services, and plastic surgery.

HFA senior locality manager, Martin Hefford, says there has been a significant increase in the number of acute assessments purchased from Hutt Valley Health.

"Hutt Valley Health will be able to expand the current service for assessing patients presenting acutely at Hutt Hospital and ensure patients receive the most appropriate treatment," Mr Hefford says.

Mr Hefford says additional funding has also been allocated to reduce backlogs in elective services that have significant waiting lists.

"The reduction in the waiting lists will mean better access to services for patients," Mr Hefford says.

The additional elective services will be in orthopaedics, gynaecology and general surgery.

"I would like to thank all the staff from the HFA and Hutt Valley Health who were involved in the contracting process," Mr Hefford says.

Hutt Valley Health's chief executive Stephen McKernan adds that the new contract is a good one, especially the HFA's agreement to acknowledge the level of acute demand and their funding of additional services provided at Hutt Valley Health.

"This means that the residents of the Hutt region can now have access to health services which are at least equivalent to those enjoyed by people in similar communities around the country.

"What has been especially pleasing during this contracting round has been the willingness of the HFA representatives to engage in meaningful discussion with Hutt Valley Health management and clinical staff with the mutual goal of better provision of health services to the people of the region. I believe this bodes well for the future," says Mr McKernan.

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