Waikato District Health Board

Waikato District Health Board

Location of the Waikato DHB (green) in New Zealand
Formation	1 January 2001; 20 years ago (2001-01-01)
Founder	New Zealand Government
Legal status	Active
Purpose	DHB
Services	Health and disability services
Parent organization	Ministry of Health
Website	www.waikatodhb.health.nz

The Waikato District Health Board (Waikato DHB) is a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Waikato region of New Zealand.

History[]

The Waikato District Health Board, like most other district health boards, came into effect on 1 January 2001 established by the .^[1]

2021 Ransomware attack[]

In mid-May 2021, the Waikato District Health Board's hospital computer systems and phone lines were affected by a ransomware attack.^[2] On 25 May, an unidentified group claimed responsibility for the hack and issued an ultimatum to the Waikato DHB, having obtained sensitive data about patients, staff and finances.^[3] Hackers later dumped confidential medical, financial and patients' data onto the dark web, forcing the DHB to work with cyber-experts to minimise any potential privacy disclosures.^[4]

The Waikato DHB and New Zealand Government ruled out paying the ransom.^[5][3] By mid-June 2021, the Waikato DHB had managed to restore most health services and operations but faced a backlog of outpatient appointments due to the disruption caused by the ransomware attack.^[6]

Geographic area[]

The area covered by the Waikato 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.^[7] The area can be adjusted through an Order in Council.^[8]

Governance[]

The initial board was fully appointed. From the 2001 local elections, until 8 May 2019, the board was partially elected (seven members) and in addition, up to four members were appointed by the Minister of Health. After the Board divided over an issue,^[9] they were replaced by Dr Karen Poutasi as Commissioner.^[10] The minister had also appointed the chairperson and deputy-chair from the pool of eleven board members.^[11]

Demographics[]

Waikato DHB served a population of 405,558 at the time of the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 46,248 people (12.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 66,369 people (19.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 144,243 households. There were 199,959 males and 205,599 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female. Of the total population, 85,497 people (21.1%) were aged up to 15 years, 81,351 (20.1%) were 15 to 29, 174,111 (42.9%) were 30 to 64, and 64,599 (15.9%) were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.^{[citation needed]}

Ethnicities were 73.7% European/Pākehā, 23.9% Māori, 4.6% Pacific peoples, 10.0% Asian, and 2.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.^{[citation needed]}

The percentage of people born overseas was 19.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.^{[citation needed]}

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 50.2% had no religion, 35.1% were Christian, and 7.6% had other religions.^{[citation needed]}

Of those at least 15 years old, 61,023 (19.1%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 64,365 (20.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,800. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 154,875 (48.4%) people were employed full-time, 47,331 (14.8%) were part-time, and 14,454 (4.5%) were unemployed.^[12]

Hospitals[]

Waikato Hospital campus[]

• Waikato Hospital (37°19′54″S 174°27′59″E / 37.3316256°S 174.4662808°E / -37.3316256; 174.4662808) is the district health board's main public hospital. It has 673 beds and provides medical, geriatric, children's health, maternity and surgical services.^[13]
• Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre (37°48′14″S 175°16′53″E / 37.8038129°S 175.2812763°E / -37.8038129; 175.2812763) is a public mental health service with 97 beds.^[14]
• Puna Whiti (36°53′32″S 175°40′16″E / 36.8922943°S 175.6710532°E / -36.8922943; 175.6710532) is a public mental health service with four beds.^[15]
• Ward OPR1 (36°51′50″S 174°46′41″E / 36.864°S 174.7779584°E / -36.864; 174.7779584) is a public mental health service with 15 beds.^[16]
• Braemar Hospital (37°48′27″S 175°16′38″E / 37.8076205°S 175.2772431°E / -37.8076205; 175.2772431), adjacent to the hospital campus, is a private hospital with 89 beds which provides surgical and medical services.^[17]

Other public hospitals[]

• Te Kuiti Hospital (38°20′03″S 175°09′02″E / 38.334222°S 175.1506407°E / -38.334222; 175.1506407) in Te Kuiti, Waitomo has 16 beds and provides maternity and medical services.^[18]
• Matariki Hospital (38°01′07″S 175°19′29″E / 38.0184837°S 175.3248278°E / -38.0184837; 175.3248278) in Te Awamutu, Waipa has 32 beds and provides geriatric and medical services.^[19]
• Rhoda Read Hospital (37°38′44″S 175°30′56″E / 37.6454686°S 175.5154521°E / -37.6454686; 175.5154521) in Morrinsville, Matamata-Piako has 32 beds and provides geriatric and medical services.^[20]
• Thames Hospital (37°08′11″S 175°32′32″E / 37.1364397°S 175.5422467°E / -37.1364397; 175.5422467) in Thames, Thames-Coromandel has 52 beds and provides maternity, surgical and medical services.^[21]
• Tokoroa Hospital ( 38°13′50″S 175°51′30″E / 38.2305391°S 175.858325°E / -38.2305391; 175.858325) in Tokoroa, South Waikato has 21 beds and provides maternity and medical services.^[22]
• Taumarunui Hospital (38°53′21″S 175°15′00″E / 38.8891431°S 175.2500973°E / -38.8891431; 175.2500973) in Taumarunui, Ruapehu has 14 beds and provides maternity and medical services.^[23]

Other private hospitals[]

• Southern Cross Hospital Hamilton (37°47′20″S 175°17′17″E / 37.7889646°S 175.2881821°E / -37.7889646; 175.2881821) in Hamilton East has 60 beds and provides medical and surgical services.^[24]
• River Ridge East Birth Centre (37°47′18″S 175°17′17″E / 37.7883295°S 175.2880706°E / -37.7883295; 175.2880706) in Hamilton East has 20 beds and provides maternity services.^[25]
• Anglesea Hospital (37°47′32″S 175°16′56″E / 37.7921434°S 175.2823218°E / -37.7921434; 175.2823218) in Hamilton Central has 17 beds and provides surgical services.^[26]
• Waterford Birth Centre (37°47′35″S 175°17′12″E / 37.7931905°S 175.2867599°E / -37.7931905; 175.2867599) in Hamilton Central has 10 beds and provides maternity services.^[27]
• Hospice Waikato (37°48′10″S 175°18′54″E / 37.8028908°S 175.3148964°E / -37.8028908; 175.3148964) in Hillcrest has 12 beds and provides medical services.^[28]
• Te Awamutu Birthing (38°00′24″S 175°20′14″E / 38.0067454°S 175.3371935°E / -38.0067454; 175.3371935) in Te Awamutu, Waipa has seven beds and provides maternity services.^[29]
• Birthcare Huntly (37°33′21″S 175°09′30″E / 37.555696°S 175.1582978°E / -37.555696; 175.1582978) in Huntly, Waikato District has six beds and provides maternity services.^[30]
• Tamahere Hospital and Healing Centre (37°51′25″S 175°23′21″E / 37.8570226°S 175.3892878°E / -37.8570226; 175.3892878) in Tamahere, Waikato District has 31 beds and provides mental health services.^[31]

Notes[]

References[]

• New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000, Parliamentary Counsel Office, 2000, retrieved 3 May 2020