Whanganui District Health Board

Whanganui District Health Board

Location of the Whanganui DHB (green) in New Zealand
Abbreviation	WDHB
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.wdhb.org.nz

The Whanganui District Health Board (Whanganui DHB or WDHB) is a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Wanganui, Rangitikei, and parts of the Ruapehu districts of New Zealand.

History[]

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

Geographic area[]

The area covered by the Whanganui 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.^[2] The area can be adjusted through an Order in Council.^[3]

Governance[]

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.^[4]

Demographics[]

Whanganui DHB served a population of 64,599 at the time of the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 4,479 people (7.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 2,388 people (3.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 25,281 households. There were 31,731 males and 32,871 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female. Of the total population, 13,068 people (20.2%) were aged up to 15 years, 11,142 (17.2%) were 15 to 29, 27,807 (43.0%) were 30 to 64, and 12,579 (19.5%) were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.^{[citation needed]}

Ethnicities were 78.5% European/Pākehā, 27.4% Māori, 4.0% Pacific peoples, 3.7% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.^{[citation needed]}

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.^{[citation needed]}

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 48.0% had no religion, 37.1% were Christian, and 6.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 6,918 (13.4%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 12,087 (23.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $25,100. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 22,812 (44.3%) people were employed full-time, 7,788 (15.1%) were part-time, and 2,412 (4.7%) were unemployed.^[5]

Hospitals[]

Public hospitals[]

• Whanganui Hospital (39°56′38″S 175°02′16″E / 39.943912°S 175.037783°E / -39.943912; 175.037783) in Gonville, Whanganui has 172 beds and provides children's health, maternity, surgical, medical, geriatric and mental health services.^[6]

Private hospitals[]

• Taihape Health (39°40′52″S 175°47′44″E / 39.6812348°S 175.7956642°E / -39.6812348; 175.7956642) in Taihape, Rangitikei District has two beds and provides maternity services.^[7]
• Belverdale Hospital (39°55′47″S 175°03′02″E / 39.9296639°S 175.0504435°E / -39.9296639; 175.0504435) in Whanganui Central, Whanganui has 15 beds and provides surgical services.^[8]
• Hospice Wanganui (39°54′25″S 175°01′35″E / 39.906900°S 175.026259°E / -39.906900; 175.026259) in Otamatea, Whanganui has five beds and provides medical services.^[9]

Notes[]

References[]

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