Another Golden Year for Northland

This year, Northland District Health Board has tabled at parliament a modest financial surplus of $502,000, representing another year of strong financial performance.  For the same period, the district health board exceeded its elective surgery target with 5,999 patients treated - capping another golden year for elective surgery.

These results have enabled the Board to meet its responsibility to provide services to the people of Northland and over the past three years a strong financial performance foundation has been has built.

Chief Executive Karen Roach said Northland DHB results in both financial performance and ‘gold standard' elective surgery can only be achieved by the dedication of hard working staff.

Staff within our health services have worked hard to manage and where possible reduce costs, while ensuring patients are able to access elective surgery when they need it!  Our community partners such as GPs, PHOs, NGOs and Maori health providers, must also be recognised for their contribution as their sustained efforts across the district has enabled the board to deliver a zero deficit budget.

This year the Board spent around $11.3 million on new clinical equipment, upgrading of hospital facilities and clinical information systems. This includes two mobile dental units ($1.6m), a new cardiac monitoring system ($800k), upgrade of X-ray ($730k) and laboratory testing equipment ($1.1m).

The past year has seen a more intense focus on back office functions and procurement activity.  Significant savings are being achieved in a number of categories such as telecommunications, photocopying and medical consumables.   In addition, the district health board continues to engage with Auckland Metro DHBs to obtain better pricing by leveraging the greater spending power of those larger DHBs.

 "Although our performance is one which we can be proud, there are still a number of challenges before us such as workforce shortages and the current fiscal environment.

The Board has communicated clearly to me that patient care remains their number one priority.  We must therefore continue to look at innovative ways to manage our finances while continuing to work to create a healthier Northland", said Mrs Roach.

-Ends-

For further information, please contact:
Fleur King, Public Relations Manager
Northland District Health Board 
Phone (09) 430 4101 ext 3315