The Canterbury District Health Board (Canterbury DHB or CDHB) was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Canterbury region of New Zealand, north of the Rangitata River. It was responsible for roughly 579,000 residents, or 12% of New Zealand's population. The Canterbury District Health Board covered a territory of 26,881 square kilometers and was divided between six territorial local authorities. In July 2022, the Canterbury DHB was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand).
History
The Canterbury District Health Board, like most other district health boards, came into effect on 1 January 2001.
In 2001, after multiple union contracts fell through, more than 1100 staff members of The Princess Margaret Hospital went on strike to protest the uncertainty regarding their jobs at the hospital, and the full strike involved roughly 3000 people from hospitals throughout the region.
In July 2005, The New Zealand Herald reported that the Canterbury District Health Board and Telecom NZ had signed a three-year telecommunications deal. The deal gave Telecom NZ the responsibility for providing all health board telecommunications. There was also a two-year right of renewal clause.
In September 2005, the health board was accused of "virtually sweat shop conditions" by the National Union of Public Employees. The board denied all accusations against them. Following the accusations, roughly 500 personnel from the district started a five-day strike for a 30% pay rise.
In December 2016, approximately 3974 appointments were postponed due to a payment dispute with the Regional District Health Boards, including Canterbury, and members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. It was estimated that the resident medical officers had forfeited roughly $1.1 million in lost wages.
The district health board had been regarded as a successful accountable care system which has moderated the rate of growth in hospital use by investing in services in the community. GPs and consultants agreed health pathways for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with common medical conditions thereby breaking down barriers between clinicians.
On 1 July 2022, the Canterbury DHB was merged into the national health service Health New Zealand as part of an overhaul of the country's district health board system. The Canterbury DHB's functions and operations were assumed by Te Whatu Ora's Te Waipounamu division, which covers the entire South Island.
Geographic area
The area covered by the Canterbury District Health Board was 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. The area could have been adjusted through an Order in Council.
Governance
The CDHB, like other district health boards, was governed by a group that is partially elected and partially appointed. Since the 2001 New Zealand local elections, the elected part of the board had been determined as part of the triennial local elections using the single transferable vote system. There were generally eleven board members, seven of whom are elected and the remaining appointed by the minister of health. The minister also appointed the chairperson and deputy chair from the pool of eleven members.
2010–2013
The following were elected in the 2010 local elections or appointed by the minister of health: Bruce Matheson (chair; appointed) Peter Ballantyne (deputy chair; appointed) Anna Crighton (elected) Elizabeth Cunningham (appointed) Andrew Dickerson (elected) Wendy Gilchrist (elected) Aaron Keown (elected) Chris Mene (elected) David Morrell (elected) Susan Wallace (appointed) Olive Webb (elected)
2013–2016
The following were elected in the 2013 local elections or appointed by the minister of health: Murray Cleverley (chair; appointed) Steve Wakefield (deputy chair; appointed) Sally Buck (elected) Anna Crighton (elected) Andrew Dickerson (elected) Jo Kane (elected) Aaron Keown (elected) Chris Mene (elected) Edie Moke (appointed) David Morrell (elected) Susan Wallace (appointed)
2019–2022
The following were elected in the 2019 local elections: Sally Buck (resigned July 2020; died 9 September 2020) James Gough Jo Kane Naomi Marshall Aaron Keown Catherine Chu Andrew Dickerson
The four members appointed by the Minister of Health are: Sir John Hansen (chair) Gabrielle Huria (deputy chair) Barry Bragg Ingrid Taylor