West Coast has funding boost

''Temporary additional funding'' for the West Coast District Health Board, recognising its special characteristics, has been in place for longer than intended, the Ministry of Health says.

The West Coast, which has a low population spread over a vast area, is considered a special case for which the population-based funding formula is problematic.

The funding formula has been in place since 2003. Yesterday, the Otago Daily Times reported that Southern District Health Board had the lowest per patient income figure in the South Island, and the third lowest in New Zealand.

Some critics believe the funding model also fails to account for SDHB's characteristics, but that case has not been successful and last month the board was sacked over its long-running deficit.

The ministry said income per patient figures should not be used to compare boards. The West Coast's top-up does not appear as part of its official population-based share of funding.

National Health Board DHB performance acting director John Hazeldine said the ''temporary'' funding recognised the ''historic disproportionate funding'' the West Coast received before population-based funding.

''The temporary funding has continued for longer than expected due to the small population base and low population growth on the West Coast.''

The ODT asked the ministry if any other boards receive top-ups, but the question could not be answered before deadline.

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