Each year South Canterbury DHB receives a set amount of money from the Ministry of Health according to the population-based funding (PBF) formula. The Ministry also gives some direction about what the money should be spent on. It does this through its funding agreements with each DHB, through specific performance standards (such as those for elective services), and through service coverage requirements (such as home based support services for older people or district nursing services in the community).
But determining “who gets how much” is up to us. We decide the local mix and volume of services (“who provides how much for whom”). We decide the local strategies to take best advantage of all our community links. Decisions are based on what the local population actually needs, the capacity to provide the services needed, whether a proposed initiative fits with SCDHB’s priorities and guidelines, what the flow-on effects of any initiative might be, and the cost of the service.
In 2001 SCDHB commissioned its first health needs analysis, which was updated in 2005 as a health profile. These reports, along with advice from our board committees and consultation with community stakeholders, help SCDHB’s planning and funding team understand the health priorities of the region. Then they select the providers of the services that are needed, set up service agreements to make sure providers deliver what it required, and monitor the contracts to ensure the money is spent as intended and the services meet quality standards.
