Northland health board spending millions transferring patients south

1.00pm

Northland District Health Board members have expressed concern about millions of dollars heading south with patient transfers to Auckland.

Northland Health hospital advisory committee chairman Bill Sanderson said a significant proportion of Northland Health's total budget was spent on patient transfers, mainly to Auckland Hospital.

About $40 million -- 13.3 per cent of Northland Health's total budget -- was spent on patient transfers.

Mr Sanderson said in some instances Northland patients were being referred directly to Auckland for treatment without first being seen in Northland.

A number of board members at this week's meeting queried whether the money spent transferring patients to Auckland could be used to extend health services offered in Northland.

Chief executive Karyn McPeake said the transfers related to services that were not provided in Northland.

These included mainly "higher-end" specialist services such as open heart surgery and admissions to the burns unit, Ms McPeake said.

The geography of Northland also contributed to transfer numbers, she said.

Some members of the community and their families might find it more convenient to receive care at Auckland Hospital, especially if they lived outside Whangarei.

"It may be easier for them and their families to get to Auckland," Ms McPeake said.

However, Northland Health staff would be analysing records to see how many of the services could be done in Whangarei.

Board member Tim Malloy said other issues needed to be considered, including the boundaries of ambulance services.

Dr Malloy said if a Northlander was injured in Wellsford then the Auckland branch of the ambulance service would respond and would take the patient to Auckland.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)