Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said Lakes DHB had received 60 per cent more funding to provide home support services since 2008/2009. Photo/File
Funding for Lakes District Health board home support services in Rotorua and Taupo is up 60 per cent according to new data.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said Lakes DHB had received 60 per cent more funding to provide home support services since 2008/2009.
"To help Lakes DHB patients live longer,
healthy lives away from hospitals and in the community the DHB provides a wide range of home help support services. This includes, but isn't limited to help with personal care and household chores," said Dr Coleman.
"Typically this support is offered to Lakes DHB patients to help them while they're recovering from surgery or to support older patients keen to continue living in their own home."
Dr Coleman said in recent years DHBs across the country had been putting greater emphasis on providing more personalised home help support services.
"Funding has increased from $5.3 million in 2008/2009 to $8.48 million in 2016/2017, an increase of $3.18 million.
"Over the same period, the number of hours of care being provided to Lakes DHB patients are estimated to have increased from 228,500 to 294,200 this year, an increase of 65,700 hours."
Dr Coleman said the increase in access to home support services was supported by the $76 million funding increase Lakes DHB had received over the last eight years.
"Lakes DHB will receive an extra $15 million in new money this year, taking the DHB's total funding to $322 million for 2016/17.
"From July 1, 55,000 care and support workers across the country will benefit from the $2 billion pay equity settlement. This will see these workers receive a pay rise of between around 15 and 50 per cent."
