Southern District Health Board

The Health Profiles provide a comprehensive report on the health status of the Southland and Otago populations and were produced in June 2005 following a health needs assessment process.

Work is now being progressed on a new Health Profile for the Southern DHB region (which encompasses both the former Otago and Southland DHBs' catchment areas. This report should be completed by the end of June 2010.

The information from the Health Profile is used to help us identify the health issues for our population and therefore where to prioritise our funding and purchasing of services, and where we need to develop strategies to address key health issues.

The New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act (2000) states that one of the functions of DHBs is:

"to regularly investigate, assess, and monitor the health status of its resident population, any factors that the DHB believes may adversely affect the health status of the population, and the need of that population for services (Clause 23(1) (g))."

This goal is achieved by undertaking a Health Needs Assessment (HNA) and is a key component of the DHB planning cycle as illustrated below.

The Health Profile underpins the development of our District Strategic Plan, District Annual Plans and operational DHB planning activity.