Towards integrated person-centred healthcare – the Canterbury journey

Abstract

The Canterbury District Health Board (DHB) is the second largest by population (over half a million people) and by geographical area of the 20 DHBs in New Zealand, which were established in 2000. The DHB directly employs over 9,500 staff, and a similar number work in non-governmental sector and private based DHB-funded health services, which includes general practice. The DHB is government funded to plan the strategic direction for health and disability services in Canterbury; fund the majority of health and disability services provided in Canterbury; provide health and disability services primarily for the population of Canterbury but also extensive tertiary services for the South Island and, in some cases, for residents of the lower North Island; and promote, protect and improve the health and wellbeing of the Canterbury population