Lakes District Health Board

Lakes District Health Board (LDHB) plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to just over 100,000 people in the local authority areas for Taupo and Rotorua districts. LDHB’s mission is to improve health for all, maximise independence for people with disabilities and with tangata whenua, support a focus on health.

Lakes DHB:

• Works with key stakeholders to plan the strategic direction for health and disability services
• Plans regional and national work in collaboration with the National Health Board and other DHBs
• Funds the provision of the majority of the public health and disability services in the Lakes district, through the agreements with providers
• Provides hospital and specialist services primarily for our population and also for people referred from other DHBs
• Promotes, protects and improves our population’s health and wellbeing through health promotion, health protection health education and the provision of evidence-based public health initiative

Lakes DHB is responsible for the provision of the majority of health services in the Lakes district. These services include:

• Two hospital sites (Rotorua and Taupo)
• Nine continuing care facilities – in addition they have one Hospital Specialist Services – Psychogeriatric Unit
• One mental health inpatient facility
• Four community bases for mental health (iCAMHS (Infant, Child and Adolescent): Adult community at Rotorua and Taupo; and Mental Health Service for Older People Rotorua
• Two primary health organisations

As part of the consultation work for the 2005-2015 District Strategic Plan for Lakes, members of the community and staff provided feedback on the values they believe are appropriate. As a result of the consultation and feedback, the following values emerged and were approved by the DHB Executive in August 2005. These are the three Lakes DHB’s organisational values.

Lakes District Health Board covers Taupo and Rotorua districts. Taupo is located on the shores of Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island. Rotorua is located in the heart of the North Island, just 80 kilometres north of Taupo. Both in Taupo and Rotorua, summers are short and comfortable, winters are cold and wet and it is partly cloudy all year round. During the course of the year, the temperature generally varies from 3°C to 24°C.

In terms of lifestyle, they have their own culture, Maori culture is an essential part of life in New Zealand, and its influence is seen in everything from the cuisine and customs to the language. Tikanga, Maori customs, are also important in everyday life. In regions such as Rotorua, this culture can be appreciated to perfection.