The area covered by the South Canterbury District Health Board is defined in Schedule 1 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 and based on territorial authority and ward boundaries as constituted as at 1 January 2001. The area can be adjusted through an Order in Council. SCDHB serves around 59,000 people. South Canterbury DHB employs between 950 and 1000 staff at any given time, including part-timers, casuals and contractors.
Demographics
South Canterbury DHB served a population of 58,977 at the time of the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 3,354 people since the 2013 census, and an increase of 5,097 people since the 2006 census. There were 24,270 households. There were 29,289 males and 29,685 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. Of the total population, 10,446 people were aged up to 15 years, 9,723 were 15 to 29, 26,097 were 30 to 64, and 12,705 were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding. Ethnicities were 90.1% European/Pākehā, 8.7% Māori, 1.7% Pacific peoples, 4.8% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.5, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 48.8% had no religion, 40.1% were Christian, and 3.1% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 6,399 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 12,048 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,100. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 23,988 people were employed full-time, 7,374 were part-time, and 1,158 were unemployed.
South Canterbury’s population tends to be much older than the national average.
South Canterbury has low proportion of Māori and Pacific people living there compared to the national average.
South Canterbury has a low proportion of people in the most deprived section of the population when compared to the national average.
Facilities
Timaru Hospital
Kensington Centre
South Canterbury District Health Board also operates the South Canterbury District Primary Care Provider, that provides primary health services to the region.
Governance
The initial board was fully appointed. Since the 2001 local elections, the board has been partially elected and in addition, up to four members get appointed by the Minister of Health. The minister also appoints the chairperson and deputy-chair from the pool of eleven board members.
