Taranaki’s home support funding is up 39%

Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman

Minister of Health

4 May 2017

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the latest data shows that funding for home support services in the Taranaki region is up 39 per cent.

“To help Taranaki residents 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,” says Dr Coleman.

“Typically this support is offered to Taranaki residents to help them while they’re recovering from surgery or to support older residents keen to continue living in their own home.

“In recent years DHBs across the country have been putting greater emphasis on providing more personalised home help support services.

“New data shows that Taranaki DHB has received 39 per cent more funding to provide home support services since 2008/2009. Funding has increased from $5.6 million in 2008/2009 to $7.8 million in 2016/2017, an increase of $2.2 million.

“This increase in access to home support services is supported by the $81 million funding increase Taranaki DHB has received over the last eight years. Taranaki DHB will receive an extra $9 million in new money this year, taking the DHB’s total funding to $363 million for 2016/17.

“From 1 July, 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.”

Media contact: Shannon Stewart 027 426 6662

                         

Last updated: Thursday, May 4, 2017