The funding boost for dementia care is the "good news item" for the Southern District Health Board, funding and finance general manager Robert Mackway-Jones says.
It allowed the board to fund three to four extra dementia care beds a year, at a time when demand had increased.
The South's share of $44 million would be about $3 million over four years.
The South's share of the elective surgery boost was just under $1 million, taking its elective surgery budget for 2011-12 to $15.7 million.
Of the $350 million extra district health boards' population-based funding announced, Southern received $14.5 million, a 2.1% increase.
Board deputy chairman Paul Menzies applauded the "extra dough" for dementia care and respite.
However, he was not as confident the board could deliver extra elective surgery, but "we will give it a go".
Some of the cuts that made way for new spending seemed to make sense, although it was a difficult juggling act, Mr Menzies said.
Health allocations
• $2.2 billion increase for health services over four years.
• $585 million for 2011 initiatives.
• $165 million cuts to fund 2011 initiatives.
• $400 million to district health boards; $350 million population-based, $50 million service contracts.
• $18 million for 40 extra medical training places, part of an extra 200 medical training places over five years.
• $68 million for elective surgery over four years.
• $44 million for dementia care and respite over four years.
• $54.5 million for maternity care initiatives over four years.
