"A positive approach'' is being taken by a Waitaki health company to proposed changes to health services, but it will dispute population figures to be used by the Southern District Health Board to set future funding for the district.
Yesterday, Waitaki District Health Services Ltd, which provides health services to the district and runs Oamaru Hospital, presented its annual 2013-14 report to its sole owner, the Waitaki District Council.
As reported in the Otago Daily Times on Tuesday, the company recorded a surplus of almost $36,000, but warned of increasing pressure on its finances.
Company chairman George Berry told the council yesterday while funding for the Southern DHB was increasing, none of that increase was coming to rural hospitals.
The SDHB had released a draft strategic health plan on which Waitaki District Health Services would be making a joint submission with other Otago rural hospitals.
''We have ...issues, but we are trying to make it a positive exercise and make it work,'' he said.
One positive was the board plan to provide more services closer to its patients, which would benefit the Oamaru hospital and district doctors.
Mr Berry criticised population statistics for the Waitaki district being used by the SDHB to determine future funding.
They project Waitaki will lose 6% of its population by 2031.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher had already said the district's population increased by 3% in the last census.
Mr Berry also did not agree with the projections, and said they would be challenged.
One issue was about 810 people in Waihemo and Nenthorn had been removed from Waitaki's figures because the board believed they were accessing health services in Dunedin.
''It's those things that skew the statistics and create some issues.''
