West Coast DHB Website Service Status
IMPORTANT! New content for this website is currently only served on one page.
Are you looking for some info/resources, but can't find them?
N documents have been added to our temporary 'New Documents' section.
To access them now, please click here.
A new health facility for Buller
Have your say on the latest draft concept plans for the new Buller Health facility.
We welcome your feedback on the layout of the floor plan and the site – Pakington Street, or the current Buller Health site.
Please tell us what you think before Friday 20 April.
Latest Media Releases
Grey Base large pohutakawa pruning to take place More...
Coast pertussis cases on the rise More...
Feedback helps mental health services plan More...
See also: What's New...
Key Links
- Latest Media Releases and Videos
- What's new on this website?
- New: West Coast Health Facilities Redevelopment Update Newsletter (Added: 16 January 2018)
Latest West Coast DHB videoclips:
Sharon Williams tells the story of her palliative care
Joan and Lisa talk about nurse prescribing

General Enquiries and
Contacting WCDHB Staff
In case of MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, incl. Fire, Police and Ambulance, please dial 111 from any phone or mobile. (This service is free).
To contact WCDHB staff, if you don't know their number, or for any general enquiries try phoning Grey Base Hospital's main reception desk: (03) 769-7400, then dial extension 0 (zero).
We also have a dedicated directory with further key contacts. To use it please select the 'Contacts' tab near the top-right of this page.
O'Conor Home - Independent Audit now published
In response to a range of concerns raised by members of the community about care provided at the O'Conor Home, a special assessment was commissioned by the DHB to provide an independent audit of the management and quality of care provided at the facility. The final audit report was received this week and this report is publicly available here. The report has not identified any significant issues at O'Conor Home. The audit team felt that the standard of care at O'Conor Home was appropriate and in some categories 'exemplary'.
The West Coast DHB Sponsorship Programmes
The West Coast District Health Board offers scholarships and studentships for West Coast students studying for health-related careers.
We recognise the efforts students put into their studies and have provided a number of scholarships and studentships over the past years to assist people in our rural community with their journey towards a valued health career.
By supporting our West Coast community, we are continuing to cultivate a future rural health workforce of highly trained and skilled health professionals.
HealthInfo
Have you visited HealthInfo yet?
HealthInfo West Coast is an easy-to-use health information website, just for the people of the West Coast.
Emergency & After-hours Medical Help
- Visit our HealthInfo site for concise information on how to get quick help
- Emergency and Urgent Conditions
- Where to go for help (Youth & Teens)
NOTE: If you feel suicidal, please phone your local mental health crisis team on 0800 757 678.
Want to stop smoking?
Find out here how...
Oranga Hā - Tai Poutini: Stop Smoking West Coast provides free smokefree support to anyone who wants to stop smoking and lives on the West Coast.
Click here or on the image below to visit this brand-new website where you can find out more and jumpstart your new way of healthy living.
West Coast DHB's
Quality Accounts 2017 publication is now available
Warming Up Your Home
A warm, dry home is a healthy home.
To find out how to warm up your home, including subsidised insulation information, visit www.cea.co.nz
Green Prescriptions (GRx)
Need help getting active?
Green Prescription is New Zealand's highly successful exercise referral programme. Doctors and Practice Nurses write a GRx for inactive patients to access support with increasing their physical activity levels for health and wellness benefits.
The programme involves an initial face-to-face consultation with GRx co-ordinator followed by regular visits and continued support. To find out more information contact Michael Davey on (03)768 6182 ext 713 or (027) 288 0057 or ask your GP or practice nurse about being referred to Green Prescription.
How a Green Prescription can help:
- Being physically active has many benefits. Not only does it make you feel good, it can also help you to:
- Feel more confident, happy and relaxed
- Have more energy
- Improve cholesterol levels
- Improve blood sugar levels
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Reduce stress, feelings of anxiety and depression
- Lower blood pressure
- Improve sleeping habits
- Keep your bones strong
- Cope better with asthma and breathing problems
- Increase flexibility, mobility and reduce the pain of arthritis
- Reduce the risk of some types of cancer
- Reduce the risk of falling
This info has been kindly provided by the West Coast Primary Health website
Furthermore, additional info can be obtained by visiting the Ministry of Health website, but if you live on South Island's West Coast in New Zealand please note that some details provided there may not apply to you, so please check with your local Health Professional re Green Prescription qualifying criteria, etc.
Needing to Travel for Health Care or wondered about parking around our hospitals?
Do you have to travel for health care?
You may be eligible for travel assistance via the National Travel Assistance Scheme.
Buller shuttle service
Need transport from Westport to Greymouth or Greymouth to Westport?
Red Cross provides a FREE shuttle service.
For more details about this service please click here.
Wondered about parking facilities at Christchurch Hospital?
We have just added some information that you might find interesting that concerns parking facilities around the West Coast and Christchurch hospitals.
Christchurch is shortly undergoing changes about allocated parking and are introducing a Park and Ride shuttle service. For more information about this simply select the link below.
Telehealth - Bringing Specialists to Rural Areas
News Release on One News, Saturday, 23rd March
The use of telemedicine on the West Coast is world leading and the DHB should be very proud of how well it works.
Lorelei Mason, health reporter for TVNZ, met with Liaison Paediatrician Dr John Garrett and filmed a story about the success of the Transalpine Paediatric Service. Lorelei shot footage of John in Christchurch talking to a family in Buller. There was also a TVNZ cameraman at Buller Health filming the family talking with John. The news item was aired on One News, Saturday 23 March 2013.
Work is underway on expanding the use of telemedicine across a range of other services at the West Coast DHB.

In an accident or medical emergency,
where life or limbs may be at risk
phone 111
any time of the day or night and request an ambulance.
If your health problem is not an emergency,
please phone your local medical/health centre
any time of the day or night.
If the centre is unattended, your call will be diverted to an experienced registered nurse.
Visitors to the West Coast please phone (03) 769-7449.
More resources for download:
Upcoming Board & Committee Meetings
(March - June 2018)
Committee | Date | Time | Venue | When downloadable papers become available: |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tatau Pounamu Advisory Group |
Fri, 9 March 2018 | 10.00 am |
Board Room, Corporate Offices, Grey Base Hospital, Greymouth |
Now available for download |
Advisory Committee Meeting (CPHAC, DSAC and HAC combined) |
Fri, 23 March 2018 |
10.30 am | St John, Water Walk Rd, Greymouth | Now available for download |
Board |
Fri, 23 March 2018 |
01:00 pm |
St John, Water Walk Rd, Greymouth |
Now available for download |
Advisory Committee Meeting (CPHAC, DSAC and HAC combined) |
Fri, 11 May 2018 |
10.30 am | St John, Water Walk Rd, Greymouth |
Wed, 9 May, 10:30 am |
Board |
Fri, 11 May 2018 |
01:00 pm | St John, Water Walk Rd, Greymouth |
Wed, 9 May, 1:00 pm |
Advisory Committee Meeting (CPHAC, DSAC and HAC combined) |
Fri, 29 June 2018 |
10.30 am | St John, Water Walk Rd, Greymouth |
Wed, 27 June, 10:30 am |
Board |
Fri, 29 June 2018 |
01:00 pm | St John, Water Walk Rd, Greymouth |
Wed, 27 June, 1:00 pm |
Links to Board and Committee Papers: |
Leap into a health related career
The West Coast District Health Board offers scholarships and studentships for West Coast students studying for health-related careers.
Hot Off the Press
14-03-2018 Grey Base large pohutakawa pruning to take place
A tree expert has advised the West Coast DHB that the large pohutakawa on the north-eastern side of the Corporate block in Greymouth has been damaged and will need some serious pruning to make it safe.
more
09-03-2018 Coast pertussis cases on the rise
Pregnant women and babies under one need to be vaccinated against pertussis (whooping cough), Medical Officer of Health Dr Cheryl Brunton says. more
09-03-2018 Feedback helps mental health services plan
Feedback from people with experience of mental health or addictions is helping redesign local mental health services. more
23-02-2018 Grey Base overbridge to close temporarily
The overbridge connecting the main street of Greymouth with the Grey Base Hospital will be closed for five days from Monday 26 February to Friday 2 March to allow for the installation of in-ground services. more
09-02-2018 CPH nutritionist selected for leadership course
Greymouth-based Community and Public Health Nutrition Health Promoter Jade Winter has just been selected to attend a prestigious Oceanic leadership development course in Queensland in July. more
09-02-2018 DHB announces closure of Dunsford aged residential care facility
The West Coast District Health Board has today announced to staff that it intends to proceed with the closure of the Westport-based Dunsford Ward rest home and hospital level aged residential care facility by 1 March 2018. more
02-02-2018 Public health advice, including how to stay safe in the aftermath of flooding
The following advice is issued by Canterbury and West Coast Community and Public Health and applies to areas of the West Coast and Canterbury that have been affected by Cyclone Fehi. more
01-02-2018 Buller Health evacuating some palliative and aged residential care patients due to concerns over potential flooding
Over the past week a number of Reefton people have experienced diarrhoea and vomiting. Tests have confirmed viral gastroenteritis and health officials are now cautioning locals about the outbreak. more
26-01-2018 Reefton experiences gastroenteritis outbreak
Over the past week a number of Reefton people have experienced diarrhoea and vomiting. Tests have confirmed viral gastroenteritis and health officials are now cautioning locals about the outbreak. more
18-01-2018 Independent assessment of O'Conor Home shows no concerns
In response to a range of concerns raised by members of the community about care provided at the O'Conor Home a special assessment was commissioned by the DHB to provide an independent audit of the management and quality of care provided at the facility. more
10-01-2018 Mental health and addiction service users' feedback wanted
People with experience of mental health or addictions are being asked to provide the West Coast District Health Board with some feedback, to help redesign local services. more
14-12-2017 Grey Base overbridge to close 8 January
The overbridge connecting the main street of Greymouth with the Grey Base Hospital will be closed for 10 days from Monday 8 to Thursday 18 January so pipework can be laid. more
13-12-2017 DHB Focus on People documents quality initiatives
The West Coast District Health Board has published its annual "Quality Accounts" newspaper, "Focus on People", to demonstrate the huge number of quality initiatives going on through the health system. more
23-11-2017 Be mindful of mumps
While tests showed two suspected cases of mumps reported in the past few weeks on the West Coast were not actually mumps, Medical Officer of Health Dr Cheryl Brunton advises caution. more
26-09-2017 West Coast physio shortages result in changes
A national shortage of DHB-based physiotherapists means the West Coast DHB has had to implement temporary changes to services for patients. more
06-09-2017 Mental health initiatives put together
A calendar of mental health and suicide prevention trainings, workshops and programmes is being published to mark this weekend's World Suicide Prevention Day (Sunday 10 September). more
23-08-2017 Community dementia service shifts to CCCN
Community Dementia Services will soon be managed through the Complex Clinical Care Network (CCCN), to better meet the needs of the West Coast community. more
02-08-2017 Slight delays with Grey Medical Centre phones
Additional phone lines are being installed in the new combined Grey Medical Centre to alleviate current issues with delays some people are experiencing getting through to the Practice. more
02-08-2017 New West Coast DHB general manager appointed
Philip Wheble has this week been announced as the new general manager for the West Coast District Health Board. more
12-06-2017 Rural Academic GP to merge with Grey Medical Centre
In anticipation of the new Grey Integrated Family Health Centre opening next year, two of Greymouth's general practices will merge at the start of July. more
What's New?
Popular Links
These pages that might interest you
- B4 School Check Clinics - Free
- Board & Committee Papers
- Carelink
- Cervical Screening Services
- CE Update (WCDHB newsletter)
- CE Business Expenses
- Consumer Council
- Depression
- Events (West Coast Region)
- Fees (General Practice)
- Find a Hospital, Practice/ Medical Centre, GP, Midwife or Specialist
- Maternity Services
- Media Releases
- Newsletters
- Oral Health Services
- Pharmacies around the West Coast
- Projects
- Southern Cancer Network
- South Island Alliance
- Voluntary Bonding Scheme
- Waiting List Times
Free B4 SCHOOL CHECK Clinics
Is your 4-year old ready for school? Find out the dates of clinics in your area
Meet and discuss your 4-year olds health:
- Dental Care
- Vision & Hearing
- Growth & Development
- Behaviour
- Immunisation
Download the poster and the 'Clinic Dates Schedule'' for more information (link provided just below):
Our Careers (Employment) Section has moved...
Did you know...
All of our current vacancies are now also available at 2 locations.
1. Our new West Coast Health Careers website:
www.westcoasthealthcareers.co.nz and
2. the Kiwi Health Jobs website.
West Coast DHB Website Service Status
Our website is currently fully operational!
Are you looking for some info/resources, but can't find them?
You can request changes, or additions to this website, which our website developer will review before making a decision as to whether your request can be fulfilled.
To make such a request now, please click here.