The final output of the group was a recommendation to Midland Health on priorities in health and disability services that should be purchased on behalf of Coromandel residents. Wilkinson closes by considering the challenges that the health sector faces in the current environment of change under the new Labour Government. HFA functions will be split between the Ministry of Health and a proposed 22 District health boards which will be responsible for regional service planning and delivery. Drs Chris Bullen and Greg Simmons , Public Health Physicians, and Kathy Pritchard , Manager Disease Management Team, Auckland Healthcare Public Health Protection Service, Auckland New Zealand, offer a provider level view of communicable disease within the Auckland region. The example of communicable disease outbreak management is used to illustrate the issues faced by a regional provider in prioritising activities.
Outbreak control is always a priority, overriding most other public health activities.
At an individual disease level, campylobacter infection investigation and control requires the setting of explicit priorities. Because over 2,000 cases are notified annually in Auckland, follow-up of sporadic cases is impossible because of a limited workforce and outbreaks of illness involving two or more people are given priority. Descriptive and analytical epidemiological techniques inappropriate to individual cases can be used to identify risk factors for infection and, in doing so, can allow control of hazards and the prevention of future illness. References Yamey G. Health secretary admits that NHS rationing is government policy. Eighth Annual Report to the Minister of Health.