Your PHO

West Coast PHO

The West Coast Primary Health Organisation (PHO) is a non-government organisation (NGO) whose mission is to help West Coasters get healthy and stay that way.

The PHO gets most of its revenue from the Ministry of Health, via contracts with the West Coast District Health Board (DHB).  It works closely with the local DHB, but is an independent organisation with it's own Board of Trustees.

The PHO is the major funder of medical centres or general practices around the West Coast.  West Coasters enrolled with a medical centre on the Coast will be enrolled with the PHO for health funding subsidies.  The subsidies the PHO provides medical centres means the cost for patients to visit their general practitioner (GP) or practice nurse is considerably lower than it would otherwise be.

The PHO also provides a number of health services itself, such as counselling, health navigation and green prescription.  PHO staff involved in these health services work closely with medical centres and, in many cases, deliver their services in or through the local medical centre.  If you see a West Coast PHO car zapping around the Coast, it's likely to be a PHO staff member heading out to a medical centre to treat or support another West Coaster.

The PHO, along with Community and Public Health, is also behind many of the health promotion messages and campaigns you will see around the Coast.

Enrolment

West Coasters enrolled with a medical centre on the Coast will be enrolled with the PHO for health funding subsidies.

Most West Coasters are 'members' of the West Coast PHO in the sense that they are enrolled with the PHO for health funding subsidies, by virtue of their enrolment with their local medical centre.

Board of Trustees

A 9 strong Board of Trustees provides strategic direction and oversight. The Board has been chosen to fairly represent our population’s diverse mix of age, gender and ethnicity.

WCPHO Board of Trustees

Meeting Dates for 2024

All commence at 6.30pm at the PHO Offices, 1st Floor, 163 Mackay St, Greymouth

15 February 2024 

18 April 2024

20 June 2024

15 August 2024

17 October 2024

12 December 2024 (and AGM)