A Memorandum of Understanding has formalised close ties between the Hawke's Bay Community Fitness Centre Trust and the district health board.
Sir Graeme Avery and DHB chairman Kevin Atkinson signed the memorandum yesterday.
"Improving the health and well-being of the community is a key focus of the board. The facilities the trust are proposing to develop will be perfect to help us deliver to the population the health objectives we have set," Mr Atkinson said.
The MOU outlines the district health board's support to the Trust, which will include supporting collegial working relationships and providing healthcare professionals where necessary to advise on clinical, operational and strategic health matters to align with healthy weight activities. Both parties have also agreed to share relevant information for the purpose of the population health programmes.
Mr Atkinson said this sharing of information will be vital to providing programmes that do make a difference to the well-being of the community. "I'm very excited about this development and the difference it will make to Hawke's Bay."