The Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB) is proposing a $100,000 investment into improving attendance to appointments and supporting patient transport.
In an outpatient appointment review, taken by the WDHB last year, 8.2 per cent of all patients did not attend scheduled appointments. Maori under the age of 14 were particularly high with 25 per cent not attending.
WDHB general manager of service and business planning, Tracey Schiebli, said the investment would focus on advancing Maori health, improving health outcomes, growing the quality and safety culture and building resilient communities.
"Some money would go towards subsidising people who do not currently qualify under the National Travel Assistance Policy.
"Funds would also help increase the coordination support in the DHB to assist people with accessing support options, and possibly additional funding for health service providers in rural areas to enable them to provide transport support," Ms Sheibli said.
WDHB board member, Darren Hull, said he was happy with proposal and the amount of money was reasonable but he objected to the proposal process.