Home health care scheme for Dunedin

Health officials hope a pilot project that treats more ill people in their homes and rest homes instead of Dunedin Hospital will eventually free millions of dollars a year to spend on other health services.

The aim was to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital, so money could be reinvested in other health services, said Otago District Health Board chief planning and funding officer Chris Fraser.

The one-year pilot project would, if successful, be put out to tender and expanded over time.