A PHO (Primary Healthcare Organisation) is an organisation that brings together health providers and the community to provide better and more affordable health services for its enrolled population. The Wairoa District Charitable Health Trust which operates under the name of Wairoa PHO is not a Government agency; it is a Charitable Trust formed in November 2002 and run by Wairoa people.

In Wairoa the four GP Practices belong to the Wairoa PHO and work often as a collective to provide and extend good quality health care to our community.  The Practices work together with the PHO to keep the cost of Doctors fees paid by the patients when they visit their Doctor as low as possible.  It is a continuing goal of the PHO to encourage and support continuing collaboration between our GP Practices and other primary care health providers.
 
As at 30 September 2009 the number of people enrolled with the Wairoa PHO was 8075 comprising of 64% Maori, 33% NZ European, 1% Pacific Island, 1% Asian and 1% other ethniciities.  79% of our population is categorised as low income or high needs.
 
Our registered patients are equally split between male and female; 4044 females and 40931 males. 

We have 689 patients 4 years old and under, 1384 from 5 years to 14 years, 1116 from 15 years to 24 years, 1755 from 25 years to 44 years, 2095 from 45 years to 64 years and 1036 over 65 years old.