Differences in utilisation of inpatient services at Waikato Hospital by Maori and non Maori members of the catchment population.

It would be anticipated that Maori residents in New Zealand would place greater demands on hospitals for inpatient services than nonMaoris, because of their higher mortality and morbidity rates and greater fertility rates. A year's admissions to Waikato Hospital have been analysed to test this proposition. Results confirm that Maoris in all age groups are admitted as inpatients at a higher rate than nonMaoris. Maori residents also use bed days at a 50-100% higher rate than nonMaoris in the various age groups. This has considerable funding implications, especially for hospital boards with more Maoris in their population than the national average.