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• 19 October 2007

We want to hear your views

DHB seeks submissions on Community Nursing and Allied Health Service options

Community members and key stakeholders now have the chance to give their views on proposed options for the development of Community Nursing and Allied Health services in your district.

The options have been developed after extensive discussions with a large working group of key stakeholders, feedback from staff, the Board’s Community & Public Health Advisory Committee (CPHAC), and community groups.

As part of the full public consultation process, the DHB encourages all those with an interest in this issue to make a submission on the five options presented for consideration.

Since plans began to develop services, this project has sought to realise C&C DHB’s vision for home and community care. This vision is that:

“People and their carers/ family/ whanau/ receive coordinated and accessible home, community, primary and specialist care that proactively supports their ability to achieve their lifestyle goals.
“Home, community, primary and specialist services will be flexible, focus on best care for consumer, and support whanau well being and positive ageing.”

The options are very wide ranging, but focus on improving services for patients, their families, and staff. Key to the options is to create better access to services, reduce overlaps in delivery of care, reduce and remove barriers to receiving care and to close any gaps in services.

All options would see community nursing and allied health services continue to operate free-of-charge for patients, and the expertise of staff retained.

Additionally, all options would see the DHB continue to directly deliver specialist community nursing services (such as oncology nurses, respiratory nurse, breast care nurse, stoma nurses and continence nurses) and allied health (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech language therapists, dieticians and social workers).

We encourage people to carefully consider the consultation papers to get a full understanding of what each option means and how it will affect services, before making a submission.

Health decision-making always involves taking a balanced view of diverse professional advice, but by holding a public consultation process, we will be able to hear this advice in full and also hear community perspectives – all of which they will carefully consider before making any decisions.

The process of consultation will involve:

• Giving the community extensive and reliable information
• Listening to alternative viewpoints
• Engagement with the community in a genuine way
• Explaining to individuals and groups why particular decisions were made as they were.

The consultation period begins today and will close at 5pm 29 November 2007. Full consultation documents are available online at: http://www.ccdhb.org.nz/News/consult_archives.htm, or by emailing communitynursealliedhealth@ccdhb.org.nz or phoning (04) 803 1118.

Once the consultation is closed, submissions will be analysed and a report will be developed outlining the outcomes of the consultation. Recommendations will then be presented to the Board in the New Year.

No decision will be made by the Board until at least March 2008.

Further details:
As part of the consultation process, the DHB will be holding a series of public meetings – all welcome. Please see the times and dates below:

31 October 2007 (Wed)
10.00 am to 12 noon
The Coast Community Church
55-56 Hinemoa Street
Paraparaumu

06 November 2007 (Tue)
10.00 am to 12 noon
Pataka Porirua Museum of Arts & Cultures
Community Room,
Norrie Street
Porirua

13 November 2007 (Tue)
10.00 am to 12 noon
Johnsonville Community Hall,
3 Frankmoore Avenue
Johnsonville

14 November 2007 (Wed)
6.30 pm to 8.30 pm
Newtown School Hall
Mein Street,
Newtown
Wellington

Details on a hui and a fono are currently being finalised and additional meetings may be organised as necessary.

Full consultation documents are available at: http://www.ccdhb.org.nz/News/consult_archives.htm
or you can request a copy by emailing: communitynursealliedhealth@ccdhb.org.nz
or by calling: (04) 803 1118.

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