Media release from Waikato District Health Board

Integrated services, whether in one location or by improved communication and commitment to pool resources, is the way of the future as Waikato DHB strives to sustain rural health services.

Health Waikato chief operating officer Jan Adams today said finding solutions for the board's rural communities was one of six board priorities this year.

In Taumarunui, where Health Waikato has a 17-bed hospital providing services for the northern Ruapehu population of 8715 people, discussion in recent months centred around the possibility of a Taumarunui Health Village.

A meeting held in Taumarunui in December last year, facilitated by an independent mediator, brought together key health provider stakeholders
from the town to discuss the proposal.   

Not all the stakeholders present were in support of the development.  

"It does not mean that we have stopped the project though because service providers in the aged care sector, from both residential and community have met and are exploring opportunities to work collaboratively to support older people in their homes, in day care and in residential care in Taumarunui," said Mrs Adams.

"We will continue to work with all providers to get the best outcome for the people in northern Ruapehu," she said.

Primary care providers will meet next month to discuss how they can better work together to provide a more integrated service for the area.

The Government has a commitment to the establishment of integrated family health centres and these are the subject of current proposals seeking new funding.

Features of these centres include providing better, sooner and more convenient services for people needing the services.

The concept brings together a broader health workforce to work together including, GPs and nurses, allied health staff including social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and paramedics all in one building or via a "virtual" arrangement.

Nurse-led services and clinics are additional features of these models and may see more people seeing nurses rather than their GPs. This allows GPs to give more specialised care and advice. Other health professionals also work within the team.

"What we do know, is that the current services in places like Taumarunui and Tokoroa are not sustainable and that we need to start doing things differently to keep a satisfactory level of service in rural communities," said Mrs Adams.