Consistent approach to Community Palliative Care for Taranaki

1 August 2013

Community palliative care patients in Stratford, Opunake and Patea areas will receive home based care by Hospice Taranaki specialist nurses from 1 October 2013.

Currently provided by the Taranaki DHB District Nursing team in collaboration with Hospice Taranaki, this change will bring these areas in line with the home nursing service already provided in North and South Taranaki.

Taranaki DHB Clinical Services Manager, Gill Campbell said, “This change will result in the same specialist service model that Hospice currently provides to New Plymouth and Hawera patients.”

“A positive step forward for the service, it will see a more consistent approach to palliative care across the whole of Taranaki,” said Ms Campbell.

Kevin Nielsen, Hospice Taranaki Chief Executive said, “Hospice has appreciated the District Nursing services presence in these areas and we are working closely with the DHB and the nurses to ensure a seamless transition for patients and staff.”

 “In the past 12 months the number of Taranaki people needing hospice palliative care has increased by 7% and all indications are that over the next 15 to 20 years these numbers will continue to increase,” he said.  
“In these areas of Taranaki the increase has been even greater and this has resulted in the need for a consistent and equitable model of care.”

Mr Nielsen said patients, families, whanau and other related health providers in the region will receive a continued level of care and see only positive effects throughout the transition.

For more information please call
Gemma Gibson
Communications Advisor
Ph 753 7777 ext 8486

Last updated: Friday, August 2, 2013