Te Waka Hauora O Waitaki | Waitaki Health Futures Project aims to improve coordination and access to health and wellbeing services for the people of Waitaki.
It is a partnership between Waitaki District Council, Te Runaka o Moeraki and Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.
In September 2024 the Waitaki community helped inform the future shape of healthcare services in the district by completing an online survey or attending face-to-face engagement sessions.
Here is a summary of what people said and what we will do next.
Download the Community Engagement Summary
- Community engagement summary A4 (for screens)
- Community engagement summary A3 (to print)
What we heard
What you said was important:
Q1 What do you and your whānau need to stay well in the community?
- Reduced wait times for general practice appointments
- Reduced wait times for specialist appointments
- Affordable health care, especially general practice
- Transport to & from Dunedin
- Wellbeing (ie. warm housing, good kai, exercise facilities)
Q2 When you or your whānau are unwell, what would you want from the health system to improve your health and wellbeing?
- Reduced wait times for general practice appointments
- Reduced wait times for specialist appointments
- Safe & quality care
- Good communication & respect
- Transport to & from Dunedin
Q3 Think about the health and wellbeing services you and your whānau access - what have you liked about your experience?
- Quality health care from a range of services locally
- Health professionals that know us
- Individualised care & patient choice
- Support to stay well at home / in the community
- Timely & coordinated care, including transfers out of district
Q4 Think about the health and wellbeing services you and your whānau access - what didn't you like about your experience?
- Long wait times
- Travel and/or lack of transport to/from Dunedin
- Poor communication & coordination of care
- Inadequate quality and safety of care, disrespectful care
- Lack of continuity of care
What we will do next
Community engagement helped inform our next steps, alongside local provider engagement, local health utilisation data, community demographics and local patient journeys.
The Project will roll out in three phases.
Phase one: Do now: Implement locally identified immediate actions, streamline hospital services and fast-track delivery of existing initiatives.
Phase two: Connected & coordinated care: Stronger networking between health services, combined clinical approaches to quality care and exploration of opportunities for service co-location.
Phase three: Integrated health approach: Strengthened integrated system that includes primary, community and hospital services operating together in a single service approach across the continuum of care.
Phase one: Do Now
Local health and community leaders identified four priority areas that support the community responses and strengthens local patient journeys. These priority areas helped steer the 'Do Now' actions. Examples of an action under each of the priority areas is below.
- Navigation: Improve information, communication and overall health literacy.
For example: Implement Medimap into ED at Oamaru Hospital to improve communication and patient care between Aged Residential Care (ARC) & ED. - Access:Simplify referral pathways and open boundaries, streamline and improve first specialist assessments, improve patient transport.
For example: Investigate changes to boundaries, such as opening referral pathways to Timaru Hospital. - Workforce: Improve local capacity and capability, ensure a flexible (mobile) workforce that is working at top of scope.
For example: Expand vaccination workforce in Waitaki to improve access to immunisation for priority populations, including Māori and Pacific under-twos. - Positive change: Positive change through reviews to improve service delivery.
For example: Transitional care pathway for older people to improve hospital to ARC to home transitional care for older people, ensuring more people are supported to receive care from home.
Phases Two & Three
About the project
The project is community led. The project team includes local people from Oamaru Hospital; providers Te Hā o Maru and the Oamaru Pacific Island Community Group (OPICG); the WellSouth primary health network; the Stronger Waitaki Coalition; Hato Hone St Johns and others, as well as leaders from the three partners - Waitaki District Council, Te Runaka o Moeraki and Health New Zealand.
Improvements to coordination and access will ensure future health service provision is clinically and financially sustainable for the Waitaki community.
We expect improvements will begin implementation from early 2025.
You can email us at twpcomms@tewhatuora.govt.nz
FAQs
Te Waka Hauora O Waitaki | Waitaki Health Futures Project: Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Waitaki Health Futures project?
The Waitaki Health Futures Project (the Project) is an initiative aimed at improving coordination of healthcare services across the Waitaki district. The project focuses on developing an integrated, sustainable, and community-centred healthcare model that meets the future needs of the region's population.
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Who is leading the Waitaki Health Futures project?
The Project is a partnership between Te Runanga o Moeraki, the Waitaki District Council and Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, and working with Oamaru Pacific Island Community Group (OPICG), Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki, Stronger Waitaki, Hato Hone St John and WellSouth PHO.
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What is the approach of the project?
The Project is community-led and co-designed, working closely with local leaders from the Waitaki community. The project outcomes will be informed by community and whānau voice gathered during the engagement period Monday 16 September to Sunday 6 October.
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What is the scope of the project?
The Project scope includes services funded by Health New Zealand Waitaki region, such as hospital service, primary and community, Hauora Māori, Pacific, mental health and aged care. -
How will the project engage the local Waitaki community?
The Project will be informed by community and whānau voice gathered during the engagement period, Monday 16 September to Sunday 6 October.
We want to know how people use these services and what they like and don’t like about them. There will be printed copies and online versions of a survey and multiple community engagement sessions – with specific sessions to identify the voice of the Māori and Pacific communities (particularly Tongan, Fijian and Tuvaluan) and working with the disability community.
Mental health, addiction, suicide prevention and aged care services will be sought to provide a health system view.
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Why is Waitaki District Health Services Ltd (WDHSL) no longer managing Oamaru Hospital?
Oamaru Hospital is an important part of the healthcare network in the Waitaki District and has an important role to play in the wellbeing of the community.
A joint decision was made between the Waitaki District Council and Health New Zealand to transfer management back to Health New Zealand to ensure financial and clinical stability going forward.
Waitaki District Council continue to own the hospital grounds and buildings.
The transition of the Oamaru Hospital management occurred separately to the Waitaki Health Futures Project.
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Has there been an impact from the hospital transition?
The smooth transition of Oamaru Hospital management to HNZ occurred earlier this year, which occurred separately to the Health Futures project. It is an example of health services and local partners working together to undertake significant change with no disruption for patients or staff.
“Oamaru Hospital is an important part of the healthcare network in the Waitaki District and has an important role to play in the wellbeing of the community.”
Our top priority was ensuring the sustainability of Ōamaru Hospital. Health NZ considers Ōamaru Hospital an essential part of the healthcare network in the Waitaki District. The joint transition program led to a smooth transition for the community and staff, with no impact on healthcare services.
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What is the next phase of the project?
After consideration of community and whānau voice, the next phase of the project is local workshops where we will consider how health services are delivery for people now and look at ways to improve coordination and access to health and wellbeing services.
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How will the Waitaki Health Futures project impact me as a resident?
The project aims to improve coordination and access to quality healthcare services for all residents. This includes more efficient healthcare delivery, and enhanced community health programs tailored to the unique needs of the Waitaki district.
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How can I stay informed about the progress of the project?
Regular updates will be provided through official press releases, and the project’s website - Waitaki Health Futures Project | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu
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When will the project be completed?
It’s expected the new healthcare model will be implemented in stages from in 2025
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Who can I contact for more information or specific questions?
For more information, you can contact the project team via email at TWPcomms@tewhatuora.govt.nz
Media Releases
Work under way to improve Waitaki healthcare services following community engagement - Monday 16 December 2024
Community feedback on a proposal to improve coordination and access to healthcare services in the Waitaki district has revealed four priority areas for improvement.
The Waitaki community was invited to have its say on shaping the future of healthcare in the district as part of Te Waka Hauora o Waitaki - Waitaki Health Futures Project, a partnership between the Waitaki District Council, Te Runanga o Moeraki, and Health New Zealand.
The project was launched last year.
“The aim of the project is to improve coordination and access to health and wellbeing services for the people of Waitaki,” Health New Zealand Community Integration Group Manager Aroha Metcalf says.
“To do this, we want to know how people use these services and what they like and don’t like about them.”
Community engagement began in September and has attracted significant feedback, with a three-week survey garnering almost 2200 comments from 737 respondents.
Six community engagement sessions held across the district attracted a further 278 comments.
Feedback was sought from a range people who use healthcare services in Waitaki, including the community, whānau, and local service providers.
The feedback has resulted in four priority areas being identified: making it easier for people to navigate the health system; improving access to services such as first specialist appointments; increasing local workforce capacity and flexibility; and enhancements to some services, such as improving the pathway for older people to transition from hospital care to at-home care.
Improved access to healthcare services could include things like opening boundaries to allow people to be referred to Timaru Hospital rather than Dunedin Hospital.
The project rollout will be staged. Implementation of immediate improvements that can be made are already under way as part of phase one of the project.
Phase two will begin midway through next year and involves improving coordination and connectivity between health services.
Planning for phase three will commence early next year. This involves developing a local health system in which primary, community, and hospital services operate together in an integrated way.
Metcalf says the feedback revealed several themes that people said were important to them, including reduced wait times; greater affordability; improved transport; communication and respect; and wellbeing (such as warm housing, good kai, and exercise facilities).
“How people experience health services as consumers and providers is important to balance the data and information around access, utilisation, and need,” Metcalf says.
She says the project aims to ensure publicly funded health services in the Waitaki district work together to provide comprehensive local services.
“It aims to remove some of the barriers to health services; address inequity of health outcomes that some rural communities experience; and relieve pressure on some tertiary services in the region.”
Waitaki District Council Partnerships Manager Helen Algar says community and local health leaders have worked closely with Health New Zealand to support a unified response to local community engagement.
“It’s fantastic that implementation is already under way, with more planning to come,” Algar says.
Other key partners in the project include Oamaru Hospital; providers Te Hā o Maru and the Oamaru Pacific Island Community Group (OPICG); the WellSouth primary health network; and the Stronger Waitaki Coalition.
ENDS
For more information, please contact hnzmedia@tewhatuora.govt.nz
Community to help shape future of Waitaki healthcare services - Monday, 16 September 2024
The Waitaki community is being invited to have its say on shaping the future of healthcare in the district.
“The aim of the project is to improve coordination and access to health and wellbeing services for the people of Waitaki,” Health New Zealand Community Integration Group Manager Aroha Metcalf says.
“To do this, we want to know how people use these services and what they like and don’t like about them.”
Te Waka Hauora O Waitaki - Waitaki Health Futures Project is a partnership between the Waitaki District Council, Te Runanga o Moeraki, and Health New Zealand. The project was launched last year.
Other key partners include Oamaru Hospital; providers Te Hā o Maru and the Oamaru Pacific Island Community Group (OPICG); the WellSouth primary health network; and the Stronger Waitaki Coalition.
Metcalf says the smooth transition of Oamaru Hospital management to HNZ earlier this year – which occurred separately to the Health Futures project – was an example of health services and local partners working together to undertake significant change with no disruption for patients or staff.
“Oamaru Hospital is an important part of the healthcare network in the Waitaki District and has an important role to play in the wellbeing of the community.”
Metcalf says the project aims to ensure publicly funded health services in the Waitaki district work together to provide comprehensive local services. It aims to remove some of the barriers to health services, address inequity of health outcomes that some rural communities experience and relieve pressure on some tertiary services in the region.
“We do need to ensure that future health service provision is clinically and financially sustainable,” Metcalf says.
“This includes looking at models of care that enable better access for Waitaki communities, which will mean some services offered closer to home, reducing the need to travel.”
Waitaki District Council Oamaru Ward councillor Tim Blackler says it has been a long-term ambition of both the council and Health NZ to address barriers to access and improve service coordination in Waitaki.
“By taking part in this survey, the community can have an important role in shaping the future of services in the district,” he says.
Te Rūnanga o Moeraki representative Trevor McGlinchey says: “The Runanga really encourages whānau Māori to fill in the surveys and participate in the community engagement meetings to ensure any changes in services meet whānau needs”.
Community engagement will run from September 16 to October 6, allowing project partners to listen and respond to local knowledge from the community, whānau, and service providers about what works well and what doesn’t.
It will kick off with online and paper surveys open from September 16 and will include several targeted community engagement and drop-in sessions.
It’s expected the new healthcare model will be implemented in stages from early 2025.
Partners
Working with:
