Cardio-Respiratory Services To Relocate

28 April 2004

The services provided by the Cardio-Respiratory Rehabilitation Unit at Burwood hospital are to be relocated to Christchurch hospital.

Making the announcement, the General Manager of Christchurch hospital Jim Magee said the decision to relocate the services was prompted by the outcome of a six-month Clinical review.

‘Originally, the unit at Burwood was established for patients who had been hospitalised with Respiratory or Cardiac illnesses and who required rehabilitation and education as a step down from the acute stage. It was seen as a more appropriate place to provide post acute care and to teach patients the skills they needed to self manage their condition,’ he said.

The review highlighted the fact that the unit at Burwood was providing services that were largely an extension of the services already being provided at Christchurch hospital through Inpatient and Outpatient care. The emphasis had shifted over time from what had been originally planned when the unit was established in 1997.

‘The review team comprised clinical and management staff from Burwood and Christchurch hospitals and also representatives from Older Persons’ Health. We agreed that the existing service needed to be changed to reflect the changes in patient needs and the international trend towards more Outpatient based rehabilitation. ’

Mr Magee said the changes would include: The retention of patients in the appropriate medical wards at Christchurch hospital (Cardiology, Respiratory and General Medicine) and the transfer of outpatient based Cardioversion clinics also to Christchurch hospital.

In addition, there would be an increase in Outpatient Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation courses, provided by Christchurch hospital, and there would be an increase in the capacity of the Acute Heart Failure clinics as recommended by the Review. Mr Magee said the Review had also highlighted the need for increased resources for cardio-respiratory outreach for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or heart failure, which would improve access to appropriate services and support.

With the relocation of services from Burwood to Christchurch hospital, staff from the unit would either be reassigned to provide the new patient services or offered other redeployment options within the CDHB.

‘Our primary intention with this change is to ensure the best possible care for our patients now and in the future,’ Mr Magee said.

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