Te Omanga Hospice Achieves Accreditation Status

4 September 2006

Te Omanga Hospice Achieves Accreditation Status

Te Omanga Hospice today announced that it has achieved accreditation from Quality Health New Zealand, the New Zealand Council on Healthcare Standards. Quality Health New Zealand is the national accreditation body for hospitals and other health and disability services.

Mrs Biddy Harford, Te Omanga Hospice’s chief executive says, “Receiving accreditation recognises the high standard of care we strive for and our commitment to continuous improvement. It provides an independent assessment of our services by a team of qualified health professionals.

“Accreditation has involved the evaluation of all aspects of the Hospice’s performance against standards of client rights, healthcare management and safety. It has been very affirming experience for all those involved with the Hospice.”

Accreditation surveyors examine the consumers focus and cultural appropriateness of the services, the multidisciplinary treatment and care of patients, management and clinical systems, the safety of services, personnel and facilities, leadership and governance of the organisation, and the commitment to continuous improvement.

Te Omanga Hospice is a charitable trust that has been providing care and support to those living with terminal illness throughout the entire Hutt region, including Wainuiomata and the Eastern Bays, since 1979. It also provides care and support in the Wairarapa through its outreach programme based in Masterton. The Hospice supports over 450 patients and families each year.

Being accredited is a requirement in order to receive District Health Board funding. This funding provides some

$2.1 million towards the annual cost of $4.4 million for the programmes run by the Hospice. The Hospice has to fund the shortfall from the communities it serves and is reliant upon the support and generosity of people throughout the Hutt and Wairarapa regions.

“The communities we serve can have confidence that Te Omanga is providing excellent standards of service and safe care to its clients and their families,” Mrs Harford said.

ENDS

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