Views sought from providers of dementia services

Expressions of interest sought from providers of dementia services

Canterbury District Health Board and the Nurse Maude Association are working closely together to find alternative dementia facilities for residents of the Lady Rhodes Ward, following the Association’s recent decision to end its specialist dementia care contract with the CDHB.

The Nurse Maude Association has given the CDHB nine months’ notice that it intends to withdraw from the contract, which is to provide 40 specialised beds in Canterbury. The Association has made the decision to focus on providing specialist nursing and palliative care services.

To do this, it has decided to close its specialist dementia ward, the Lady Rhodes Ward, which is currently housed in Nurse Maude’s Memorial Hospital. About 30 residents will be affected by this decision.

“While the Association’s decision is undoubtedly difficult for existing residents, the DHB is confident that it will attract another organization to provide the service. We are advertising and have already received expressions of interest,” Terry Mitchell, CDHB’s Acting General Manager Planning and Funding said.

“CDHB understands the Association’s decision to focus on palliative care and specialist nursing. In turn, Nurse Maude has agreed to work closely with us to arrange for alternative accommodation for residents of the Lady Rhodes ward. We will be working to ensure that the beds at Nurse Maude will be replaced in the sector as soon as practicable.”

ENDS

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