Healthcare of NZ - Earthquake Response Update: 02 March 2011

Healthcare of New Zealand Limited
Earthquake Response Update: 02 March 2011

• Healthcare is working with the Canterbury District Health Board to identify practical and integrated ways to assist with the city’s increased health demands.
• Getting to the Christchurch people we support – within both our residential houses and the wider community – continues to be very difficult, and staff are making incredible efforts to visit people in the worst affected areas.

Integrated nursing and community services
• A temporary office for the Christchurch Integrated Services team, located at Waimairi Club Rooms (Lion’s Den) in Burnside Park, 336 Avonhead Road, should be operational tomorrow.
• Staff are liaising with the Red Cross to arrange house visits for the remaining few clients who have not been contactable, despite repeated efforts.
• The number of calls from clients and family members to the free phone number (0800 227 348) has declined.
A staff information line is being established, so that support workers can get information about pay and timesheet delivery.

NZCare disability support services
• NZCare’s vocational staff will now be working in residential homes, where they will provide daily activities for clients and additional staff on site.
• All NZCare managers are now based in the team’s temporary office at 104 Harris Crescent in Papanui. Communication continues to improve as infrastructure improves, with four new laptops arriving yesterday.
• In Hawera, generous donations from the community are being used to buy essential items and additional clothing for the people it supports.

Mental Health and Addiction Services
• The Mental Health and Addictions team is working with the Integrated Services team to receive new referrals.
Healthcare of New Zealand Limited’s divisions, NZCare, HealthCare NZ Integrated Nursing and Community Services, and Mental Health & Addiction Services, support around 3,000 people in the Christchurch area. The organisation has around 800 staff, nurses and support workers in the area

www.healthcarenz.co.nz

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