More health services for Napier

1 April, 2011

More health services for Napier

Outpatient clinics at the Napier Health Centre will be increased and there are plans to further extend the range of health services provided from Wellesley Road to the people of Napier

Planning and performance general manager Andrew Lesperance said a project launched late last year had been reviewing health services in Napier to look at what could be done to improve or enhance health services so they better met the needs of the community

Early successes from the project will see women’s health outpatient clinics increased, nurse practitioner urology clinics introduced as well as a hand therapy clinic, Mr Lesperance said.

More doctor/nurse led clinics will also be developed as a result of the project which will mean fewer people will have to travel to Hastings for health services, he said.

“The project team collated results from previous surveys and reviews, consulted with community representatives and stakeholders to find out what services were needed, and what could be done better and found there were areas where we can improve and better meet the Government’s expectation of better, sooner more convenient health care for all New Zealanders.

“The project team also found that while we offer a wide range of health services in Napier not everyone knows where to go to find them so this is another area we will be working on – there’s no point having a service no-one knows about. “

Mr Lesperance said these early successes would be introduced while work continued to improve the coordination of services as well as looking at ways to provide better care for those who have long-term conditions such as diabetes.

“We want to improve the health of the community and we will be looking at implementing some innovative ways of working to keep people well in the community to help them manage their conditions and be better supported.”

As the project continues the project team will also be looking for feedback from the community on how the DHB can deliver better, sooner, more convenient primary health care, Mr Lesperance said.

New digital x-ray equipment will be installed in Napier and is expected to be operational in six months

The project team plan to hold an open day at the Napier Health Centre later this year and details will be announced as soon as they are finalised.
ENDS

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