Te Kākano Nurse-Led Clinics begin

Te Kākano Nurse-Led Clinics begin

Southern nurse-led health clinics are being piloted thanks to Ministry of Health funding (Te Ruinga - spreading proven innovations) combined with Southern DHB and Southern PHO support.

“Everybody is extremely excited that we have been given the opportunity to deliver Nurse-Led clinics. Progress and interest to date is encouraging as we move to providing increasingly integrated and coordinated health services within Māori communities,” said Southern DHB District Manager Māori Health, Pania Coote.

The Clinics will provide and facilitate a range of health and social services for Dunedin, Central Otago, East and North Otago, Bluff, South Invercargill, Gore and Mataura communities, and are being led by Māori Health Providers across the Southern district.

Nadine Goldsmith (Southland based) and Lorna Scoon (Otago based) have been appointed as the nursing leads for the clinics, and both are currently both working towards becoming Nurse Practitioners.

“The funding for these clinics also provides a fantastic opportunity for the nurses in the roles to have the financial, professional and clinical support available to assist them to become Nurse Practitioners. On completion of their training, having two Nurse Practitioners working within the different Māori communities will provide a great opportunity to improve patient outcomes,” said Southern Primary Health Organisation Nurse Director, Wendy Findlay.

What makes these clinics unique is that they are shaped by community needs, they link the whānau into community and GP services whilst responding to the vision of Whānau Ora.

“We are committed (primary, secondary and community) to work effectively together to establish Nurse-Led clinics across the Southern district, utilizing our combined resources to jointly make a difference in reducing health inequalities and enhancing quality of life, ” said Pania.

Māori Health Providers, Kāi Tahu ki Otago Limited and Awarua Social and Health Services are both working in collaboration with the following partners to deliver the community based service:

Tokomairiro Waiora Inc.
Tumai Ora Whānau Services
Uruuruwhenua Health
Te Hou Ora Otepoti Inc.
Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc.
Hokonui Rūnanga Health & Social Services Trust

Chris Rosenbrock, Manager, Kāi Tahu ki Otago Limited, commented that “these partners provide pathways for clinics to happen within their communities and the kaupapa for each clinic is determined by the community.”

The clinics are free and Patricia (Trish) Young, Kaihautu – CEO, Awarua Social & Health Services said that she was “excited about the availability of free Marae based health clinics for whānau in Bluff, Hokonui, Mataura, Waihōpai and South City. Working collaboratively with Rūnanga across Murihiku will ensure that we capture whānau to improve access to health services and develop better pathways for them into other primary health care providers.”

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