Wellsouth Welcomes Southern DHB Commissioner's Plan

WELLSOUTH WELCOMES SOUTHERN DHB COMMISSONER'S PLAN

WellSouth has welcomed the Southern DHB Commissioner's Plan released today. It notes the focus on a strong health system reinforces WellSouth’s strategy to promote good health for the region’s people by building a strong primary health network.

WellSouth Chief Executive Ian Macara said the plan was an endorsement of the progress the organisation has made improving the primary health of people from Kurow, south to Stewart Island.

“WellSouth strongly supports the Commissioner's Plan framework, the outcomes will strengthen all aspects of the health network working together in an open and honest dialogue to ensure fair access to services for patients across the region.”

He said it marked the beginning of a new era of collaborative planning between WellSouth and the Southern DHB. “Most importantly we have established a regular dialogue with the Commissioner's team and we have been invited to join the budget planning process for primary health care.”

Ian Macara’s comments were endorsed by WellSouth Clinical Advisor, Dr Keith Abbott. Dr Abbott said the goodwill engendered by the plan will help embed the health pathways programme and support access to early diagnostics. “In plain language, this means people throughout the region will benefit from early diagnosis through their general practice, improving their health and ultimately reducing hospital admissions”, he said.

WellSouth Nurse Director Wendy Findlay sited two examples of recent PHO programmes that align to the Commissioners aim to develop models of care. Workforce Development funding from WellSouth trained more 90 Practice Nurses from medical centres throughout the Southern region in administering intravenous drugs to treat Cellulitis.

Since the initiative started at the beginning of July, she said more than 76 people had been treated at their local general practice, saving them having to travel to hospital for treatment and in turn reducing the load on the region’s hospitals.

“We have also established DESMOND, a training programme to help people with Type 2 Diabetes make better lifestyle choices by enabling them to take control of their diabetes management. This improves their quality of life and helps keep them healthy and out of hospital.”

ENDS

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