Service the focus, not just the building

The staff in Older Persons and Rehabilitation Services (OP and RS) will now focus on improving the services they provide in preparation for the move to a new building at the Waiora Waikato Hospital campus in late 2013.

Health Minister Tony Ryall yesterday announced the government approved a $40 million plus project to consolidate and streamline services for older people and those having rehabilitation at Waikato Hospital.

He told staff on a visit to the hospital to announce Waikato could be a place everyone aspires to come to because of its strong focus on the health of older people.

The project will provide the region with 100 extra contracting jobs something Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker said was a very positive development for Hamilton.

"Waikato Hospital is such an asset to our city and this further development is not only positive for the elderly in our community but also for Hamilton's economy."

Ms Hardaker said the capital build at Waikato Hospital over six years was more than $500 million, which provided more than 800 jobs and saw more than $100 million flow into the community.

"Waikato DHB's contribution to Hamilton as our biggest employer and biggest business is a significant one," she said.

OP and RS clinical service leader Dr Phil Wood said that for the service it was just as much about getting the right people to do the right thing at the right time.

"It's about our patients," he said.

"We have grown our bed stock from the 28 inpatient beds to the current 72 by choosing to push for aligned services where there is a clear evidence base of benefit to be gained."

Dr Wood said the obvious examples were the Organised Stroke Services and the Orthogeriatric Unit.

"Our goal is excellent in the inpatient models of care and also outpatient/community support."

The psychiatry clinicians at Waikato DHB were already offering the best memory service in New Zealand.

"Backing these and more are our plans to have Waikato seen as the place to train in rehabilitation and services to our older folks."

The appointment of a Matthew Parson to the Professor of Gerontology (nursing) - a joint appointment with Auckland University - was good progress, he said.

Caption: l-r Board member Sharon Mariu, OP and RS group manager Barbara Garbutt, Dr John Strachan (mental health services for older people), Tony Ryall, Dr Phil Wood, and project manager Katie Holloway.