Holistic health care helps patients in Hawke’s Bay

Holistic health care helps patients in Hawke’s Bay

Almost 4000 people have benefitted from a new holistic nursing service in Hawkes Bay. Māori and Pacific people as well as those living in poorer areas are being targeted to help improve their health and quality of life.

The project has earned Hawke’s Bay Primary Health Organisation (PHO) a finalist’s place in the 2008 New Zealand Health Innovation Awards (HIA). It will compete against 19 other finalists, one of which is also from Hawke’s Bay.

The Nurse Led Healthy Lifestyle Clinics project also helps those at risk from conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. It takes a holistic approach by helping improve patients' lifestyles as well as focusing on their medical needs.

Nurses at the clinics carry out a one-on-one assessment of their patients’ needs by looking at all the factors which might affect their health – such as where they live, how much exercise they do, whether they smoke, their family relationships and their mental wellbeing. They can then refer patients to relevant agencies, such as Quitline and Hawkes Bay PHO's nutrition service.

Clinical Facilitator at Hawkes Bay PHO, Victoria Speers says, “This is a great way for nurses to use their skills and experience to help people in Hawke’s Bay stay healthy. So far they have carried out 7000 consultations and we are getting fantastic feedback.”

The project is being coordinated by Hawkes Bay PHO and clinics are already being offered by 13 doctors’ surgeries, one Māori health provider, a workplace assessment clinic and two community health centres.

The HIA are a joint endeavour of the Ministry of Health and ACC. They were started in 2003 to recognise individuals and organisations that have developed new and innovative approaches to delivering better health services.

Further information about the HIA is available online at http://www.healthinnovationawards.co.nz.

This year’s HIA winners will be announced at the expo and gala dinner held on 4 November at the Wellington Town Hall.

ENDS

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