HOSPITAL VISITING

All hospital visitors are recommended to wear a medical face mask. For more information about visiting: Visitors and family. See our COVID-19 page for general COVID-19 advice, detailed hospital visiting guidelines and COVID-19 tests.

See West Coast COVID-19 vaccination clinics for info on vaccinations link COVID-19 Vaccination • West Coast • Healthpoint

Last updated:
16 September 2022

Fewer visitor restrictions now apply

For visitors to all facilities (effective from and last updated on 16 September 2022)

Some visitor restrictions for all Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast health facilities remain in place, but we have relaxed others.

There is still a heightened risk to vulnerable people in hospital and so people must continue to wear a mask when visiting any of our facilities and follow other advice designed to keep patients, staff and other visitors safe.

Kia whakahaumaru te whānau, me ngā iwi katoa – this is to keep everybody safe:

  • Visitors or support people must not visit our facilities if they are unwell. Do not visit if you have recently tested positive for COVID-19 and haven’t completed your isolation period.
  • Patients in single rooms may have more than one visitor while patients in multi-bed rooms can have one visitor only per patient to ensure there is no overcrowding.
  • People can have one or two support people to accompany them to outpatients appointments.
  • Women in labour in a birthing suite, in Te Nīkau Hospital’s Maternity Ward and in Buller’s Kawatiri Maternity Unit can have the usual support people, subject to space, for the duration of their stay in our facilities.
  • Eating or drinking at the bedside is at the discretion of the Clinical Nurse Manager. Visitors must not eat or drink in multibed rooms because of the increased risk when multiple people remove their mask in the same space.
  • Hand sanitiser is available and must be used.

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as our staff work hard to protect and care for some of the most vulnerable in our community.

Mask wearing

  • Surgical/medical masks must be worn at all sites, except in counselling, mental health and addiction services where it’s on a case-by-case agreement with patients. Masks will be provided if you don’t have one. In higher-risk environments, people, including young children, may not be able to visit if they cannot wear a mask.
  • Any member of the public with a mask exemption is welcome in all our facilities when attending to receive health care and *treatment. Please show your mask exemption card and appointment letter to staff at the entrance. *Treatment includes coming into the Emergency Department, outpatient appointments, surgery or a procedure.

Visiting patients with COVID-19

  • People are able to visit patients who have COVID-19 but they must wear an N95 mask – this will be provided if you don’t have one.
  • Other methods of communication will be facilitated e.g. phone, Facetime, Zoom, WhatsApp etc where visits aren’t possible.

You must NOT visit our facilities if you

  • are COVID-19 positive
  • are unwell. Please stay home if you have a tummy bug or cold or flu/COVID-19-like symptoms (even if you’ve tested negative for COVID-19).

Te Whatu Ora West Coast Aged Residential Care facilities

Visitors are welcome at our Aged Care Residential facilities, subject to the space available. All visitors must wear a surgical mask.

More COVID-19 information

About Māori health

About Hauora Māori

Mihi

Ka tangi te manu tiori
Ka tangi te ngākau tangata
Nō reira, tēnei te mihi
Kia koutou kia ora rā

 

Like the chant of the bird crying out
The hearts of the people cry out
And so this is the wish
‘May you have a healthy happy life’

Hauora Māori workforce training

Health Workforce New Zealand (HWNZ) Hauora Māori Training Fund 2020

The West Coast District Health Board is pleased to announce this funding opportunity through Health Workforce New Zealand (HWNZ) for Māori staff who work in the Health and Disability sector.

Applicants must show a commitment to developing formal competencies in their current roles, and developing their potential to move into other health sector roles. You are encouraged to apply to complete a clinically and culturally focused NZQA accredited Certificate or Diploma (level 3 to level 7 of the National Qualifications Framework). 

The funding will cover such things as Tuition fees, Travel, Accommodation, Clinical Release, Clinical and Cultural Supervision. Please find enclosed a brochure and application form. 

Because funding and the number of training programmes available are limited, applications close on the 14 January 2020 and you are encouraged to contact us at your earliest. If you wish to apply for this and need support or further information please contact myself or the Māori Health Team on (03) 768 0499 ext 2925 or via our enquiry form on this page just below.

This funding will support training Māori in the non-regulated workforce to develop formal competencies in their current role, and potentially move into other health sector roles.

 

Additional Information

According to Health Workforce New Zealand (HWNZ) criteria, successful applicants will:

  • Be currently employed by a DHB health/disability service or by a health/disability service that is funded by the District Health Board or the Ministry of Health.
  • Have Māori whakapapa.
  • Be a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand permanent resident.
  • Have support from your current employer to undertake and complete the qualifications.
  • Work a role of no less than 0.25 FTE.
  • Apply for a course that meets West Coast DHB Māori health/disability workforce priorities.
  • Meet the entry criteria required by the training provider.

This funding cannot be used for:

  • Employees who work in non-DHB/Ministry provider or funded services.
  • Employees studying in a programme not accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) or an Industry Training Organisation (ITO).
  • Employees already in a sponsored study programme who are part of the Māori Provider Development Scheme (MPDS), receive a MOH Hauora Scholarship or are participating in another HWNZ-funded programme.
  • Mental health employees (separate funding is available).
  • Mental health and addictions training programmes.

HWNZ Hauora Māori funding covers reimbursements for:

  • Tuition fees.
  • Cultural supervision or support for the trainee to work according to the values, protocols and practices of Māori culture.
  • Travel subsidy (actual costs) for trainees who are required to travel further than 100km by road one way from their usual place of work to the training programme location.
  • Accommodation subsidy up to a maximum of $100 per night where trainees are expected to travel to the training location.
  • Actual costs of course-related resources, up to a maximum of $300 per trainee (pro rata basis).

Applications

Complete the Application Form and send with your CV and other documentation to the coordinator by the end of November/early December (see contact details below). Some applications may be considered in January or first semester if training is for second semester.

Application form

Brochure

Coordinator – Megan Tahapeehi

West Coast District Health Board, PO Box 387, Greymouth 7840
027 249 2523

Kia Ora Hauora is a Māori Health workforce development programme promoting health careers to students and current health sector workers. The programme has been developed in response to the national and international shortage of health sector workers, and the demand for more Māori health professionals.

The Māori Health Directorate is the centre point of Māori health development. It provides Māori cultural support to staff, develops Māori health strategy, and monitors Māori Health targets.

The Māori Health Directorate functions bi-culturally and is jointly supported by the West Coast DHB and Tatau Pounamu Manawhenua Advisory Group/Māori Health Advisory Committee.

With the guidance and support of Tatau Pounamu Advisory Group, a strengthening and merging of Māori health interests is occurring.

Poutini Waiora

Poutini Waiora is a Māori health and social service provider delivering whānau ora services across Te Tai O Poutini.

Poutini Waiora ensures whānau are central to all decision making, to support goals and aspirations under the umbrella of “whānau ora”. Services are delivered to whānau based on manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, rangatiratanga and wairuatanga.

Poutini Waiora staff include:

  • Registered Nurses
  • Well Child Tamariki Ora Nurse
  • Registered Social Workers
  • Registered Counsellors
  • Senior/Kaiarataki Health Support Workers
  • Programme Facilitators
  • Coordinator
  • Administrators

Te Herenga Hauora o Te Waka o Aoraki

Te Herenga Hauora o Te Waka o Aoraki is the South Island DHBs Māori managers network.

It provides a forum for mutual support and development of common vision, purpose, and strategic directions. These continue the momentum for improved Māori health outcomes; effective Māori participation; and influence in the health sector locally, regionally and nationally.

Terms of Reference [PDF, 30 KB]

Tatau Pounamu Manawhenua Advisory Group

The Tatau Pounamu Manawhenua Advisory Group is made up of the Manawhenua health advisors mandated by the Papatipu Rūnanga: Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae as the Treaty of Waitangi partners to West Coast DHB. Ngā Maata Waka o Te Tai o Poutini is also included in this forum.

Tatau Pounamu Manawhenua Advisory Group works with West Coast DHB to:

  • Develop and implement strategies for Māori health gain.
  • Provide health and disability support services consistent with Māori cultural concepts, values, and practices.
  • Support Māori aspirations for health and to reduce inequalities between Māori and other New Zealanders for whānau, hapu, iwi, and Māori communities.

The group meets the West Coast DHB every six weeks and works closely with the Māori Health General Manager, West Coast DHB General Manager, and Planning and Funding Team Leader.

Memorandum of Understanding [PDF, 732 KB]

Tumu Whakarae

Tumu Whakarae is the National Reference Group of Māori Managers within DHBs.

Tumu Whakarae brings together the collective experience of members to further a shared goal: That Māori health gain stays on the national agenda, and that as a national Rōpū we provide some of the required leadership.

He Korowai Oranga

As New Zealand’s Māori Health Strategy, He Korowai Oranga sets the overarching framework that guides the Government and the health and disability sector to achieve the best health outcomes for Māori.

A living, web-based strategy

He Korowai Oranga is a living strategy. Updating this website with evidence, data and case studies will be integral activities in its second decade. Over time, this web-based strategy will become a ‘hub of innovation’ for Māori health.

You can click here to access further information on the aim, elements, key threads and pathways of the He Korowai Oranga framework. Over time, this information will be updated.

How it Works

He Korowai Oranga is a high-level strategy that supports the Ministry of Health and district health boards (DHBs) to improve Māori health by addressing the:

  • New Zealand Health Strategy
  • New Zealand Disability Strategy
  • New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000.

Implementing He Korowai Oranga is the responsibility of the whole of the health and disability sector. It has implications for other sectors as well.

DHBs in particular should consider He Korowai Oranga in their planning, and in meeting their statutory objectives and functions for Māori health. He Korowai Oranga assists Māori providers and communities, and other providers when planning their own strategic development. The elements, directions, key threads and pathways of He Korowai Oranga are the health system’s guide to improving Māori health and realising pae ora – healthy futures.

The 4 pathways of the original He Korowai Oranga framework continue to tell us how to implement the strategy. These pathways are:

  • supporting whānau, hapu, iwi and community development
  • supporting Māori participation at all levels of the health and disability sector
  • ensuring effective health service delivery
  • working across sectors.

This set of guidelines [link to Tikanga page] aims to help health professionals working with Māori.

Tikanga best practice involves providing services that are responsive to Māori rights, needs and interests. We hope implementing these ideas will contribute to Māori health gain.

These guidelines are founded on Māori concepts, views of health, tikanga (Māori values/practices) and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. They provide practical processes for all team members follow. This ranges from greeting whānau, patient involvement, and the spiritual safety of the patient.

These guidelines reinforce the expectation that health services treat all users with dignity and respect. In turn, we expect health service users to behave respectfully.

Māori Health reports

Māori Health Action Plan

Māori Health Profile

Improving Health Outcomes for Māori

A Health Equity Assessment Tool (HEAT): A User’s Guide [PDF, 355 KB]

A Health Equity Assessment Tool [PDF, 9 KB]

Visit our Health services page for more information on the Maori health services we provide.

Page last updated: 26 November 2019

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