Changes To Carelink Services Proposed

Media release
5 July 2012

Changes To Carelink Services Proposed

West Coast DHB consulting with staff on proposed changes to Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination service

Ensuring that services for older people living on the Coast are robust and efficient is a priority for the West Coast District Health Board. A recent review of its Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination service, known as Carelink, shows further potential to improve services for people living with complex needs on the Coast, the majority of those being older people.

West Coast DHB staff are being asked for their feedback on a proposal that seeks to replace the current Carelink service with a Complex Clinical Care Network (CCCN) team for older people and eventually including people over 18 with complex needs. The proposal for change has come after consultation and interviews with West Coast DHB staff and other health professionals during the review.

West Coast DHB chief executive, David Meates says, “Our focus is on improving our service to people living with complex needs. The review revealed that our current services are fragmented, cover a limited range of options and often result in duplication. The proposed change will create a single point of entry for chronic conditions management and support that is clear for patients.

“Introduction of the proposed CCCN team gives us an opportunity to implement a range of service improvements.

“One of these is a focus on maximising older people’s independence. The West Coast currently has a higher than average rate of rest home entry. We need to encourage older people to remain independent by enabling them to receive services that help them to stay healthy and independent.

“Because of the way our services are currently configured we are missing opportunities to enable people to remain living in their own homes for longer. This is reflected in a far lower rate of people on the Coast living at home with high/complex needs than in any other DHB area.

“The CCCN team framework will also bring a much needed emphasis on gerontological nursing input in community settings, such as primary care, home support agencies and rest homes. We hope the proposed changes will reduce avoidable admissions to hospital.

“We want to ensure that people, particularly those on long term low level support, receive the help they need. Some of these people have not been reassessed for over 12 months and their needs may have changed.

“Working in close collaboration with the Canterbury DHB, the CCCN team will provide greater specialist geriatric support for West Coast primary medical staff,” says David Meates.

West Coast District Health Board staff will have three weeks to give feedback on the proposed changes. At the end of the consultation phase all feedback will be considered and a decision on the proposal will be made on or before 10 August 2012.

Note:- Gerontology is the scientific study of ageing and its effects.

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