Te Puwaitanga O Otangarei service development

This new SIA contract which was signed in July 2006 seeks to build on the work that has already occurred in developing the health centre at Otangarei, and to further address some of the key needs that have emerged over the past three years. This contract replaces and extends the previous SIA contract which supported the initial development phase of the health centre. The key objective of this service development is to improve health outcomes by removing barriers and enhancing access to healthcare services for the people of Otangarei.
 
This will be achieved by the employment of three new positions, namely, a primary health care nurse (1.0 FTE), a community health worker (0.5 FTE), and a health promotion position (1.0 FTE). A key focus for the nursing role is to undertake comprehensive health assessments and develop on-going plans of care for patients who present opportunistically to the health centre, and to undertake a care co-ordination role for patients with complex health and social needs. The CHW provides an important linkage with the community and will utilise multiple strategies to enhance access. The health promotion role will provide focused health promotion activities that support and enhance service delivery.