Wairoa: Integrated health services and workforce reconfiguration - FAQs

What is the Wairoa integrated health services and workforce reconfiguration demonstration?

Hawkes Bay District Health Board (HBDHB) is being supported by Health Workforce New Zealand (HWNZ) to design and implement an integrated model of health services in Wairoa that best meets the needs of the local community, and to identify a sustainable workforce model to support the integrated services.

This project is linked to a separate capital project to redesign the facilities in Wairoa which is being developed, managed, and funded by HBDHB.

What are the demonstration objectives?

The demonstration objectives are:

• To design, plan and implement an integrated model of health services in Wairoa that best meets the needs of the local community.
• To identify a sustainable workforce model to support the integrated services that is cost effective with no reduction in quality of services or patient safety.
• To develop a financial model for the project which demonstrates and ensures the sustainability of health care services in Wairoa.
• To provide an exemplar site for the delivery of innovative responses to workforce pressures in rural areas of high deprivation.

Why is a new model for health services and workforce reconfiguration needed?

Delivery of healthcare in Wairoa is challenging due to socio-economic determinants, health status, workforce pressures and geographic isolation.

The current service model in Wairoa is unsustainable and there are considerable issues with workforce cover. The region struggles to attract and retain health care professionals and current services have developed in an ad hoc manner with fragmentation and duplication of services.

What will the new integrated health services model in Wairoa look like and how will the workforce be reconfigured to support this?

The new model will be an integration of primary and secondary health care services. The exact configuration has not yet been decided and will be developed in consultation with the local community.

Reconfiguring the workforce to best support the new model may include the introduction of new and extended workforce roles, and extended scopes of practice to best support this new model and meet the needs of the local community.

What are the benefits of a new integrated health services model and a reconfigured workforce?

A new integrated health services model and reconfigured workforce will address workforce issues and realities, coordinate and minimise waste and duplication and be cost effective and financially sustainable.

Traditional ways of working will be challenged and new roles will be developed. Teams will adopt a person-centred care approach that encourages providers to work in partnership with individuals (whanau and hapu) to empower them to self-manage their chronic disease.

This will lead to the delivery of health outcomes that improve the health status of the Wairoa population by providing opportunity for effective population health screening, early disease detection, and more coordinated intervention strategies as well as potentially enhanced local provision of services.

When will the demonstration start?

The demonstration began in July 2011 with the appointment of a project manager. A clinical advisor to the project has also been appointed and the project is being developed in collaboration with primary care and HBDHB staff.

Options for the design the integrated services and the workforce model needed to support this are currently being explored and will be consulted on with the local community. More information will be provided as this is developed early in the New Year.

How will the demonstration be monitored?

Interim evaluation reports will be provided throughout the project with a full evaluation report on completion.