Workshops on Ka¯ piti health care

Improved urgent and after hours care for Ka¯ piti will be the focus of three workshops being held in Raumati, Paraparaumu and Waikanae on May 1.

The improvements will be rolled out from the end of April and come after almost two years of a strong partnership between Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) and the Ka¯ piti Health Advocacy Group (KHAG) to find the best answers to health needs in this area.

Two years ago more than 22,000 Ka¯ piti residents signed a petition calling for a hospital in the district.

With the district’s population requiring more health services it was felt a community-style hospital would meet those needs.

That petition is now before a select committee.

It was clear though, that even if a hospital was to be set up in Ka¯ piti, it would be some years away and the community needed better health services now. To identify just what was required and how to best achieve these, Ka¯ piti mayor K Gurunathan asked Paraparaumu Raumati Community Board member Kathy Spiers to set up a group to determine the health priorities for the area.

“More than 30 Ka¯ piti health and community groups came together to form the Kapiti Health Advocacy Group,” said Ms Spiers who chairs group.

“Over the last two years we have met monthly and worked in partnership with CCDHB to determine the critical needs for our area, and meeting key CCDHB staff involved in mental health, health of older people, transport and integrated care which has been invaluable.”

CCDHB strategy, innovation and performance executive director Rachel Haggerty commended the hard work of general practices, Wellington Free Ambulance, Ka¯ piti Coast District Council and the Ka¯ piti community who have worked together with the CCDHB, to support the development of the first roll out of new health services closer to home.

“We are excited about the roll out of services that aim to reduce time and travel away from home, and respond to better access to services, care of older people and people with disabilities.

“To have our key staff work with together with KHAG on identified priorities and mental health services remain a key focus.”

Last year it was agreed the priorities were: access to services (including transport), urgent care (accident and out of hours), mental health services, care of older people, care for people with disabilities.

“Rachel Haggerty, her leadership team, Taulalo Fiso, director community partnerships and CCDHB staff have been active and visible in recent years with KHAG to improve health outcomes in the community,” Ms Spiers said.

The Advocacy Group became the Kapiti Health Advisory Group late last year, chaired by Ms Spiers with 12 representatives from Ka¯ piti.

“Our role now is to continue to work in partnership with the mayor’s office, the CCDHB board and others to ensure progress on all of the areas we have prioritised,” Ms Spiers said. “Our first success was the introduction of a link between the Porirua Railway Station and Kenepuru Hospital and the CCDHB shuttle to Wellington.”

“The forums on May 1 will outline the early successes we have achieved working together.”

■ Public forums:

■ 11am Senior Citizens Hall, Ocean Rd, Paraparaumu Beach.

■ 2pm Baptist Church 286 Te Moana Rd Waikanae.

■ 6pm Ka¯piti Uniting Parish, cnr Raumati and Weka Roads Raumati Beach.

Everyone is welcome. A time will be set aside for questions.