Letter to organisations who refer clients to Home and Community Support Services Advice of possible service reduction due to Omicron To:
DHBs - Charge Nurse Managers, Unit Managers, Social Workers, Discharge Planners All PHO/ General Practices, Needs Assessment and Service Coordination organisations, ACC Case Managers
From:
Mark Powell, Group Manager Community Health, Ministry of Health Chris Fleming, DHB CE lead, Southern DHB
Subject:
Home and Community Support Services – likely Omicron service reduction
Kia ora koutou If Omicron cases increase, there is potential for staff shortages in homecare due to staff becoming unwell or being required to self-isolate as a close contact. If this happens homecare organisations may need to scale back services temporarily and prioritise the provision of essential cares. To help plan ahead, the following approach has been agreed nationally between homecare organisations and funders including Disability Support Services (DSS), ACC and District Health Boards: • All homecare organisations will continue to accept referrals; however, depending on staff capacity, they may be providing essential cares only. Please consider this when requesting homecare support. • New requests for non-essential services such as housework will be deferred or declined. Please help those needing support to make other arrangements for housework or other domestic assistance. Please work with your patients to reduce the level of support needed, and ask families to assist as much as possible - for example: • arranging for a family member to help the support worker when a person needs two people with personal cares • assisting with housework • assisting a person who needs support with their exercise programme. It would also be useful to remind people of the importance of preparing a household plan for COVID-19, including a care or support plan for any dependents. We will notify you as soon as homecare organisations are able to return to accepting the full range of referrals for usual service delivery. We appreciate your continued understanding and support.
Ngā mihi
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