Interim Palliative Care Response Team established An interim Palliative Care Response Team has been set up within Regional Community Services, to improve access to care for palliative patients with a life limiting illness and their whānau in the Eastern Bay of Plenty community. This follows resourcing issues with Hospice EBOP which has impacted on the organisation’s ability to provide community based support for all palliative patients at this time. A full independent clinical review of hospital and community palliative care in the Eastern Bay will also be carried out later this year. This will take into account current and recent users of both hospital and hospice services, looking at the quality of the services with a view to identifying areas for improvement. Our long term goal is to ensure palliative patients in the Eastern Bay receive high quality palliative care, well supported in an environment which is right for them and their whānau. What’s happening The Interim Palliative Care Response Team is meeting weekly with Hospice EBOP to identify additional support to meet patient needs. Hospital Referrals Refer palliative care patients ready to be discharged to the Palliative Care Response Team using the online referral form Note this is an internal hospital link for hospital staff. GP and Community Referrals Continue to refer palliative care patients to Hospice EBOP online via BPAC. We are in the process of updating the BPAC referral form, allowing a copy of the referral to be sent to the Community Care Coordination Centre (CCC) for additional support. We will update you when this available.
If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch. We look forward to working alongside you as we strive to improve palliative care for patients with a life limiting illness, and their whānau in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Dr Prue McCallum & Nurse Practitioner Theresa Ngamoki Co-leads Interim Palliative Care Response Team Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand Hauora A Toi Bay of Plenty Contact details: Dr Prue McCallum Prue.McCallum@bopdhb.govt.nz, 027 578-0990 Theresa Ngamoki Theresa.Ngamoki@bopdhb.govt.nz