Monday 23 September 2024Health news6 minutes to read

West Coast Health, the primary healthcare organisation on the Coast, has confirmed changes to how after-hours care is delivered on the West Coast will be in place from October 1, 2024.

West Coasters, and visitors to the Coast, will now use Ka Ora Telecare as their provider of primary care services on weekends, evenings, and public holidays. The service is available between 5pm and 8am on weeknights and 24 hours a day on weekends and public holidays. Patients can connect with Ka Ora by either calling 0800 252 672 or accessing their website kaora.co.nz

You can call for free advice and depending on your age and level of care needed, there may be a charge – A schedule of fees is included at the end of this release.

If the Ka Ora team determine in-person care is required, residents will be referred to their closest healthcare facility to have an in-person consultation. – see table in Editor’s Note below.

West Coast Health Chief Executive Caro Findlay says the PHO has consulted with its partners on the changes.

“We need to grow capacity in our after-hours care system to ensure there are sustainable primary care services available for our West Coast communities,” says Caro Findlay.

“We reached this decision after many hours of discussion with practices, partners and clinical staff, and this solution is the best way to ensure that our West Coast practices remain open and accessible for West Coasters. By partnering with the telehealth experts at Ka Ora we can reduce workload pressure on our Coast based clinicians, ensure the practices remain financially solvent, and make sure they are available during the week which is when most people access primary care.

“Additionally, the new service will be more convenient for many people and means they can be seen from the comfort of their own home without having to queue at an in-person clinic. West Coast community pharmacies will continue to be open on Saturdays to fill prescriptions. Ka Ora clinicians will advise how patients can get their urgent prescriptions filled on Sundays”.

“The new service will also provide continuity of the care because Ka Ora works as an extension of the patient’s existing primary care practice. The notes from the Ka Ora clinician’s consultation are automatically sent to the patient’s practice so they can be added to the patient’s file, and their routine doctor can review them. Ka Ora representatives recently visited the Coast to familiarise themselves with the geography and services and took time to meet staff from all the West Coast’s practices.”

“West Coast Health will undertake a comprehensive communication campaign to make sure all West Coast residents and visitors are aware of this change, including information on the new services being dropped in every household’s letterbox – see collateral attached. We will also seek to connect with more vulnerable members of our community like older people via face to face meetings to ensure they understand the new service and are confident to access it”.

The new service will be evaluated after three months of operation and patients who use the service during the first three months are invited to give feedback on the service or ideas for improvement via the West Coast Health website Ka Ora page.

Philip Wheble, Associate Group Director of Operations for Health NZ on the West Coast, says there are no changes to how acute and emergency care is delivered.

“The way we deliver primary care together on the West Coast is unique and we will continue to work with West Coast Health and the private practices to ensure there are arrangements in place for 24/7 services, including options for face to face care, that meet the needs of our communities.

Ka Ora Telecare is New Zealand’s national rural telehealth provider. For more information, see Ka Ora Telecare

Editor’s Note

Primary Healthcare Organisations (PHOs)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora contracts Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) to provide primary health services within a certain geographical area.

PHOs manage contracts to general practices that provide subsidised health care for people who are enrolled with a general practice team. Most people in New Zealand are enrolled with a general practice and a PHO.

PHOs provide other health services to support primary healthcare provision in their communities to coordinate a seamless continuum of care for people.

Very Low Cost Access

Almost all of the primary care practices on the West Coast are signed up to the Very Low Cost Access (VLCA) scheme supports eligible general practices to maintain patient fees at a low level, which recognises the make up of the population.

Brief System Explanation

A brief explanation of how the system will operate is set out here by area.

Costs

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Related topics

General PracticeHealth awarenessPartnershipRural healthunplanned careupdateurgent careWest Coast

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