Speech launching new rehabilitation service

Good Morning.

It is a pleasure to be here in Auckland this morning to launch this exciting new primary healthcare service. STAR (Specialist Treatment and Rehabilitation) demonstrates innovation that will deliver specialised health services for patients with chronic and long term conditions.

I would like to acknowledge:

• William Ropata - Chair of Total Healthcare Otara
• Mark Vella – CEO of Total Healthcare Otara
• John Evangelista – General Manager of Tamaki Health Care.
• I would also like to acknowledge staff who will be working with patients in this Centre to keep them well.

I’ve spoken about five megatrends which I believe are going to shape the future of healthcare in New Zealand and across the world. One of those is care closer to home. It will mean bringing treatment from hospitals to the community and into the home.

And it means GPs, nurses and pharmacists will have a much bigger role to play in a patients care, as will the patient themselves with greater emphasis on self-care through increasing use of mobile technology.

Bringing care closer to the home is part of our strategy to provide faster, more convenient health care to all New Zealanders.

It makes sense for health services to be centred on the patient, including identifying when and where health care is needed and delivered. For most of us, this translates to getting care in the community.

Increasingly, health services that used to be services provided solely in hospital are now available in the community as hospital-based clinicians and those based in the community work more closely together.

Patients referred to STAR by East Tamaki Healthcare GPs will be given information and advice to help manage their conditions such as: diabetes, gout, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardio-vascular disease.

This will help reduce hospital admissions across the community and improve the management of people’s long term conditions. Most importantly, it will equip patients with the skills to take more responsibility for their health.

Strong health systems that are based on integrated systems are where community and hospital services work together more effectively. This National-led Government is working towards delivering this kind of world class healthcare for New Zealanders.

Our commitment is about ensuring a quality health service; ensuring that every patient gets the best care and the best outcome from their engagement with the health sector.

And to do that we have focused on a number of key health targets. That’s because they make a real difference to prevention and care.

Diabetes is one of our fastest growing long-term conditions, and cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in New Zealand.

National has shown its commitment to improving health services for patients suffering with diabetes and heart disease - with a strong focus on prevention

Recent Ministry of Health figures show:

• Around 70,000 more people were having heart and diabetes checks than a year ago
• And over 800,000 have been checked in the last five years.

One key result is that New Zealanders are receiving more heart and diabetes checks than ever before and Total Healthcare PHO is well on track with its improvement towards this particular health target.

Total Healthcare PHO’s results for the more heart and diabetes checks target:

• Quarter One (July-Sept 2013) result was 69 percent vs. 90 percent target
• Quarter Two result was at 83 percent
• Quarter Three result was at 85 percent
• Quarter Four result met the target of 90 percent

I commend you for the great progress that you have already made and encourage you to continue your hard work towards reaching the target.

This National-led government has grown the health budget to record levels and as a result there has been increased focus on delivering frontline services that make a real difference.

With services like this patients can take advantage of a more holistic, patient-centred approach to combat against the rising rate of obesity and poorly managed long term conditions.

STAR Care Centres do not simply co-locate health services but will have a fully integrated primary care service, so you will be able to be referred by GPs for access to long-term conditions management, maternity care and surgery services at a single centre – allowing patients to access the full range of services they need in one setting.

Imagine this. Sione, who has recurring gout, cardio-vascular disease, diabetes and breathing problems and struggles to manage his condition.

He regularly visits his GP and is often admitted to hospital to alleviate the symptoms.

His GP has tried a number of approaches and wants a more intensive treatment plan for Saone.

He believes there are a number of issues that need addressing from health literacy improvement and self-management of Saone’s conditions through to better nutrition and lifestyle.

The GP makes the appointment for Sione to attend group education at the STAR Centre and he is contacted by a coordinator to find out if transport is needed. He receives a reminder text message and phone call the evening or morning prior to his visit.

When he arrives, Sione is triaged and assessed by a Practice Nurse with Special Interests – including assessment for psychological and social vulnerability.  Sione’s key family members (most specifically the family member preparing meals) are invited to attend and he is assigned a ‘mentor’ (someone with long term stable diabetes).

Sione attends six group sessions on a rolling basis, including cooking demonstrations by a dietician, exercise scheduling, self-management techniques, planning and goal setting and a review date is set.

While at the Centre, Sione also attends annual retinal screening and foot checks by the STARCare podiatrist. Meanwhile his GP, his medical home, is being given progress updates.

This means Sione is tackling not just the symptoms of his condition but is being encouraged to make lifestyle changes that will ultimately benefit his long term health.

As I travel across the country to visit various health professionals I am struck by the innovative projects providers are undertaking to make a real difference in the lives of their communities.

This government’s record investment in health services has been about backing these professionals to provide the highest quality care to patients closer to their homes.

There are plenty of people out there who have benefitted from these services, and many more who will continue to benefit in the future. 

In my role as Minister of Health I have overseen significant change and improvement in services. The health system has transformed with a great effort by clinicians and motivated groups across the sector such as you. There's still a lot to do though.

As many of you will know I am leaving politics at the election. It has been a great pleasure working with such high quality people throughout the health system who have real dedication, and a commitment to improving the lives of others

Finally, congratulations on the launch of STARCare, it marks a milestone in primary healthcare services and I am looking forward to a tour of the Centre.