Introduction

Kōwhai Health Trust manages a group of programmes which are available valley-wide across all Hutt Valley PHO’s. These programmes are aimed to reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes for the people of Hutt Valley. They are designed for use in General Practice with a strong focus on supporting the Practice to implement these programmes. Each programme has specific criteria and is generally restricted to patients who are enrolled with a Hutt Valley PHO and/or resident in the Hutt Valley.

The aims of each programme vary. Some are designed specifically to reduce health inequalities due to financial barriers, and are therefore targeted at the lower income population. Other programmes address high health needs, such as people with diabetes. Service Providers generally include General Practices, Marae based healthcare workers, and other Primary Care Providers.

Community Radiology Programme

The Primary Care Community Radiology Programme provides referred clients with timely access to a quality service that facilitates a prompt, cost effective and accurate diagnosis of clinical problems and conditions. The programme excludes procedures that are covered under ACC, maternity services, Nuclear & MRI scans and the breast screening programme (there are some exceptions for breast screening and patients should discuss these with their GP) 

Referred patients make their own appointments and are invited to choose either The Hutt Valley Imaging Service or Pacific Radiology.

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Compliance Packaging Programme

The Compliance Packaging programme assists patients to manage their medicines by improving their compliance and thereby maximising the health benefits of their medication. Patients must be a resident of the Hutt Valley, enrolled in a Hutt Valley PHO and hold a Community Services Card.

Referrals into the programme must be made by a GP or Pharmacist operating the Hutt Valley. A clinical pharmacist at Kōwhai Health Trust will confirm availability for placement on the programme for new referrals and will notify the GP and/or Pharmacist.

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Chronic Disease Pathway

The Chronic Disease Pathway is a suite of 3 programmes comprising:
• Community Respiratory
• Cardiac Continuum of Care
• Diabetes Action (and Community Podiatry)

The Chronic Disease Pathway aims to educate and reinforce lifestyle changes and increase the patient’s ability to manage their condition. These 3 programmes are also intended to support primary care providers to specifically target services to high needs Māori and Pacific people. Services delivered under this programme are ‘wellness’ events and should be separately scheduled from events of visits for illness within Care Plus.

Patients are eligible to enter any of the 3 programmes if they are resident in the Hutt Valley and enrolled in a Hutt Valley PHO and have indicated they wish to participate in the programme. Patients are excluded from free education sessions if they are receiving the same service from Specialist Hutt Valley DHB services, PHO Care Plus or other providers of the services.

Community Respiratory Programme

The Community Respiratory Programme aims to:

  • improve the management of patients with asthma/COPD and foster or increase the patient’s ability to self-manage their condition
  • reduce hospitalisation due to asthma/COPD related illness

The Programme offers nurse led education and support, post hospital GP review.  A Voucher is issued upon hospital discharge for the patient to redeem at his/her GP Hutt Valley practice.

Cardiac Continuum of Care Programme

The Cardiac Continuum of Care Programme focuses on people in the Hutt Valley either with risk factors for cardiac disease or who have a a diagnosed cardiac condition. The programme offers support and education sessions with practice nurses and a post hospital GP review following a hospital admission for a cardiac condition. A Voucher is issued upon hospital discharge for the patient to redeem at his/her GP Hutt Valley practice.

Diabetes Action Programme (and Community Podiatry)

The Diabetes Action Programme aims to:

  • Promote Self management
  • Provide education for patients with Type 2 Diabetes. The Programme offers nurse let education and support and post hospital GP review. A Voucher is issued upon hospital discharge for the patient to redeem at his/her GP Hutt Valley practice.

Under the Diabetes Action programme Hutt Valley practieces may also refer patients newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes to an approved community podiatrist for 1 podiatrist for 1 podiatry assessment.

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Warfarin Monitoring Programme

The Warfarin Monitoring Programme provides a reliable, safe and effective Warfarin management service to those residents of the Hutt Valley for which Warfarin medication is indicated. The service provides:

  • A free GP visit for patients discharged from Hutt Hospital and newly initiated on Warfarin – the patient will receive a Voucher by the Hospital specialist services entitling them to the free GP visit
  • GP or Practice Nurse education and support sessions for the patient. Patients can receive an initial education and support session followed by one follow-up session dependent on the needs of the patient at the discretion of the Practice.

The service is available for all people resident in the Hutt Valley and enrolled in a Hutt Valley PHO who are receiving treatment on Warfarin.

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Primary Care Skin Lesion Programme

The Primary Care Skin Lesion Programme aims to provide high quality skin lesion removal services within primary care; reduce waiting times for skin lesion removals and reduce the burden of non-melanoma skin cancer on secondary services.

The primary care skin lesion service can be provided to patients who have an eligible skin lesion, hold a Community Services Card or High User Health Card and reside in the Hutt Valley or enrolled in a Hutt Valley PHO.

Only approved providers may remove skin lesions under this programme.

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Youth Sexual Health Programme

The aim of the Youth Sexual Health Programme is to improve the sexual and reproductive health of people in the Hutt Valley by providing a free primary care service to youth and other high needs people in exceptional circumstances.  The type of sexual health conditions covered under this programme are:

  • Contraception
  • Pregnancy test
  • Emergency contraception
  • Pregnancy options
  • Sexual health – STI’s, sexuality and other sexual health issues

Patient eligibility:

The programme can be provided to young people who are aged from 12 years up to 21 years domiciled in the Hutt Valley.

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Diabetes Get Checked

The Diabetes Get Checked (Diabetes Annual Review) programme is funded by the Ministry of Health and ensures that every New Zealander with diabetes can have a free annual check up with their GP or GP Practice Nurse. The objectives of the programme are to:

  • Systematically screen for the risk factors and complications of diabetes to promote early detection and intervention
  • Agree on an updated treatment plan for each person with diabetes
  • Update the information in the diabetes register used as a basis for clinical audit and planning improvements to diabetes services in the area
  • Prescribe treatment and refer specialist or other care if appropriate

Kōwhai Health Trust manages the Get Checked database and claiming processes for all Hutt Valley PHO’s.

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Professional Development for Nurses

Nurse led education and support under the Valley-wide Programmes can be provided by primary care practice nurses who have successfully completed relevant training and undertaken support programmes. Completion of the base line Kōwhai Health Trust facilitated professional development for primary care nurses, and the relevant updates, is considered appropriate for approval to deliver and claim funding for education sessions under Valley-wide Programmes.

Primary care Nurses who have completed other recognised or similar level professional development, or have previous experience in the delivery of Respiratory, Cardiac and Diabetes education to patients can also participate in delivering and claim funding for education sessions under the Valley-wide Programmes.

Enrolments and Enquiries

Enrolment Forms are sent to all Hutt Valley PHO GP Practices via the Kōwhai Health Trust weekly Mailout prior to each Course. To pre-enrol or for more details please contact:

Administrator - Valley-Wide Programmes Professional Development for Nurses: 04 566 5320

The following outlines the Valley-wide Programmes Courses facilitated by Kōwhai Health Trust:

Diabetes Action Course

This is a two-day Course delivered by the Diabetes Nurse Specialist team at the Hutt Valley DHB. The Course involves some pre-reading.

Diabetes Update Course

The half-day Course delivered by the Diabetes Nurse Specialist team at the Hutt Valley DHB. The Course provides updates on the Diabetes Action programme and advances in Diabetes management. It is recommended, once the Diabetes Action two-day Course has been compeleted, Nurses attend one Diabetes Update half-day Course each year.

Respiratory Course

This is a full-day Course delivered by the Community Respiratory team at the Hutt Valley DHB and includes breakout sessions designed for Practice Nurses. This Course may involve some pre-reading and enables Nurses to provide education and support to enrolled patients with either newly diagnosed asthmas or chronic respiratory disease.

Respiratory Update Course

The half-day Respiratory Update Course is delivered in conjunction with the Respiratory team at the Hutt Valley DHB. Each update will have a core focus.

Cardiac Continuum of Care Course

This is a two-day Course delivered in conjunctions with the Hutt Valley DHB Specialist service. Day One, which also serves as a refreser, is specifically designed for Primary Care Nurses and has a focus on Cardio Vascular Risk Assessment. Day Two is delivered by the Specialist Cardiac team at the Hutt Valley DHB.

Warfarin Course

This Course is delivered by  the Clinical Pharmacy team at Kōwhai Health Trust. This Course offers training that will enable primary care practice nurses to provide support and comprehensive Warfarin education to their enrolled patients.

Sexual Health Course

The Sexual Health Course is facilitated by the Wellington Sexual Health Service. Kōwhai Health Trust manages enrolment Registrations for these Courses - Enrolment Forms are sent to all Hutt Valley PHO GP Practices via the Kōwhai Health Trust weekly Mailout.

For further information regarding any of these courses please e-mail info@kowhaihealth.org.nz

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