Improving cancer treatment pathway
for Māori
By Sandra Fielding, Medical Cluster Nurse Leader.
A best practice model has been developed
to improve the way we provide culturally
responsive care for Māori receiving cancer
treatment.
This follows a feasibility study and input from local iwi about
improving access and support during referral, diagnosis and
cancer treatment.
Myra Pourau (Ngaiterangi) will be working with staff across the
organisation in the next few months on the cancer treatment
pathway. She’ll be working from Tauranga Hospital two days
a week in this part-time role, here on Wednesdays and either
Tuesday or Thursday.
Myra has been nursing in the community for the WBOP PHO
Health and Wellness Services for many years, and one of her
roles has been to provide cancer support.
She has walked alongside cancer patients, supporting them to
access treatments and support services in the community and
hospital.
Myra is passionate about breaking down barriers and supporting
Māori patients to get the best cancer care at the right time.
Contact [email protected] for more information or to read a copy of
the Cancer Treatment Pathway for Māori.
Psychogeriatric Liaison Clinical
Nurse Specialist Trial
As part of a hospital wide move to reduce
the length of stay for older patients, an eight
week trial has been underway where Kerry
Capelin has been working as a Psychogeriatric
Liaison Clinical Nurse Specialist identifying
older patients in medical and surgical wards
in Tauranga Hospital who may need mental
health support.
requirement for paper
referrals which are often
limited in information
and delay assessment.
With a review of the ward
handover sheets across
both medical and surgical
floors, those not discussed
in rapid round can also be identified.
•
Review of Psychogeriatrician cover for CL to make this more
of an effective use of time.
Research shows that identifying mental health disorders in the
elderly can be complex, and that when the focus is on physical
health, mental health aspects are often missed. However having a
mental health comorbidity, is associated with increased length of
stay and poorer outcomes on discharge, especially when access
to appropriate mental health support is delayed. •
Completing assessments, organising treatment and providing
follow up and support to physicians and nursing staff with
regard to ongoing management.
•
Provision of some short term community follow up for those
that are felt to be high risk of readmission.
The eight week trial emerged from Kerry’s secondment to the
Psychiatric Consultation Liaison Team (CL) team. Here she
identified more work needed to happen to improve the access to
mental health assessments for those aged 65+ who are admitted
to medical and surgical wards with psychiatric comorbidities. The aim of the trial is to identify patients earlier, be aware of their
progress, and to work with other health professionals to provide a
more co-ordinated and holistic approach to health needs. This it’s
hoped will result in more timely care and an improved discharge plan.
Some of the work Kerry has been doing as part of the trial includes:
•
Change to referral processes - with attendance at rapid
rounds on the medical floor each day there was a lesser
Information from the trial will inform whether the Psychogeriatric
Liaison Clinical Nurse Specialist role will become a permanent
addition in the Mental Health Services for Older People team.
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