Waipuna Hospice moves to Alert Level 1

We are both relieved and delighted that the country has moved to Alert Level 1 and that we can return to offering a full range of services for patients and their family/Whānau.

As the global pandemic continues and should the situation across our country change we want to reassure you that our experiences over recent weeks under Alert Levels 4, 3 and 2 will enable us to change levels quickly and efficiently if that is needed to ensure safety of our patients, family/whanau, staff and the wider community.

At Alert Level 1 you can expect:

• the Day Programme and Toolbox sessions for patients to resume.
• face to face and onsite support activities such as counselling and bereavement drop in groups to be available.
• the opportunity for online/telemedicine consultations to continue. Please let a member of our team know if you prefer this option.
• our Inpatient Unit to be open and, as before Covid 19, we will be discouraging anyone experiencing symptoms of cold, flu, or anything contagious from visiting as a protection for patients.
• our team to continue checking with you before a visit to identify if you have been exposed to anyone known to have Covid 19 or to be possibly experiencing symptoms. If you have, our team will be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). If this is not required, you can still ask members of our team to wear a mask.
• our staff to continue implementing strict infection control guidelines.
• to be asked to continue recording the people you have contact with so contact tracing can be initiated immediately by the Ministry of Health if a risk is identified. All members of our staff are also recording their contacts (work related and personal) for the same reason. This reduces the risk of further spread of the virus.
• that anyone visiting you who has just arrived from overseas will be required to meet the Ministry of Health guidelines.
• our team to continue asking you to complete a short questionnaire called ‘IPOS’ (download here) which will help us understand how your illness is affecting you and your family so we can work with you to plan your care and focus on what is most important to you.

We recognise that the Covid 19 situation has created unique challenges for patients and their family/whanau and we would like to encourage you to access the services of our Family Support Team who offer social work, counselling, chaplaincy and cultural support.