Waikato DHB to improve rural hospital retrieval services

Waikato Hospital is a major trauma hospital, a tertiary care provider to four other midland areas and our four rural hospitals.

We have recognised that there are times when our ability to retrieve severely ill patients from outlying parts of Waikato and the Midland region is overwhelmed.

The DHB has recently dedicated project and service management resources to work with our key clinical staff and stakeholders across the DHB to improve rural hospital retrieval services.

I am committed to resolving this long-standing system issue with a recommended outcome this month. Interim measures have been implemented until the final and sustainable solutions are arrived at.

It should be noted that any transport system may be susceptible to the impact of events such as severe weather, road closures or multiple and simultaneously competing demands for the same services, but this should be kept to a minimum.

Waikato Hospital’s status as a major trauma hospital and tertiary provider places high demands on the transport system. Over the past 10 years demand has grown significantly due to growth in population and the burden of chronic diseases, coupled with advances in clinical technology and medical therapies.

I am aware that staff are under pressure working in the relative isolation of our rural hospitals in general, and more so when faced with seriously and critically ill patients. When transport assets are not readily available, this adds to those pressures. The DHB is indebted to the skills and dedication of our clinical and non-clinical staff that work in our rural health facilities.