Regional Community Services
RCS provides health promotion, health protection, public health nursing, vision hearing, district nursing, allied health, home help, community dental, cervical and breast screening services, needs assessment and service co-ordination, youth sexual health, family health, outpatient based services and rural facilities.
Allied Health
There are around 130 Allied
Health staff at BoPDHB from eight different professional groups:
- Audiologists
- Dietitians
- Occupational therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Podiatrist
- Rehabilitation Nurses (Eastern Bay)
- Social Workers
- Speech and Language Therapists
Set up in July 2006, the
team is based across the two hospital sites and works with clients of all ages.
They work in many settings including client homes, hospital wards and out-patient
clinics and a wide range of community settings such as clinics, Kohanga reo and
schools.
Hospital patients account
for around 40 per cent of their work, plus outpatient and community services.
Supporting them are assistant staff working under the direct supervision of therapists,
Te Pou Kokiri (Maori Support Staff) and administrators across individual teams.
Another team of allied health professionals works with mental health patients.
>Allied health staff focus
on improving the health and wellbeing of the people they work with.
This includes care and treatment of people who are acutely unwell in hospital, rehabilitation for serious
illness or injury and working alongside people who have chronic illness or disability
to increase their independence and quality of life.
They work in partnership with individuals and their family / whanau to facilitate relationships and a smooth
journey through the healthcare system.
Allied health staff have skills in promoting wellness
as well as treating illness, disability or injury.
Allied health staff come to the Bay of Plenty from many parts of the globe and we welcome enquiries to
job.vacancies@bopdhb.govt.nz
for more information.
Registration with the relevant
professional board and an annual practising certificate is required for dietitians,
nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and podiatrists to be able to
practise in New Zealand.
If you are overseas and interested
in working in New Zealand, or if you have a New Zealand qualification but have not
worked in your profession in the last three years, please use the following links
for your profession:
In addition, eligibility
for registration is a requirement for audiologists, speech therapists and social
workers. For further information, please contact:
The Bay of Plenty DHB is committed to the teaching and support of undergraduate
students as our future workforce. Many allied health disciplines are actively involved
with New Zealand universities in providing practice placements for students.
For general enquiries, please contact
Dorothy.Gilliland@bopdhb.govt.nz
Telephone +64 (07) 3060728
Fax +64 (07) 3079386
Mobile +64 (021) 473 765
Toi Te Ora Public Health
Toi Te Ora Public Health provides services for both the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts. Its focus is to improve, protect and promote public health, as well as maintaining good health, clean air, potable drinking water, safe food, safe disposal of sewage, solid waste and hazardous substances, safe roads and playgrounds.
Toi Te Ora prevents ill health through controlling the spread of communicable diseases.
Cervical Screening
The National Cervical Screening Programme aims to reduce the incidence and mortality rates from cervical cancer by the early detection and treatment of pre-cancerous cell changes. The programme includes health promotion, smear taking services, laboratory services, colposcopy services, national management and coordination, information management, monitoring and evaluation.
Community Child and Youth Health Services
This is a multidisciplinary team with a vision of healthy, happy kids and families. Staff work with families and schools to assess the needs of children and young people, refer to appropriate agencies, promote healthy lifestyle choices and options and advocate on behalf of the child. Te Pou Kokiri works with the team to provide Te Reo as an option for Maori families and to improve the cultural appropriateness of the service.
District Nursing
District Nursing provides a free home visiting service for people with personal health problems, every day, across the region. District nurses treat and manage wounds, continence, stoma and leg ulcers and support patients through oncology and palliative events. They also monitor and administer IV medication to patients discharged early.
Support Net
Support Net Kupenga Hao Ite Ora provides a needs assessment and service coordination service for people with a long term disability. Support Net provides service to both the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts. Eligible clients are assessed by health professionals for the support they require and services are coordinated for them with the most suitable provider.
Rural Health
Rural health services offers an Opotiki inpatient facility of four GP beds, two maternity beds, outpatient clinics and an after hours nursing service. Further east, the Te Kaha General Practice provides a comprehensive community service. Te Kaha is a teaching practice with links to the medical school.