October 16, 2017
Whakaue feels loss of hospital advocates
Ngati Whakaue says the quality of care for Maori in Rotorua Hospital has got worse since the Lakeland District Heath board axed its Hunga Manaaki service.
The DHB says it has a new and better kaupapa Maori service, and it's not going to take any action on a petition calling for the previous service to be reinstated.
Roana Bennett from Te Whakaruruhau o Ngati Whakaue says iwi provider Te Kahui Hauora operated Hunga Manaaki for 20 years, offering 24 hour support with five experienced staff for a mere $290,000 a year.
She says the new service isn't apparent, and Maori complain there is no longer anyone around to help them navigate hospital procedures, or to help staff interact at a cultural level.
"Health services are delivered on an advocacy basis. Those that know the system and can advocate for themselves will get served faster, better and more effectively. Those people that sit back, they are quiet, they put up with some of the inadequate services that some of our under-funded providers offer, they will not get served as wlll, and that is what has happened to our people without Hunga Manaaki in place," Ms Bennett says.
Ngati Whakaue rejects management's claim to have reviewed the effectiveness of Hunga Manaaki, because the DHB has never released the report.
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