Examples of government strategies that are trying to address health inequalities are the implementation of the He Korowai Oranga: Māori Health Strategy (Ministry of Health 2014); the Māori health provider development scheme, Māori hauora/health scholarships; promotion of Māori health models; DHB Māori Health Plans; Whānau Ora programmes and funding rongoā Māori in some areas.
Tauranga DHB
In 2010, Te Puna Hauora a Māori Health unit at Tauranga Hospital identified a need for a Kaupapa Māori service to address the higher burden of cardiovascular and diabetes experienced by Māori. The objective was to effectively bridge the continuum from primary to secondary services and back again. The model of care integrates the principles and values of the primary care organisation which also guides staff behaviour to achieve the organisation’s overall vision. Values encompass Whanaungatanga respect, Kotahitanga unity, Manaakitanga support, Tikanga/Kawa leadership, Wairuatanga spiritual values, Tangata whenua customs and beliefs, and Ngakau Pono commitment to patient needs. The Kaupapa nurse has access to the hospital IT systems, and is able to download discharge summaries, access clinical data, and document in patient files outlining a plan of discharge. Effective communication between the interdisciplinary team and the diabetes specialist nurse (DNS) is an important objective to ensure the patient has a seamless journey, from one level of care to the next.
