District Nurses
District nursing services are provided from hospitals and health centres in Palmerston North, Levin, Otaki, Pahiatua, Dannevirke and Feilding. The district nursing service generally provides episodic, intensive and short term care. It is committed to working in partnership with patients, their families and other health care providers in order to optimise continuity of care across the continuum.
Contact the District Nursing Service
MidCentral Health District Nursing Service
MidCentral Health District Nursing Service provides patient-centred specialist nursing care in the community. This care can be delivered in your home, at school or workplace or at a district nursing clinic.
The district-wide nursing service runs 24-hours a day, seven-days a week and is for patients with health care needs that cannot be met by a general medical or nursing service alone.
The district nursing team is made up of approximately 41 registered and enrolled nurses based throughout the district.
Other district nursing services available include walking wounded clinics, Hospital in the Home, ACC Care Nursing, Community Palliative Care and specialist community nursing.
More about the district nursing service:
Purpose of the District Nursing Service
Specialist District Nursing Services
Walking Wounded Clinics
Hospital in the Home
ACC home nursing
Specialised nursing
Palliative care
Accessing the District Nursing Service
The purpose of the district nursing service is to:
- Prevent avoidable admission to, or enable early discharge from hospital
- Minimise the impact of a personal health problem
- Provide support to people with long term or chronic personal health problems
- Promote self care and independence
- Provide terminal/palliative care in the community
- Improve the health of Maori and Pacific Island people
Specialist District Nursing Services include:
- Assessment; risk, health need, functional ability, environmental, social support
- Nursing care and support
- Education and information
- Palliative care
- Symptom management
- IV therapy
- Enteral feeding
- Wound assessment and care
- Rehabilitation
- Personal care
- Ostomy/Continence services
- Complex condition management
- Care coordination
- Discharge planning
Walking Wounded Clinics
After your wound is assessed at home by a district nurse and appropriate wound care is established, you will be given the option of attending a Walking Wounded Clinic either at Palmerston North Hospital or the Horowhenua Health Centre.
The decision to attend a walking wounded clinic is entirely up to you and whether you feel mobile enough to do so. If you prefer to be treated at home, a district nurse will continue to do.
If you live in an outlying area and cannot access the walking wound clinic you will continue to receive wound care at home through the district nursing service.
Referral for wound care is either through in-patient services or your general practitioner (GP).
Hospital in the Home
Hospital in the home is a free service that enables you to receive your treatment outside of Palmerston North Hospital if you are comfortable and well enough to do so. Until you are discharged from HITH you will remain under the care of your hospital specialist and team.
The hospital-to-community nurse will organise and coordinate your care with you, your family or carer, the hospital team and district nurses.
Specialised Nursing
The Specialised Nursing service is available of your care needs cannot safely be managed by your GP, practice nurse or other carers, for example if you have chronic wounds and leg ulcers or you need help managing your medication or your chemotherapy needs to be monitored.
Palliative Care
The District Nursing Service provides symptom management, personal care, psychological, family and bereavement support for patients under the care of the Arohanui Hospice and their GP.
ACC Home Nursing
If you have had an injury-related accident you may require ACC Home Nursing services.
How to access the District Nursing Service
The District Nursing Service is accessed by referral following discharge from hospital, or from General Practice Teams, or other health care professionals working in either hospital or the community.
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