Some residents of two Greymouth rest-homes are being temporarily relocated from one facility to the other due to Covid-19, and the effects of border closures on staffing.
The West Coast District Health Board says healthcare providers around New Zealand are struggling to recruit staff because of the impacts, and the situation is particularly acute on the coast.
Granger House and Dixon House, supported by the West Coast DHB, are working together and temporarily relocating some residents to continue the level of care suited to their individual needs.
As part of this approach, each facility will focus on one level of care until staffing shortages can be addressed. Both facilities provide both rest-home and hospital-level care.
NZ Aged Care Association Nursing Leadership Group member and clinical adviser to the Dixon House Trust Board Gillian Robinson said there were over 1000 nursing vacancies in New Zealand aged care, and places like the West Coast had struggled to recruit the required number of nurses.
While the change may be unsettling to some residents, the DHB said people would still be cared for by familiar faces, and continuity of care could be supported.
DHB general manager Philip Wheble said it was a sustainable solution that would allow the facilities to adapt the available resources to meet demand.
Granger House and Dixon House have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in place so the most suitable level of care is provided to residents at both facilities. Under this MOU, Granger House has been designated as a hospital-level care facility to allow appropriate staffing and support to be focused there.
Dixon House will operate as a rest-home facility. The DHB will continue to support the facilities with additional staff.
Last month, the DHB appointed a temporary manager to bolster Dixon House's staffing situation. It has also temporarily closed Ziman House in Reefton.
— The Greymouth Star
