'Passports' show history of ailments

PASSPORT READY: Pauline Boyles, Ruth Carter, Wairarapa representative on the sub-regional disability advisory group, and Wairarapa DHB chairman Bob Francis, at the launch of the Health Passport. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

A one-stop patient document for disabled people was launched at Masterton Medical Centre last week.

The Health Passport enables patients to hand over their full history at whatever centre they attend, without lengthy or repetitive explanations of their conditions.

The initiative, lead by the Health and Disability Commissioner, was developed after a young disabled woman died during her hospital stay.

Hutt and Wellington hospitals, including Wairarapa, are part of a pilot programme that is likely to be rolled out nationwide.

Pauline Boyles, senior disability adviser in the region, acknowledged this had come down from the Health and Disability Commissioner after a coroner's report.

She said they need buy-in from the community and primary care partners.

"People have to ask for it, fill it in, use it," Dr Boyles said.

"It's a way for people to tell their story without telling it 50 times a year.

"People with long-term conditions, with different specialists. It's something simple that pulls all this together."

She said it was a person's own story. "There isn't a greater expert than the person themselves."

Masterton Medical Centre general manager Paul Cocks said they had briefed their staff on the new imitative.

"I think a lot of it is about communication, understanding what's going on, and how best we can work with them.

"Having this with the patient is really helpful.

"That consistent information can really help them."