Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
Health consumer representatives
A health consumer representative is a member of a committee, project or group who voices consumer perspectives and takes part in decision making on behalf of health consumers.
They may be nominated by and accountable to, a consumer organisation or they may be individuals who are in a volunteer capacity.
The role may provide for a small payment to cover the costs of participating.
By consumer we mean patients or service users and their families or whānau.
Consumer representatives can get involved in decision making processes about:
- health services
- planning
- policy development
- setting priorities
- addressing quality issues in the delivery of health services.
Consumer representatives have a 'voice' — that means 'something to say' about heath and disability.
This will be due to your experiences in life, as an individual with a health challenge or disability, or through caring for people living that way.
They do not need to know everything about health and disability, what they bring is knowledge of the realities and practicalities of using specific health services from your community's perspective.
Waitakere Health Link and Health Link North are working with Health NZ to support the involvement of health consumer representatives in West and North Auckland.
Ongoing Health Link projects
Community public forums and consultations
Community public forums and consultations
Health Links provide a unique opportunity for local community along with health and social service providers to attend public forums to:
- learn about health services available and those being planned for the Waitematā district area
- obtain feedback and identify gaps for health consumers (patients) in the health services.
Health consumer representatives
Health consumer representatives
Health Consumers (patients) are people who use health services, as well as their family and carers.
This includes people who have used a health service in the past or who could potentially use the service in the future.
A Health Consumer Representative is a consumer member of a committee, project or event who voices consumer perspectives and takes part in decision making on behalf of health consumers.
They may be nominated by and accountable to, a consumer organisation.
The role usually works with a health service (or consumer organisation) and is often in a volunteer capacity.
The role may provide for a small payment to cover the costs.
Consumer health literacy review
Consumer health literacy review
Health Links facilitate consumer review of literature given to patients by health providers.
Consumers review patient information to ensure the content:
- uses clear simple language
- removes health jargon
- promotes the use of colour, diagrams and photos where appropriate
Keeping information simple helps families understand health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions for their wellbeing.
Community services open days
Community services open days
Health Links bridge the information gap between hospital services and services that are provided in the community.
They host two Community Services Open Days annually at North Shore Hospital and Waitakere Hospitals.
The open days enable hospital staff:
- increase their knowledge of local health services available to patients in the community
- share this knowledge with patients and their families so they feel supported to access health services in the community
Sharing information across the community
Sharing information across the community
We provide targeted information in a variety of mediums for easy access to community. The community is better informed about the health services available to them.
Health Links also attend local community meetings to share health information and obtain feedback directly from the community on local health issues. This community feedback helps us identify gaps that impact on the patient journey accessing services in primary and secondary care.
The Babies Out West brochure provides information about services from pregnancy and childbirth to counselling and parenting education available in West Auckland.