Strengthening Connections

Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming the nursing leadership team from Hospice Southland to Otago Community Hospice. It was a warm and productive day spent sharing insights, reflecting on the work we have done, and exploring opportunities for deeper collaboration in the future.

During the visit, we took the opportunity to walk through the journey of our Residential Care Team (RCT) service review undertaken in 2023. We outlined the considerations and planning that led to the restructure of the team, reshaping it into the model we have today , a model focused on flexibility, responsiveness, and sustainability. It was encouraging to reflect on the progress we have made, and to highlight how the team’s operation has matured post-restructure.

We also discussed the evolution of our wider community service. With our team has providing domiciliary care, but in more recent times, we have shifted purposefully towards a more integrated community model. Central to this change has been the introduction of the complex case list and the establishment of our morning multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings — key elements that ensure we maintain a strong focus on providing highly responsive, holistic care in the community setting.

Both services shared reflections on the ongoing trend of low inpatient unit (IPU) utilisation, recognising that increasingly, patients and families are seeking — and we are supporting — care at home wherever possible. This naturally led to discussions around the importance of maintaining a highly skilled and experienced nursing workforce, capable of providing advanced clinical care across settings. The need to continually invest in scope development and professional growth was a strong, shared theme.

Perhaps most exciting were the conversations about how we might work more closely together in the future. With so much in common, in the challenges we face, the models we are shaping, and the aspirations we hold for our communities,  the potential for collaboration is significant. Whether through shared learning opportunities, service innovation, or mutual support in workforce development, the energy in the room was clear: there is much to be gained from building a stronger relationship between our organisations.

Overall, it was an uplifting and positive day, filled with shared purpose and a spirit of optimism. We look forward to deepening our connection with Hospice Southland as we continue to evolve and strengthen palliative care services for our communities across the lower South Island.