Māori model of care can also benefit Pacific patients says Starship Hospital paediatric lead

Starship Hospital has launched a new culturally responsive model for patients in their pediatric intensive care unit.

The Ringa Atawhai' initiative will be applied at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). This will involve five specialist roles: a Māori nurse specialist, social work specialist, cultural specialist, allied health specialist and mental health clinician.

Starship’s Director of Maori Health Toni Shepherd says this marks a new era for health care that incorporates cultural values.

“Our korero is that culturally nuanced and appropriate care for our whanau is just as important as clinical care.

“Taking that whanaungatanga that relational approach will be hugely important, and giving patients a feeling of home away from home.”

Tama Ariki Ora (Starship’s Māori leadership team) celebrated the launch of the new initiative with a powhiri to welcome the inaugural Ringa Atawhai team.

Shepherd says the aim is to help address the longstanding inequities between Māori and non Māori children in health care, adding that this will also benefit Pacific patients who enter PICU.

“We always want to uplift our Pacific brothers and sisters as well. And so I guess my korero is what’s good for Māori is good for everyone.

“I think that we have a fantastic Pacific team at Te Tukutumai and part ofRinga Atawhai’s responsibility, we’ll be able to create those connections and whanaungatanga with that team.

“So together we an also provide support for our Pacific peoples.”

Shepherd adds that the Ringa Atawhai service will help improve overall care at Starship Hospital.

“Together they form a cohesive unit dedicated to four kaupapa: the first, to provide holistic care to our mokopuna Māori and whanau in the intensive care unit. The second, to provide a kohanga to develop and grow our Māori workforce.

“To increase our cultural capacity and competence for our PICU staff, and finally to address the systemic inequities we know exist within Starship and the health system.”