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32
Health Passport
The evaluation phase of the HDC-led
initiative of implementing the Health
Passport in New Zealand hospitals has
been completed. The Health Passport is
a document designed to assist nursing,
medical and support staff to understand
the care, communication and support
needs of people with disabilities.
The HDC has received numerous responses
from consumers strongly in support of
the Health Passport as they consider it
will assist them in receiving safe and
appropriate health care during a hospital
visit. Responses from consumers who have
used the passport indicated that:
• it assisted them in having a better
overall care experience
• it helped their health care worker to
understand their needs
• they were saved the frustration of having
to continually explain their health
problems, as all their relevant information
was written in the Heath Passport
• communication with the health
professional was made easier because
relevant information had already been
written in the Health Passport.
Multi Agency Group
(MAG)
The HDC is a member of the MAG, a
coalition of agencies that work together
to reduce discrimination and promote
social inclusion and the rights of people
with experience of mental illness and
addiction. The group works at a national
level to lead change within a holistic view of
mental health. In July 2011 MAG published
Measuring Social Inclusion – A Baseline
Report, which was produced by the Mental
Health Commission. The report provides a
high-level summary of social inclusion of
people with experience of mental distress
and/or addiction in New Zealand and
provides the basis for the monitoring of
social exclusion outcomes. The report has
found people with symptoms of mental
distress feel less included in society than
other New Zealanders at major cost to
them and their communities. The work
plan for the year included the development
of a resource to support and guide social
inclusion for people with experience of
mental illness and addiction.
Accessibility and
responsiveness of
HDC’s services
HDC provides information for the disability
community on its website through weekly
updates from the sector. The information
offered ranges from an inquiry into the use
of New Zealand Sign Language, updates
on the Convention Coalition monitoring
report, useful information for Asian, migrant
and refugee communities, to the Maori
Disability Action Plan. Two of HDC’s staff
are learning New Zealand Sign Language.
HDC employed two more disabled people
during the last year. A student from Kelston
School for the Deaf completed a work
experience placement in the HDC offi ce.