Plunket contract sees more baby visits

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 503, 14 September 1993, Page 11

Plunket contract sees more baby visits

The Plunket Society have a new National contract with all Regional Health Authorities which provides for an increase in services. For the last two years, Plunket clients - babies and care-givers, have been limited to nine contacts, three of which were home visits. This is now twelve contacts and four or five of these will be home visits. Margaret Roddick Plunket Wanganui Area Manager, is delighted with this contract which will allow her staff greater flexibility in how their

services will be delivered. When a baby is born the mother needs plenty of support and professional advice in the first weeks and months of that baby's life. This contract will ensure this happens with up to eight contacts in the first year, she said. Although not all of the twelve contacts with Plunket will be home visits or in a Plunket clinic, there are a variety of ways Plunket reaches the consumers of its services. There are 28 Family Centres throughout New Zealand including one at 36 Swiss Avenue, Wanganui, which offers mothers a chance to dis-

cuss problems with a Plunket or Karitane Nurse" or just have some time out, meet other mothers, or attend a group education session on topics such as Parenting Skills. In addition to this Plunket staff conduct checks in pre-school centres, kindergartens, Kohanga Reo Playcentres or at special community open days. Plunket employs a team of Registered Nurses with training in child health plus Karitane Nurses and Health workers who are backed up by the Area Manager, a clerical worker and a very large team of volunteers.