Our research findings were a starting point for recent conversations with health service providers within our region. Whānau aspirations for primary health care services were centre stage in this kōrero. The research team initially met with Ngā Kaitakitaki Hauora (NKH), in early September. NKH is made up of Māori health service provider senior managers from around the rohe including the Waimarino, the northern and southern Rangitīkei, and Whanganui. We shared Dream Phase study findings highlighting what works for whānau who are on a cancer journey and are patients at Gonville Health.
Our kōrero with NKH was focused at a strategic, or policy, level offering an opportunity for providers to describe what they considered to be the aspirations for optimal primary health care services in the region. Our He Waka Eke Noa findings to date indicate that non-clinical elements of care are just as important as clinical elements from the points of view of whānau taking part in the study. We were keen to check and discuss these whānau perspectives, which reinforce those highlighted by other research in recent decades, with NKH. The hui provided a valuable opportunity for the research team both to confirm our analysis of our study data and to prepare for the upcoming Design Phase of the He Waka Eke Noa research.
The discussion around NKH aspirations for primary care in the region led on to considering what role applied research may have to play in achieving these aspirations. Members were open to the idea of further convening with us during 2025 to take a closer look at potentially maximising the Māori primary healthcare and rangahau hauora relationship and opportunities for collaboration. As well as Whakauae Research Services, there are other entities with a Māori health research focus around the rohe, including Te Atawhai o Te Ao, Ngā Waiariki Ngāti Apa and Te Oranganui Trust. The National Hauora Coalition too has a strong primary health care research focus as well as primary health care service interests in the rohe. The Hauora Coalition has already indicated an interest in contributing to a 2025 primary healthcare and research hui.
Later in September, we met with practice-level kaimahi and managers from the various iwi hauora providers around the rohe. Te Kōtuku Hauora primary health and social services hosted the hui at their Te Poho o Tuariki campus in Hendersons Line, Marton. We are grateful to our hosts for co-ordinating this hui on our behalf acting as a central meeting place. He Waka Eke Noa research team members and Gonville Health practice manager Kayla Jackson were joined at the hui by 11 Iwi hauora provider representatives. A highlight for the Whakauae team was again meeting with colleagues including Riria Matenga, Ngawini Martin, Jamie Procter, and Kat Hina as well as making new connections.
Once again, our Dream Phase research findings were the starting point for the conversation. Participants shared some of their own experience ‘on the ground’ and reinforced the narrative that non-clinical elements, including ‘the right’ settings, relationships, and communications, are critical to providing the kind of care that whānau want. Whilst clinical elements also need to be taken into account, hauora goes well beyond clinical considerations alone. Our Dream Phase findings resonated with the providers, who also identified many examples of shifts in settings and in everyday practice that were allowing them to better support whānau hauora.
We will be taking forward the insights from our two recent hui with providers, drawing on these to complement and fine-tune research activities in the Design Phase of the study with Gonville Health.
