Programmes of Care

A Programme of Care helps plan services for a section of the community that shares characteristics which lead them to have needs in common. The aspects in common might include:

• age
• disease or health condition
• the type of service they use.

A Programme of Care describes how health services are linked together and how people can receive the care they need. Improved connections between services increase people's choices and opportunities.

The services can include those delivered by family doctors, nurses, pharmacists, community based health services, Maori health services and hospital specialist services.

This diagram shows the general framework for designing a Programme of Care (pdf). It must be based on solid evidence of what services work for who and when. It aims to balance and link all the levels of care: prevention; treatment; and support.

A Programme follows the path of care from the early stages of disease right through to the complex care needed in the later stages and helps us to identify:

• gaps where people are not receiving needed services
• which types of services should be given the highest priority
• ways to work with other organisations to influence factors beyond the health sector such as housing and clean water.

There are existing Programmes for:

• Acute care
• Chronic conditions
• Oral health
• Mental health and addictions

Programmes are now being developed for the health of older people, children and youth, sexual and reproductive health.