Services Available from Asian Patient Support Service(APSS)

Asian Patient Support staff will visit patients in various wards at the North Shore and Waitakere hospitals to:

• provide cultural and emotional support to patients

• provide information about NZ health services and communication tools

• provide socio-cultural assessment

• provide family support

• coordinate different services for patients who are under the care of Waitematā DHB services

• work collaboratively with clinicians and ward staff to support patients

• provide support and cultural input at clinical meetings (e.g. discharge planning, family meeting, MDT etc.)

• identify and refer patients to appropriate health services, community resources and agencies

Our Asian Patient Support staff will provide the following support for patients post-discharge from hospital:

• up to 6 weeks follow-up phone call service to patients with reviews based on assessed needs

• support for patients to navigate and access primary health services post discharge

• support to identify needs and refer to appropriate health services, community resources and agencies

Asian Patient Support staff are available to provide professional cultural advice to Waitematā DHB staff to support the care of their patients. Advice can be provided by:

• Email
• Phone
• Face-to-face
• Cultural workshop

The iCARE Line is available for the Asian community to access information and advice about the New Zealand health system and its related services. This includes receiving assistance with GP appointment bookings, and COVID 19 information and support.  The iCARE Line is mainly supported by staff who can speak English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean, and are able to arrange support for over 90 languages to cater to people from other ethnic groups

Available Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm (excluding public holidays)

Asian Health Services supports the Waitematā DHB and Auckland DHB to promote free breast screening to non-English speaking Chinese and Korean women who meet the following criteria:

• are aged between 45 and 69 years

• reside in the Waitematā DHB and Auckland DHB area

• are NZ Citizens, permanent residents or have at least a 2-year work permit

• Women who have not had a mammogram for the last 12 months

A free mammogram is available every 2 years, and we can help women with the enrolment process including booking a breast screening session where an interpreter will be available to help with communication.

Available Monday to Friday 8.00am-5pm (excluding public holidays)

Asian Health Services (AHS)’s iCare Health Information Line (Ph 0800 88 88 30 or (09) 4423232 can support people who face barriers accessing NZ health services including getting the COVID-19 vaccination. Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean speaking staff are available to help provide relevant information and support.

• Anyone can contact AHS (iCare) if they want to know about their local vaccination and testing centres or need help to book their vaccination.

• The iCare line will guide people on how to apply for a COVID-19 proof of vaccination for travel and to obtain a NHI number if required.

Our APSS team runs free health seminars for ethnic community groups on various health related topics (e.g. cardiovascular disease, eye health, arthritis). The seminars are open to Asian community members and their family members. Guest speakers are invited to present on health-related topics, and interpreting services are provided when necessary (i.e. if the speakers are presenting in English).

Health Seminars - Chinese

Health Seminars - Korean

Our APSS team organises and participates in various health promotion activities and events to support the Asian community such as:

• Asian, Migrant & Refugee Health & Wellbeing Day

• Women’s Wellness Day

• Chinese & Korean Community events

• Waitematā DHB's Patient Experience Week event

• Health workshops for NGOs (E.g. Age Concern etc.)

Korean day event

For more information, please contact: