This report summarises the findings from the Review of Environmental Support Services funded by the Ministry of Health. It provides a summary of how the review was carried out, and lists key findings and recommendations for the future provision of environmental support services.
In 2004, the Ministry’s Disability Services Directorate (DSD) commissioned an independent national review of the provision of ESS (the Review). The objective of this Review was to provide information, analysis and recommendations for improving ESS service provision to ensure that it is, ‘disabled and older person centred, efficient and makes effective and fair use of available funding’. A key focus of the Review was to identify ways to improve access and eligibility criteria, making them easier to understand and ensuring that they work better for people with disabilities, their families and whānau.
People throughout the country participated in the review including disabled people, older persons, Māori, Pacific peoples, health professionals, families, carers, ESS providers, non-governmental organisations and representatives from government agencies. In response to the key findings and recommendations from the review, DSD and the Health of Older People have prepared an outline of how the recommendations from the review will be addressed. Some work has already started and progress will be regularly updated on this website.
Purpose
This document summarises the findings from the review of Environmental Support Services (ESS) funded by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in New Zealand. The intention of this report is to provide a synopsis of how the review was carried out, highlight the key findings and provide a recommended future framework for Environmental Support Service provision. The future framework should ensure that there is a process for gaining equipment solutions that are disabled person centered, efficient and expert, as well as maximisingfunding in an equitable way.