The Ministry of Health advise the following for Disability Services Operating at Alert Level 4
- If services can be provided (including digitally) within alert level restrictions, they are contractually required to do so.
- Disability residential care are essential services and must continue to be available.
- Essential personal care services, such as toileting, washing and feeding, should be provided as usual.
- Essential home help, such as house cleaning, may be available where appropriate PPE is used.
- Planned respite services will be suspended, but urgent respite care may be provided. The MoH can provide some flexibility for paying secondary carers for respite.
- Essential supported living services can continue.
- Support persons are permitted under right 8 of the Health and Disability Code.
- For disability residential care, family visits are not permitted except on compassionate grounds (usually only for an end-of-life) subject to public health direction and provider assessment on a case-by-case basis.
- The MoH has engaged with New Zealand Disability Support Network and Home Health Association, and have two technical experts working with the Ministry to agree how certainty of funding will be provided. The MoH will have a further update to you soon.
- There will be more messaging to come.
For more details about Alert Level 4, see: Alert Level 4 | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)
We will keep you informed of relevant issues as information becomes available.
If you have any questions or issues and need our help, please e-mail admin@nzdsn.org.nz