Regional Inpatient Rehabilitation & Extended Care Services

The Regional Rehabilitation and Extended Care Service is a 24-hour inpatient service at Ratonga Rua Hospital. The region covered includes Mid Central, Hutt Valley, Nelson/Marlborough, Tairawhiti, Hawkes Bay, Wanganui and the greater Wellington area.  There are two inpatient units and cottages on the grounds of Ratonga Rua o Porirua.  The service provides both longer-term care (Tawhirimatea Unit) and intensive rehabilitation (Tane Mahuta) within both secure and open settings. The service has 67 inpatient beds in total, some of which are in purpose built cottages ranging from 1 to 5 bedrooms. There are also 16 step-down beds for the Central Regional Forensic Mental Health Service.

The service's focus is on recovery and rehabilitation through providing people with the opportunity to learn new skills, as well as gain independence and empowerment for community living. The service links into other elements within the hospital such as the programmes run from Tangaroa and Ruaumoko, work programmes, and linking with community based resources and organisations.  Both units provide clients with individualised recovery programme in both a safe care or open setting.

Tangaroa is an activity based centre situated on the rehabilitation campus.  Group and individual work to assist clients with leisure and occupational activities such as art and crafts, computer, pool, gym, cooking in a functional kitchen, and sewing, are provided.

A GP and nurse are located on campus at a CP clinic.  Clients make appointments for treatment for chronic illness management such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, smoking cessation.

Tane Mahuta

Tane Mahuta has 36 beds which is divided between 14 beds in the unit and 22 beds in 8 adjacent cottages.  The cottages support the intensive rehabilitation focus.  While in the service, the clients work with a multi-disciplinary team which aims to equip them with the skills they need to function as independently as possible. 

Anna Kempthorne is the Team Leader 

Tawhirimatea

Tawhirimatea is a safe care 31 bed unit.  The unit provides a range of both individual and group programmes and activities that support recovery for clients who may require a stay in an safer environment.  Clients are able to access services both on and off the unit.  A multi-disciplinary team approach is provided to clients. 

George Underhill is the Team Leader