Key support person

A patient or their family can nominate a key support person for emotional and practical support, and they will be able to stay with the patient for longer than the normal visiting hours. They are welcome to visit from 8am to 8pm.

A key support person is typically a loved one, for example, a spouse, partner, adult child, parent, sibling, close friend or whānau member.

If the patient is not capable of nominating someone, then whānau/family can do this.

The key support person may change at intervals in response to the patient’s wishes and availability of a person.

The key support person will be welcomed, but not obliged, to be present with the patient to:

• participate in clinical conversations and family meetings
• participate in clinical handovers
• help with basic/essential care needs (in agreement with appropriate staff)
• support the patient with decision making
• help with the transition of care to the patient’s home.

Key support people can visit from 8am to 8pm or even longer at the discretion of the nurse in charge of a ward. For example, the key support person may be able to stay beyond 8pm if:

• they are the parent of a child
• they are the carer of a patient with an intellectual disability
• the patient is in the end stages of life.