A new programme at Wanganui Hospital's acute mental health unit is attracting interest from health authorities around the country.
The programme, Releasing Time To Care For Mental Health, sees Te Awhina's nurses working differently and spending more one-one-one time with patients in their care.
Te Awhina clinical nurse manager, Katheryn Butters, said Te Awhina had recently hosted staff from Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley district health boards, and staff from Auckland DHB had also asked if they could visit.
"They are interested to observe the programme in action and gain an understanding of how it could be introduced in their mental health units," Mrs Butters said.
She said the new approach helped patients form trusting relationships with their nurses which is an important part of their recovery process. Mrs Butters said the programme saw Te Awhina's processes and systems become more streamlined so they worked more efficiently.