More than 200 Bay of Plenty patients have now received hospital-level care in their own homes through the Health New Zealand Hospital in the Home (HiTH) service.

Launched in February, HiTH gives suitable patients the option to recover in familiar surroundings while remaining under the care of nurses and doctors.

The service supports patients who are well enough to be cared for at home but still require treatment and monitoring that would traditionally be provided in hospital.

According to Health New Zealand, in a statement, the service is helping to free up three hospital beds each day and patients have given positive feedback.

“This has been the most amazing service. The nurses have been incredible. I feel it sped up my recovery because I was able to get quality sleep and enjoy my own food at home,” one service user said.

HiTH in Bay of Plenty associate clinical nurse manager Liz Egan said recovering at home allowed patients to remain close to whānau, maintain familiar routines and, importantly, sleep in their own bed.

“Hospital care doesn’t always need to happen in a hospital bed, patients tell us they feel safe, supported, and relaxed while recovering at home and the feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive.”

The team had also seen how easily care could be adapted to patients’ circumstances.

Egan recalled a patient whose unwell dog would only eat when fed by them. Distressed about being separated from their pet, they were assessed as suitable for the service and returned home the same day, where they could receive the same care while remaining with their dog.

Another patient who found hospital environments challenging was offered the opportunity to receive care through HiTH to reduce the risk of not completing treatment. Recovering at home helped them feel more comfortable and supported, enabling them to achieve a positive outcome, Egan said.

Patients were also developing confidence in managing their own health, she said.

Patients were often taught about medications and self-management while in a hospital bed. They have staff helping them with meals, mobility and daily routines.

While appropriate when someone is seriously unwell, that level of support can make the leap from hospital to complete independence at home challenging, Health NZ said.

This service helps bridge that gap, creating a gentler transition back to independence. Nurses explain treatment plans and help patients establish routines in the very environment where those behaviours need to continue.

“Educating people in their own homes helps patients develop familiarity and comfort with their new routines,” Egan said.

“Seeing patients recover in their own environment and gain confidence in managing their health has been incredibly rewarding for our team. There’s also a real sense of trust and privilege in being invited into someone’s home,” Egan said.

“It wasn’t something the team expected from the job, but it’s something they have quickly grown to treasure.”

Patients supported through HiTH receive a range of treatments and assessments at home, including medication management, wound care, intravenous therapies and monitoring. Nurses and doctors work as a team to oversee the patient’s care, with nurses visiting regularly, often daily.

The Bay of Plenty service is operated through Tauranga Hospital and supports patients from the western Bay of Plenty area. However, HiTH is part of a regional model of care spanning Bay of Plenty, Tairāwhiti and Waikato.

This approach enabled clinical teams to work together across organisational boundaries, strengthening access to care and supporting the continued growth of the service.

The Tairāwhiti service was established in 2024, and Waikato began delivering the service earlier this year with capacity comparable to an additional medical ward.