Extra support is on the way for the families of Central Otago children who have heart defects.
Heart Children New Zealand chief executive Lara Syddall, of Auckland, was in Alexandra at the weekend to relaunch the Central Otago branch of the organisation and said a family support worker would be appointed this week.
The part-time worker would be employed by the organisation to cover Central Otago and the Queenstown Lakes district, she said.
"Their primary responsibility is to cover the wider district and provide families with support once their child is discharged from Starship [Children's Hospital] and to facilitate any support the family needs, so no family has to travel that journey alone."
Mrs Syddall said there was a real need in Central Otago for such a person.
There was plenty of support for parents and families when a child was in Starship, but they needed ongoing assistance once they were back home.
"For those first few weeks, you need to have someone to visit you at home and provide support.
"Geographically, Central Otago is such a big area and people are often some distance away from primary medical care.
"There's a range of issues that can arise after the operation and it's good to have someone on hand to ask, as well as having someone around for ongoing support," she said.
Mrs Syddall was pleased the Central Otago branch of the organisation had been re-established after two years in recess.
The branch disbanded after being defrauded of funds by one of its members.
In 2008, Fiona Moran, of Queenstown, was convicted on charges of using a document to defraud, one of forgery and one of obtaining money by deception.
The total amount involved was more than $20,000.
"The group's revival is a fresh start for heart-children families in Central Otago, after what has been a very difficult couple of years resulting from legal proceedings against one of its members," Mrs Syddall said.
The organisation had learned from the experience and it had empowered the new group to move forward.
"We're got a small group of parents forming the core of the new group who all feel very deeply about Central Otago people having easy access to the wide range of services we can provide free to heart-children families."
Twelve babies were born in New Zealand every week with a heart defect, she said.
A public meeting will be held at 2pm on March 27 at the Golden Gate Lodge in Cromwell to highlight the different services available to heart-children families through the organisation.
Anyone wanting more information about the Central Otago branch can contact treasurer Cate Davis, of Wanaka, on (03) 443 4339.
