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Montecillo has been an iconic part of Dunedin’s history for 88 years. It all began when a group of patriotic Dunedin citizens, recognising the need for a place where sick and injured Returned Servicemen could be cared for, raised the funds to enable the purchase of the house and land in Eglinton Road. So it was the Red Cross Military convalescent Home at Montecillo was opened on 27 June 1918 and in the intervening years, up until the world became engulfed in another World War, Montecillo served the needs of the Veterans of the Boer and WWI very well.

 

After committing many thousands of New Zealanders to military service in WWII, the Right Honourable Peter Fraser, Wartime Prime Minister, made a promise, saying, “We are going to do something better for our soldiers than give them a rifle when this is over”. 

 

So the continued existence of Montecillo together with the three other Veterans’ Homes in New Zealand is in part, a way of honouring this promise. At the end of WWII the NZ Patriotic Funds Board and its subsidiaries the Provisional Patriotic Councils were established to take over the responsibility from the Red Cross for administering to the needs of New Zealand Returned Servicemen. Then in 1952 the NZ Patriotic and Canteen Funds Board assumed control of Montecillo and the other War Veterans’ Homes in Auckland, Levin and Christchurch.

 

The advancing age and increasing frailty of our Veterans was met in 1998 by the establishment of a Hospital Wing at Montecillo. However, while our Veteran Community was ageing, so also was Montecillo itself. It became a matter of urgency to either rebuild on the Montecillo site or move to a new location. In the event, the evidence was such that the Montecillo Trust that had taken over the management of the Montecillo Home and Hospital on the demise of the Patriotic and Canteen Funds Board made the decision in favour of a build on the new site.

 

The sale of Eglinton Road, plus a $2.75m loan from the Government and fundraising within the Otago community enabled a contract to be let in October 2005 to Lund South Limited for the construction of the 44 bed Home and Hospital that you now see before you.

 

Finally, just in case people should get the idea that our Veteran Community is rapidly becoming extinct, I will remind you that since the end of WWII many thousands of New Zealanders have been compelled or volunteered for military service, and some 40,000 service personnel have served in wars, emergencies and peace keeping overseas. That promise made by Peter Fraser to those WWII veterans remains valid today for all those post WWII veterans. We have a duty to honour it.

 

An extract from the address at the opening of our new home on Remembrance Day, 11 November 2006

Delivered by Montecillo Trustee Brig. Dr Brian McMahon CBE, KStJ, MBChb

Eligibility

To be eligible for acceptance to our home you must meet the criteria of being in:

 

  • New Zealand or Commonwealth Navy

  • Merchant Marine

  • Army

  • Airforce

  • Nursing Corp

  • Wrens

  • Wracs

  • Waafs

  • Tuis

  • Home Servicemen and Women

  • Home Servicemen and Women transferred from uniform to civilian essential services

  • Regular Force

  • RF Cadet Forces

  • CMT

  • National Service

  • Cadet Forces

  • Police and Red Cross serving in operational areas of conflict

  • Police and Fire Service in New Zealand

 

...and their Dependants.

Our Commitment to you...

Montecillo is committed to the provision of quality specialist care for veterans and their dependents for health conditions attributable to military service, as well as conditions associated with the ageing process. 


This is achieved by;

  • Fostering relief, support and assistance to Service persons discharged or retired from military service

  • Ensuring leading edge rest home and hospital care for Residents in facilities that are up to date, safe and comfortable for Residents and staff, and consistent with current quality management service delivery

  • Effectively and profitably administering Montecillo in line with accepted business practice

  • Maintaining the specialised medical and nursing skills consistent with the needs of Montecillo's Veteran Residents

  • Maximising the opportunities which the distinct military culture and heritage environment of Montecillo presents, so the distinction from other MOH certificated aged care facilities in New Zealand is acknowledged

Our Mission, Values and Purpose

Governance

 

  • The Montecillo Trust Board was incorporated under the provisions of the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 on 31 October 2001

  • The Governance & Delegations Manual (including the Risk Register) which contains the Governance statement and Delegations Schedules is reviewed and updated annually by the Trust Board before 1 April each year.

  • The Management Group consisting of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nurse Manager (NM), Chief Financial Officer (CFO) operate Montecillo on a daily basis within these delegations defined in detail in the Quality Risk Management Plan (QRMP)

  • The QRMP outlines the Heads of Department appointments, meetings and written reporting responsibilities.

  • Ethical Clinical and Advisory Committee (ECAC). This group compromises a mix of current and past military medical practitioners/specialists and commanders, quality management specialists, and recognised business opinion leaders provide over sight in work place Health Service Delivery to all residents

  • The Finance Committee. This group comprises a mix of financial, legal and business operation professional experience committed to overview monthly income and expense against forecasted budgets, factored against lon term planning.

 

Montecillo Quality and Risk Management Plan

 

All Ministry of Health (MOH, District Health Boards (DHB)) and privately operated health facilities in New Zealand operate to a MOH DHB standard of quality management which has become acceptable functional standard and follows naturally agreed assessed and audited parameters.

 

Health and Safety

 

Montecillo has a health and safety emphasis, which is required by the Montecillo Quality Management Plan. All staff are responsible for implementing the health and safety plan, improving and continually raising the standard. 

 

Our Cultural Environment

 

There has been significant discussion around the distinction between the lack of difference in treatment offered between the Ministry of Health care facilities and Military Service Veterans Homes and Hospitals, which are also certified age care facilities. Observations and discussions with age care patients, who are Military Service Veterans residing in Montecillo, have highlighted that it is their personal preference to be a resident in the Montecillo environment rather than a resident in other aged care homes/hospitals.

 

The following are supporting comments:

 

  • Residents feel very comfortable in a facility where management, staff and other residents are cognizant and supportive of their military backgrounds. There are frequent military associated activities, speakers and visitors, which significantly add to the environment.

  • They have a military peer group to identify with and relate to, who provide daily ongoing and positive interaction, and stimulation which is wellness therapy in itself.

 

Montecillo’s role in providing support to veterans through a combination of leading edge governance management and a distinctive military and uniformed service cultural environment is totally in line with the New Zealand Government’s Tribute 2008 statements on the Government’s commitments to the care of New Zealand Military Service Veterans. Also of note was the Tribute 2008 ‘Basin Reserve Statement’ where it was promised that Vietnam and other Veterans, upon reaching veteran status to beyond release from the services, would be cared for properly. It follows that Vietnam Veterans are ageing and will someday require aged care. Most ex-military aged care Residents are WWII vintage. Veterans since WWII include post war Japan and the Pacific Islands, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam and more recent peace keeping missions.

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