Patient Flow Coordinator - Integrated Operations Centre

Location: Hutt Hospital

Contract: Fixed-Term, Part Time 0.6 FTE Sunday to Tuesday

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence.

About the Role

As Patient Flow Coordinator, you work at the heart of hospital operations, supporting safe, efficient movement of patients across inpatient wards to directly enable Emergency Department flow. Your day begins with a clear view of hospital capacity, reviewing overnight demand, bed availability, and predicted pressure, and working closely with the Integrated Operations Centre (IOC) and ward leadership to plan ahead. You proactively identify where delays or risks may emerge and take early action to keep patient journeys moving safely and smoothly.

Throughout the day, you work alongside Duty Nurse Managers, Charge Nurses, acute admitting teams and support services to coordinate and support timely bed allocation and maintain momentum in care planning. You play a hands‑on role in enabling early discharges, promoting consistent use of Expected Dates of Discharge, supporting “2before10” practices, and facilitating appropriate use of the Transit Hub. Your focus is practical and operational, removing barriers, escalating issues early, and helping teams align around shared priorities during busy periods.

During times of peak demand, particularly over winter, you are a calm and visible presence, supporting escalation and variance responses and helping the hospital maintain situational awareness. You contribute to hospital‑wide decision‑making, ensuring inpatient capacity is aligned with ED demand and that patient safety remains central to every action. The role offers significant autonomy, requiring sound clinical judgement, strong communication skills, and the confidence to work across services to influence outcomes.

This role is ideal for an experienced acute care nurse who enjoys systems thinking, thrives in fast‑paced environments, and wants to make a tangible difference at a hospital‑wide level. You will gain unique exposure to operational leadership, develop advanced coordination and flow management skills, and play a critical role in improving patient experience and staff wellbeing during one of the most challenging periods of the year. If you are motivated by impact, collaboration, and real‑time problem‑solving, this is a highly rewarding opportunity.

About the Team/Service Location

The Patient Flow Coordinator sits within the Integrated Operations Centre (IOC), part of the Hospital Operations Service at Te Whatu Ora Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley. The IOC works closely with clinical and operational teams across the hospital to coordinate patient flow, support escalation and variance response, and maintain safe, timely access to care during periods of high demand. The team is highly collaborative, fast‑paced, and focused on practical, real‑time problem solving that makes a visible difference for patients and staff.

This role is based at Hutt Hospital, a busy secondary hospital serving the Hutt Valley community and supporting regional services. You will work alongside experienced nursing, medical and operational leaders in a supportive environment that values teamwork, clear communication and shared accountability for hospital‑wide outcomes.

About you

You are an experienced acute care nurse who enjoys working at a hospital‑wide level and understands how patient flow, timely decision‑making and strong relationships directly impact patient safety and experience. You are confident working across services, comfortable with complexity, and able to remain calm and effective during periods of pressure.

You will bring:

• Registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and a current APC, with significant acute nursing experience
• A strong understanding of inpatient flow, bed management and escalation processes within a hospital setting
• The ability to work proactively and autonomously, using sound clinical judgement to anticipate issues and act early
• Excellent communication skills, with confidence engaging with Duty Nurse Managers, Charge Nurses, medical teams and support services
• A practical, solutions‑focused approach to removing barriers to discharge and maintaining momentum in care planning
• Experience supporting or leading escalation, variance response or operational coordination during periods of high demand
• A commitment to equitable health outcomes, including meaningful application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in practice
• Strong organisational skills, resilience, and the ability to prioritise effectively in a fast‑paced environment

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community.

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by. If you have any questions about the role, please contact deb.brodie@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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