CE update News and views about our health from
DECEMBER 2019 Waikato DHB Chief Executive Dr Kevin Snee
Merry Christmas.
I have only been in this role four months but a lot has happened in this short time. The upshot of a busy introduction is it helps to more rapidly gain an understanding of an organisation, our strengths and the challenges ahead. As the year comes to a close I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and happy New Year and hope that most of us are able to take some time out to relax and recharge. I also want to thank each and every one of you for the work you have done to care for our patients this year, keeping them safe and working through some unrelentingly busy times. A particularly big thank you must go to those who will be working over the Christmas period to ensure a high level of care continues. This month has also underlined the incredible dedication of our staff at a time of crisis and I want to acknowledge this and give thanks to everyone who has helped to care for those injured in the Whakaari/White Island eruption. Waikato Hospital staff responded immediately and with great professionalism and dedication to provide an excellent response to this major incident. These sad times are a reminder of the importance of family and our loved ones as life is so precious.
Waikato Hospital staff helping at Whakatane Hospital.
It has been incredible to see all the support for the victims, emergency services, and medical staff following this event. This week the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, visited New Zealand and asked that we pass on just how humbled and grateful she was for the support and care provided to the Australian citizens who were injured. As you will know, Whakatane Hospital was where all patients arrived immediately following the eruption. This week some of our Thames and Waikato Emergency Department (ED) staff came together and gave up their days off to help give cover for staff at Whakatane Hospital so that they could have a bit of rest and recovery. I thought that was quite a special gesture.
Healthy people. Excellent care
We have a busy year ahead of us for 2020, starting with the implementation of our changes to the leadership team. We’ll be working our way through the Transformation programme and starting to embed the Waikato Health System Plan, Te Korowai Waiora. There are also changes pending for the campus as we look forward getting the design of the new mental health and addictions building underway and further improvements to provide better care and support to our people with mental health and addiction challenges. Thank you again for all the hard work and I look forward to seeing everyone in the new year. NgÄ mihi
CE update
DECEMBER 2019
Message from the commissioner Tēnā kotou katoa It has been a full and challenging year for the whole organisation and I am sure many of you will be looking forward to some time off to unwind over Christmas. This month will have been particularly difficult for all those who rallied and rose to the challenge in the wake of the Whakaari/White Island eruption, taking such outstanding care of the eight patients Waikato Hospital received, while also maintaining a busy ED and other acute services. Also those who have been supporting colleagues across other DHBs. A heartfelt thanks to you all from myself and the commissioners’ group. We share Kevin’s sentiment around the response from our staff. It was an incredible effort and the outstanding professionalism and quality of care from the team at Waikato Hospital has been a theme across all my conversations following this event.
Waikato DHB Annual Plan
The deputy commissioners and I have been hugely grateful for everyone’s willingness to meet our challenges during 2019. With the recent appointment of DHB chairs around the country it is probably important to remind ourselves that this governance group remains with the DHB through 2022. We are committed to providing this long term governance support for the organisation and look forward to working with you all. Thank you to all those staff working over Christmas. I hope you will find time for a break once others are back on deck. It is important we all take that time away to recharge. As Kevin and I are both public health medicine specialists I am duty-bound to end with a public health announcement! Please do drive safely, drink responsibly, and take care of yourselves and each other. Meri Kirihimete Dr Karen Poutasi Waikato DHB Commissioner
Rural hospitals
I am pleased to announce that the Minister of Health and Minister of Finance have approved and signed Waikato DHB’s Annual Plan 2019/20. This plan is important as it sets the budgets and activities for the year. It is good to have secured the Government’s endorsement of our strategy and direction at this early date and shows we are on the right path.
I would like to tell you that the work from this year means 2020 will be easier, but I know you share the drive to always improve what we do for the community we serve.
E93
I visited Thames, Taumarunui and Te Kuiti this month. At Thames I was able to hear about the desire of Te Korowai, a kaupapa primary care provider, to integrate into the local hospital and about how they would deliver a patient-centred service, very much in line with our strategic aspirations. We must include the development of our rural hospitals in our thinking for the site master plan.
INCORPORATING THE 2019/20 STATEMENT OF PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS AND 2019/20-202 2/23 STATEMENT OF INTENT Presented to the House of Representatives
pursuant to sections 149 and 149(L)
of the Crown Entities Act 2004
While we have a strong focus on improving our overall financial sustainability the plan is also committed to maintaining and improving patient quality and achieving equity for Māori in line with government priorities and our Waikato Health System Plan, Te Korowai Waiora. The annual plan will be available on the intranet and website in the near future.
My visit to Taumarunui highlighted the remoteness of this facility and the difficulty they had in recruiting general practitioners (GPs). We should rethink how primary care services are provided so that they are less dependent on GPs through the greater use of nurse practitioners and telemedicine. I was impressed on my visit to Te Kuiti by how well integrated the local general practice was into the running of the service. This is a good model for other rural hospitals.
DECEMBER 2019
CE update
Making Christmas special for our patients, whÄ nau and our staff
Christmas is a special time for lots of people, but can be challenging for those families that have loved ones in hospital. A big thank you to all the services who are doing their best to make our hospitals homely and inviting with lots of Christmas decorations and cheer.
CE update
DECEMBER 2019
New ward open for renal, oncology and haematology in Menzies Building On 9 December a new renal centre was opened in the Menzies Building.
Congratulations to all the staff involved in this, I understand there was many months of planning and work involved. The new space includes:
• a new 10 chair space for renal dialysis patients who are on assisted care
• a facility for storage, maintenance and repair of the dialysis machines • new offices for five Cancer Psychological and Social Support staff
• a hot desk office for 11 RMOs (who I’m told now have the best view in town)
Pregnancy and maternity information for Waikato women A new section of Waikato DHB’s website delivers reliable information to Waikato women about having a baby – www.waikatodhb.health.nz/pregnancy The section has seven blocks of information from planning, through pregnancy, to birth and after the baby has arrived. It includes clear explanations, advice, and local services, all in one place.
Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal 2019 cheque presentation
Countdown helps Waikato whānau stay together This year Countdown stores across Waikato raised a whopping $86,237 to help keep more whānau together when Neonatal Intensive Care is needed at Waikato Hospital. Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal allowed the Waikids team to purchase their wish list: Two Giraffe Warmers – cradles with two portable monitors which are used for pre-term or late term babies. This will be the last time Countdown will be supporting kids’ hospitals across the country as they move on to help another very deserving children’s charity next year.
DECEMBER 2019
CE update
Public health nurses MMR vaccination pilot with Melville schools a success
Waikeria Prison
A small pilot at Melville Primary and Melville Intermediate schools with some of our public health nurses proved successful being able to vaccinate 82 percent of kids not immunised for MMR.
A mental health inpatient unit with 96 beds is being built as part of a wider $750m build project at the site.
I’m told the schools were really helpful in the process and together with our nurses were able to identify 240 children with no immunisation records supplied. After the NIR (National Immunisation Register) checks the team were able to ascertain there were only 48 students with either unknown immunisation status, no vaccination for MMR, or only one MMR vaccination record. In the end, the team were able to vaccinate 39. Given this result, we look forward to seeing it trialled at more schools in the new year.
I visited Waikeria Prison to see the great work that is being done as a partnership between Corrections and our local Mental Health and Addictions service.
What is exciting about this development is the respect for indigenous culture and the focus on rehabilitation and recovery. There is a real attempt in the mental health facility to ensure that it is truly a therapeutic environment with modern rooms not cells, with no bars on the windows, clustered in groups of eight. There is also a clear desire to develop a common culture between Corrections staff and health staff. This facility has the potential to be an exemplar internationally.
Just a reminder – 300 fewer staff carparks on campus while Hague Road building closes for maintenance The Hague Road Carpark Building will be completely closed for planned essential maintenance from 4pm 24 December to Monday 20 January 2020. This is similar to what happened last year, but may have a bigger impact on available staff parking, especially in the mid-January period. There will be about 300 fewer staff carparks available over that period, as many Hockin Carpark spaces will be set aside as alternative public/patient parking only. We have scheduled this for a time when fewer staff are expected on campus, but there will still be some impact. If you have a current staff parking permit and are working during this period, you may wish to consider other transport options to avoid parking issues on the Waiora Waikato Hospital Campus.
This update will be published monthly, if you have anything happening in your area and think I should know about it please email news@waikatodhb.health.nz
