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.
