June - West Coast District Health Board

Completing my time with the West
Coast District Health Board – an
initial three months that stretched
to almost two years – is cause for
reflection on impressions from my
experience here, and a brief stocktake
on some of the major developments.
Two words come immediately to
mind – “people” and “innovation”.
Health and disability services are
all about people and are otherwise
nothing. As elsewhere in the sector
it has been a pleasure and a privilege
to work with so many talented,
caring, and hard working people.
Innovation is another striking characteristic
of health services on the
Coast. Often from necessity, the
service models and practices are
innovative and continually evolving
to ensure the continuity of service
provision and service development.
There are long standing
service innovations on the Coast
that are a model for elsewhere.
Each year the West Coast District
Health Board plans to provide innovative
and comprehensive services
to achieve better health outcomes
for West Coasters, while improving
or maintaining the level of services
but staying within budget.
Collaboration with other district
health boards nationally and regionally
is essential to ensure that
West Coast patients get access
to the full range and all levels of
healthcare. Collaboration with the
Canterbury District Health Board is
fundamental to the future, and is
vital in order sustain the provision
of health services locally. Innovative
ways to provide healthcare
will benefit West Coasters, and
the use of technology to overcome
the challenges of the West Coast’s
small scale, dispersed population
and remoteness from larger and
more specialised services will be
CEO Joel George Departs
of increasing value in the future.
Equally important are the support
from, and local relationships with,
Tatau Pounamu, the West Coast
Primary Health Organisation, Community
and Public Health, the West
Coast territorial local authorities,
and all health and disability service
providers and interest groups.
During recent years, the West
Coast DHB’s Sustainability
Project has aimed to determine
the model(s) of care that are clinically
and financially sustainable
into the future. More recently this
project has proceeded in two main
streams – the LECG study looking
at acute hospital services, and the
proposals developed with the West
Coast Primary Health Organisation
for integrated family health centres.
The development of patient pathways
from rural and community
to tertiary health care will ensure
a seamless transition between
health service providers. This
smooth transition between more
healthcare services will help keep
people healthier for longer. The
development of integrated family
health centres will provide better,
sooner and more convenient
health services.
The West Coast District Health
Board strives for excellence in all
its services and is currently further
developing its clinical governance
and leadership to ensure the best
possible quality of patient care.
In the last nine months, the West
Coast DHB has been among the
leading district health boards in
meeting the national health targets.
This achievement recognises
the effort and performance of
staff throughout the sector, and is
widely publicised.
Expanding clinical training locally
is a vital strategy to assist in meeting
future staff requirements. The
many training initiatives, including
work with tertiary education providers
to bring nursing training back
to the West Coast, and developing
opportunities for medical training
on the West Coast, will held sustain
the clinical workforce in the
future.
I would like to acknowledge the
efforts and hard work of everyone
who works in or supports the
health and disability sectors of the
West Coast. Your dedication and
commitment are vital in providing
services on the Coast. Your support
has made my time here most
rewarding.
In closing, I would like to welcome
David Meates back to the West
Coast and to the West Coast District
Health Board. David knows
the West Coast well from his earlier
time managing Grey Base Hospital.
I’m sure that everyone will join
with me in welcoming David, and
I know that you will provide David
with every support.
Board Deputy Chair Dr Paul
McCormack, watched by
management team members
Hecta Williams and Gary
Coghlan, pays tribute to Chief
Executive Joel George who
departs the West Coast District
Health Board this month after
almost two years in the role.