Issue 196 - Wairarapa DHB

With each issue of Insite we give brief update about the
issues the Clinical Board are considering.
This month:
Privacy Audit
We are the custodians of people’s personal information,
and security around privacy of that information is very
important. The Clinical Board has approved the Quality,
Safety & Risk team to conduct a monthly audit of 20 staff
IDs and 20 NHIs to ensure we are maintaining the privacy
of the patient and there is no unauthorised or inappropriate
access to any patient. information.
E-Referral
This system continues to improve. GPs can now attach
the results of investigations and relevant letters.
Patients sent to ED now have an electronic referral sent.
This is accessed by ED either before or when the patient
arrives. If an e-referral is received and the patient does not
arrive in a certain time the GP is contacted.
Child Health
The Clinical Board approved the new Child Abuse Alert
System. This requires the cooperation of staff. Look
out for training opportunities or contact Gaye Rowberry.
The Child Youth Mortality Review Group for the Wairarapa
reports nationally. The group meets three times a year
with a wide variety of agencies involved. Six cases a
year are intensively reviewed by a wide multidisciplinary
group looking for gaps and how to improve systems
for our young people (aged 28 days to 25 years).
The Clinical Board advises the DHB on clinical and
professional matters and sets policies and guidelines on
clinical and ethical issues.The Board monitors the quality of
the organisation in various ways and promotes best practice.
It is responsible for clinical governance and has the authority
to commission audits and make recommendations to the
CEO.
New directions for health services in the greater
Wellington region
At a staff briefing this week Wairarapa DHB, Chair Bob Francis,
and CEO Tracey Adamson presented a new overall direction for
the three DHBs in the Wellington region. The 3DHB programme
is about partnership and gradual integration of management and
clinical services.
The three DHBs in the greater Wellington region have advised staff
of an increased commitment to partnership to better support the
development of more ‘joined-up clinical services.
The supporting material used in the staff presentations is enclosed
in this newsletter. It is also on the intranet in the news section.
There you will find links to these documents:
Chair’s address
PowerPoint presentation (pdf)
Fact sheet
Questions and Answers
Please note that the Questions and Answers section will be updated regularly.
You can send a question by emailing this address:
3DHBquestions@wairarapa.dhb.org.nz
Entries now open
No project is too small
19 October 2012 Issue 196
2012 QUALITY AWARDS
Entries are now open for the first
Incredible effort to reduce waiting lists for electives
Wairarapa District Health Board
Quality Awards.
Entries close 31 October
We will recognise and celebrate the
achievements and successes of our
colleagues
with fanfare and
celebration.
Gala night and Awards Ceremony on
30 November, 2012
2012 QUALITY AWARDS
SHARE YOUR GOOD IDEAS
INSPIRE YOUR COLLEAGUES
SHOWCASE YOUR RESEARCH
CELEBRATE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS
QUALITY AWARDS
• To publicly recognise individuals/teams
who have implemented outstanding quality
improvements that contribute to improved
outcomes in health
• To encourage collaboration, integration,
innovation and the development of best
practice
• To foster a culture of healthcare excellence.
CATEGORIES
• IMPROVE THE HEALTHCARE OF THE
POPULATION
Excellence in improving health and equity for
population groups
• IMPROVE THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE
Excellence in improving the quality, safety or
experience of care
• REDUCE AND CONTROL COSTS
Excellence in obtaining best value from
public health system resources
• HEROES AWARDS
An outstanding personal or team contribution
to health. Someone or a team who has
gone the extra mile; made a difference to a
customer/patient/client or service user.
Help us celebrate our successes. Be part of this event.
Talk to your colleagues, encourage them to enter or fill in your own entry form soon.
Recognise achievements of individuals, teams,
wards, departments, primary care providers and GPs
participating in quality improvement projects. Open to
all health providers (individuals or groups) across the
Wairarapa district.
Quality awards dinner and presentation
30 November
There will be a special dinner and Awards ceremony to
showcase quality improvement in health. We will give
one complimentary ticket per entry.
INSIDE:
Handout from the staff briefing.
New directions for health services
in the greater Wellington region
Recognition and celebration, great prizes, a
glittering night out.
FORMS ONLINE
You can send us your application by email.
DHB Staff:
Entry forms and criteria are on the DHB intranet
in Staff info. Click on Quality Awards in left hand
column. There are also printed packs being
distributed to all departments.

The apocalypse
Julia Smout (left), Heather Ousey and Celeste Blakesley from
Adult Mental Health, won the staff Shakeout photo competition
with this hilarious and creative entry. For their efforts the
trio won a portable B-Safe emergency Power Pack (hand
rechargeable Radio, Siren, torch and cell phone charge – a
Mental Health Awareness Week
For Mental Health Awareness Week Chris Smith, Hugh
Gaywood-Eyre and Julia Smout from Adult Mental Health set
up this eyecatching display in the hospital foyer. It contained
positive messages about keeping physically and mentally
well.
The theme for this year was ‘take time, take a breath and
take notice.’
If anyone needs to access Mental Health Services the free
calling number is 0508 432 432.
standard issue item for many residents of Christchurch
now), bars of Rocky Road, emergency foil blankets,
ponchos and headlamp.
“We had lots of fun posing with a can of spaghetti, water
and first aid kit. Thanks to my sister who dropped us into
the flames and collapsing earth with a bit of help from
photoshop. The exercise helped us identify hazards in our
department such as unsecured shelving and the need for
more rations in our emergency kit. It highlighted the need
for more preparation,” says Julia Smout.
Dianne Mazey, the DHB’s Health, Safety and Emergency
Preparedness Coordinator says, “I thought our
emergency management plans were fairly robust until I
saw the winning entry but now I’ll have to revisit these and
consider the possibility of a contingency plan for sharks
being washed up, through newly-formed quake fissures in
the hospital grounds as a result of tsunamis.”
Mike King - His Story
Masterton Town Hall
7.30pm
Thursday 25 October
Gold coin donation
Tickets @ YMCA | 371 Queen Street Masterton | 9am – 3pm
It’s official! Liz is an Expert!
Cathy Smith, June Roseingrave and Liz Fellerhoff
Of course, she always was, but now she has the official
recognition to prove it.
Congratulations to Liz Fellerhoff who has achieved
Expert level on the DHB Professional Development and
Recognition programme (PDRP).This brings the number
of ‘Experts’ on the PDRP programme to three with Cathy
Smith – a long standing expert on the programme and
June Roseingrave who achieved expert in the last 12
months. The Professional Development and Recognition
Programme (PDRP) is a way of recognising, valuing and
acknowledging nursing practice. It provides a framework
that helps nurses develop their professional practice and
assist them on a career pathway. It encourages nurses to
reflect on their practice and to set goals to plan for their
future in care delivery and leadership.
About the Five ways to Wellbeing
Wellbeing is a concept that has two main elements:
feeling good and functioning well.
The 5 Ways to Wellbeing were first highlighted in
research by the New Economics Foundation (NEF)
for the UK Government’s Foresight Project. The day to
day use of any of these five simple actions is proven to
increase health and wellbeing in individuals.
The kinds of results that have been found include
greater creativity, higher productivity, better social
cohesion, increased happiness and life satisfaction as
well as reduced physical illness and mental distress.
Liz Fellerhoff, Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialist,
acknowledges the hard work involved and the personal
journey the programme took her on. “It looks like a lot of extra
work but if you just take a bit at a time you can work your
way through it. You have to show evidence of 60 hours of
professional development over the last three years as well as
post-grad papers relevant to your area of practice. You also
have to provide a full portfolio every three years to support
the continuation of your practice at this level. Then there’s
a case study to write showing advanced knowledge and
application of expert practice in the care of complex patients
and clinical leadership in care coordination which you present
to colleagues. My case study discussed a complex respiratory
patient in her 40s who needed oxygen. To demonstrate
innovation in practice I used the example of my involvement
in the improved oxygen service which included auditing
the service and writing a booklet for patients. There was a
teaching requirement too. I ran a couple of all-day study days
for nurses. There is also an obligation to share knowledge
on a regional or national level and I participate in a regional
forum as well as the NZNO Respiratory Section. Working my
way through the PDRP requirements wasn’t as onerous as I
thought. The Nurse Educators were really helpful and they are
keen to help anyone else who wants to get started. It’s well
worth the effort and encourages you to reflect on your clinical
practice and keep up to date.”
Helen Pocknall, Director of Nursing & Midwifery says, “It’s
excellent to see Liz join the three senior nurses at Expert level
on the PDRP. Their efforts show an ongoing commitment to
their professional development which is reflected in the quality
of care provided to our communities as well as the education
and training provided to other nurses across the Wairarapa.”
5 winning ways to good health
Healthy Christchurch and the Mental Health Foundation
have teamed up to bring you the Wellbeing Game.
Many of the things we enjoy already are good for us - but
we are often so busy that we don’t always make time for
them. The Wellbeing Game provides a way to take special
notice of the things that keep us well, whether it’s catching
up with loved ones, spending time with a good book or
enjoying the garden.
Players in the Wellbeing Game chart their ‘5 Winning Ways
to Wellbeing’ activities over four weeks. The 5 Winning
Ways are Connect, Take Notice, Give, Keep Learning and
Be Active.
It’s easy to play the Wellbeing Game. You can play as an
individual, join a team, or start a completely new team - it’s
up to you !

�DHB get the big tick when it comes to health and safety!
This month the DHB was audited against the standards in the
ACC Workplace Safety Management Programme (WSMP).
The assessment standards are aligned with the Australia/
New Zealand Standard for Occupational Health and Safety
Management Systems and covers 10 key critical elements.
After a lot of hard work over the last two years by our Health and
Safety Coordinator, Dianne Mazey, we gained an impressive
pass at Tertiary Level status (the highest level obtainable).
Some of the benefits of belonging to this programme:
• substantial ACC levy discounts that reflect the health and
safety standards of our workplace
• access and use a national safety framework
• reduce injuries in our workplace – and their associated
personal, professional and social costs
• improve our industry’s safety record – which could lead to
lower ACC levies industry-wide
• demonstrate our commitment to health and safety to our
staff and unions/employee representatives, customers, the
business community, potential employees and the wider
public
The White Paper for Vulnerable Children was released
this week.
The White Paper is the result of months of research
and analysis, and consultation with key health,
education, social services and justice experts,
along with input from nearly 10,000 Green Paper
submissions offered by New Zealanders. It is informed
by what international best practice shows keeps
children safe from harm.
The White Paper sets out a framework which ensures
key agencies and professionals who work with
children are better connected so they can share more
information on vulnerable children and better protect
them.
Dianne said that it was a huge relief to pass at the
top level after substantial effort and new initiatives
had been put in place over the previous year. This
however doesn’t mean that we can now rest up as there
are always improvements that can be made towards
improved health and safety, (achieving good health and
safety outcomes does not happen by accident) and
the few recommendations for improvement that were
received will be implemented as soon as possible.
Cate Tyrer, Director of Quality, Safety and Risk
commented that while patient safety has a high profile,
this pass demonstrates our on-going and absolute
commitment to the health and safety of our staff and
others on our premises.
The White Paper and a Children’s Action Plan
It is accompanied by a Children’s Action Plan which
outlines what action is being taken to protect children.
The Action Plan is a living document which will
continue to evolve as New Zealanders work together
to achieve the fundamental changes contained in the
White Paper.
The White Paper for Vulnerable Children and
Children’s Action Plan are available for download at
www.childrensactionplan.govt.nz. If you would like
a hardcopy of the White Paper, please email info@
childrensactionplan.govt.nz
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
The recent World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
provided an opportunity to celebrate the work of our
wonderful palliative care team and all those who support
them. Palliative care nurse specialists, palliative district
nurses, GPs, practice nurses, oncology nurses, specialist
doctors from Te Omanga Hospice in the Hutt, social
workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists,
speech language therapists and the Homelinks team all
work together to ensure a high level of clinical care and
support is maintained until the end of life. The Kahukura
team provides care in the person’s ‘home’ wherever this
may be - it may be in their own home or in one of our
residential care facilities as there is no inpatient unit in
Wairarapa. Support for urgent issues is also provided
outside the hours of 8am-4.30pm by Wellington Free
Ambulance Service.
Where on the intranet is........?
• Insite
• CRISP Newsletters
• CEO’s monthly
Board report
• Health targets
About WDHB
Click on link in left hand
column.
Forms In Staff Info
In left hand column
Click on Forms
Policies,Guidelines and
Procedures
Resources
Kahukura, Wairarapa’s
palliative care clinical team
From left: Ali Hunt, District
Nurse; Carol Simons,
District Nurse; Anne Savage,
Palliative Nurse Educator;
Pam Brown, Clinical Nurse
Specialist; Carol Hinton,
Clinical Nurse Specialist;
Mary Norman, District Nurse;
Mary Christie, FOCUS
Support Facilitator; Sue
Winny, District Nurse; Anne
Wilson, District Nurse;
Marilyn Pansters, District
Nurse; Fred Wheeler, Charge
Nurse Manager.
Education is pivotal to the provision of good palliative care and
our nurse educator works 3 days a week providing training
and education for all health care providers of palliative care.
It’s pleasing to note the great cooperation and collaboration that
exists between the WDHB Palliative Care Service ‘Kahukura’,
Hospice Wairarapa, Cancer Society Wairarapa and Te
Omanga Hospice. Regular tripartite meetings take place and
this has ensured that any issues are resolved and every effort
for collaboration is captured. Our local services work together
to provide patients and families with the best possible care
and support. The many letters of appreciation from families
who have used the services and the kind donations they make
to the services bear testament to this.
Booking meeting
rooms
Staff Info
Ordering menus Staff Info
Reviews About WDHB
See left hand column
Quality Awards Staff Info
In left hand column
There is now a Health and Safety site on the intranet.
About WDHB/Quality, Safety & Risk/Health and Safety. (or type in Health and Safety in the search box on the Home
Page). Now you are at the “GOSH” site. From here you can find all hazard registers and reportable event forms etc.
Take a look.

New nursing roles for care of the older person
Clinical Nurse Specialist - Health of the Older Person
Celeste Taylor replaced Anna Read who
moved to Masterton Medical earlier this
year. Anna’s role at the DHB covered both
Older Persons Health & Rehabilitation
and now the job has been split into two
.8 positions: CNS in Health of Older
Person as well as CNS Psycho-geriatrics.
Celeste who worked for four years in MSW and five years in
Rehab as an RN has taken on the .8 CNS Health of Older
Person role working closely with clinical staff at Wairarapa
Hospital and staff in resthomes and community care facilities.
Celeste provides complex case management in consultation
with other health professionals across the primary, secondary
and tertiary setting. Referrals come from a variety of sources
including GPs, physicians, Community Nursing, FOCUS,
Allied Health, Residential Care Facilities and from the inpatient
setting.
“I have always loved working with older people. It’s very
satisfying to know you have made people’s lives more
comfortable and you can provide support so they can continue
to live in their chosen environment. I think you need to be
patient, diplomatic and calm because there is a lot of anxiety
out there and families don’t or can’t always give the necessary
support. One challenge is to know all the services available
and the easiest way to cut through them for the benefit of my
client.”
Celeste is part of a community and hospital multi-disciplinary
team which addresses cases and issues each week. She
works closely with the Rehab team, allied health professionals,
FOCUS, NGOs such as the Stroke Foundation, Alzheimers
NZ, and WOOPS to ensure older people receive appropriate,
timely and affordable care.
“I am a generalist,” she says. “Older people have a complex
array of needs including physical, psychological and social.
There’s a need for health education, help with increased
services, identification and assistance with anxiety, social
isolation and depression to name a few. Sometimes I go into
houses to pick up the cases the District Nurses have concerns
about. They don’t always have families around them like they
used to. I do a full assessment and refer them to someone
who can help. Sometimes one spouse is looking after another
and there is carer stress. Sometimes people are lonely and
I can refer them to WOOPs or for a FOCUS assessment. I
follow up referrals, write to GPs and keep everyone informed.
“Many older people have multiple co-morbidities such as
COPD, depression and dementia. I’ll go in, check out the
problem and give appropriate feedback. It streamlines the
process and saves many different carers or clinicians going
into the house which causes confusion and frustration.”
Celeste has a busy job working with a group whose numbers
are steadily increasing. “The baby boomers are now 65+ and
people are living much longer. There is increasing pressure on
the health system and we are seeing more cases of deleriums,
depression and dementia in hospital and in the community.”
That’s just work time. In her spare time Celeste is also doing
continuing study on the health of the older person through
papers for a masters degree in Clinical Nursing.
Specialty Clinical Nurse - Psychogeriatrics
Lorraine Goulton, is based at
Hessey House and from there she
is developing a new role, visiting
patients and families and running
community clinics.
It is a new position for the DHB and
one that is bound to grow with our
ageing population. “I’m excited about
developing a new role, working alongside Celeste and Adult
Mental Health, and also getting out into the community
meeting patients and their families.”
Lorraine will be assessing, advising and supporting older
people with psycho-geriatric health issues such as dementia
and related conditions. She will look after people in their own
homes, rest homes, the Hospital and the community. She
will also assist Dr Duncan, Visiting Psycho-geriatrician, who
runs clinics once or twice a month on Saturdays. Together
they travel through Wairarapa to people wherever they live.
Lorraine then provides advice and follow-up care for her
client and family and liaises with community agencies who
offer on-going support. She will also draw on the expertise
of a multi-disciplinary team of social workers, allied health
professionals, doctors and staff in rest homes to address
cases and issues each week.
This work draws on Lorraine’s previous experiences as a
counsellor and mental health RN. During her nine years
as an Enrolled Nurse in Rehab and Med/Surg, Lorraine
completed a Diploma in Counselling and ran a part-time
practice as a counsellor. In 2008 she enrolled on the
Bachelor Nursing programme at UCOL in Masterton and
in 2011 entered the Wairarapa NetP programme as a RN
in Adult Mental Health. “I wanted to marry counselling and
nursing together in my new job. Working in mental health is
about communication and people skills and a good nurse
should be a good listener and attentive to others’ world
view. It’s really important to look after people’s psychological
health.”
Her next move was to Te Whare Ahuru, the acute mental
health ward in the Hutt where she cared for people from
various DHBs ranging in age from 18 to 65 years who were
acutely unwell. “That was a big learning curve and the work
was very challenging, dealing with people who were suicidal
to those who were bi-polar. Now I’m back in Masterton and
loving having no shift work or commuting.”
“I love looking at the big picture, meeting new people, getting
out and about and there are so many projects to get your
teeth into. In homes I appreciate the opportunity to make a
difference – the patient is not just Joe Bloggs with dementia.
He has a special story and is part of a family who want to
understand and support him with assistance from us.”
This is the first time in four years Lorraine has not been
studying part-time. “As part of the NetP programme in Mental
Health last year I did a post-grad certificate in mental health
and next year I plan to do a post-grad diploma. Study makes
you hungry to learn more but it’s nice to have a break this year.”
It’s not as if she has time on her hands though. Lorraine is
married to Colin and they have 12 grandchildren, eight of
whom are pre-schoolers.
To the excellent doctors, medical and admin at the
Hospital and district nurses:
Your attention, professionalism and all-round
fabulousness have been most appreciated during my
mother’s pre-op,operation itself (with special thanks to
Jerry Glenn) and post-op.
Thanks a bunch
This letter is to congratulate you on running such a
wonderful Hospital where I recently under went an
operation to remove a cancerous tumour in my semi-colon.
The care I received from Dr Jauffret in particular and all the
surgical staff was outstanding. Nor will I forget the care and
kindness shown by the nursing staff, particularly Kate and
Vicki.
The residents of the Wairarapa are so lucky to have such
a marvellous facility at their doorstep.Please pass on my
compliments to the people concerned and best wishes to
you and your staff for the amazing job you do.
Newcomer to Wairarapa Hospital, Yvonne Asher, has nursed
for 49 years. “I have seen a fair few changes in that time. I
have been at Wairarapa Hospital for only eight weeks but I
have never been made to feel so welcome before. Staff are
helpful, friendly and marvellous.”
Tracey Adamson presented badges as a token of the respect
and honour they are held in by Wairarapa DHB, and their
loyalty and years of service to the Wairarapa community and
beyond.
20+ years
Anne Edmonds, Mary Isaac, Dr Peter Smith, Cathy Smith,
Patricia Dudley-Bos, Win Ward, Jenny Thomas, Glenys
Compton, Gael Binns and Jill Trower
25-30 years
Belinda Lintern, Yvonne Stuart, Jean Pearson, Adele Cairns,
Sharon Smith, Marilyn Pansters, Jenny Clarke, and Anne
Savage
30+ years
Annette Buchanan,Susan Copps,Warren Jackson,
Alexis McKenzie,Gail Morrison,Chris Williams, Michelle
Carbin,Lesley Marsh,Jenny Ewen,Judi Harding and Odette
Bubb.
35+years
Dr Kit De Silva, Jo Goodin, Mair Moorcock, Kaye Taplin,
Margie Martin and Yvonne Asher
View all the photos in the slideshow at the top right
of the News page on the intranet
We want to compliment the entire staff on
your exemplary care of my mother. Everyone
in ED, MSW and HDU have been fantastic.
Having experienced Auckland Hospital on a
number of occasions you have far exceeded our
experiences in the care of an elderly patient. We
would particularly like to compliment you on your
communication skills, practical and excellent
nursing care, team co-ordination(doctors, OT,
physio, social worker,dietitian). If you could ever
consider a hospital stay a five star experience
you have clearly given that, right down to
outstanding cleanliness. Please pass on our
compliments and thanks to all staff who have
cared for my mother during her stay.
The two longest serving employees were
Dr Kit de Silva and Kaye Taplin who have
eighty years service to health between them.
Xmas BBQ
The staff Xmas BBQ is on 14 December from 12-2pm.
Mark it on your calendar.

Long service awards
Back and middle row from left: Gail Morrison, Jenny Thomas, Sharon Smith, Odette Bubb, Win Ward, Marilyn Pansters, Dr Kit De Silva,
Kaye Taplin, Cathy Smith,Susan Copps, Mair Moorcock, Belina Lintern,Warren Jackson, Judi Harding, Yvonne Asher, Jenny Ewen, Jill
Trower, Anne Edmonds
Front row: Margie Martin,Glenys Compton, Adele Cairns,Lesley Marsh, Jenny Clarke, Annette Buchanan
Absent: Dr Peter Smith, Mary Isaac, Patricia Dudley-Bos,Gael Binns, Yvonne Stuart, Jean Pearson, Anne Savage, Alexis McKenzie,
Chris Williams,Michelle Carbin, Jo Goodin
Tracey Adamson, CEO, put on a special morning tea
for 35 staff who have worked for Wairarapa DHB or the
NZ health service for 20, 25 and 30 years or more. She
thanked them for their outstanding contribution and
acknowledged their commitment, loyalty and long service.
There were lots of stories and laughter as people recalled
training and working during the 60s and beyond. Dr de Silva
said in Ceylon, where he began his career, doctors were not
allowed to work in any one hospital for more than four years.
So he came to the Wairarapa and has been a physician at
Wairarapa Hospital ever since. Kaye Taplin has seen a lot of
changes. “I was always a ‘hands-on nurse but now I spend a
lot of time doing paperwork in the interests of compliance and
bureaucracy.”
By contrast Adele Cairns remembers the reporting procedures
of her early nursing days. “We used a hospital biro to write in
patient files ‘getting well’ on the day shift and ‘settled well’ after
a night shift. And that was it.”
Jenny Clarke rememebered her time in Maternity when women
had to stay in bed for 24 hours or until they had passed 1000ml
of urine. Each time a pan was used the ‘patient’ was given a
perineal swab and washed down. Those were the days.
Marilyn Pansters landed a job in Ward 7, the most unglamorous
area to work in. “At the time there was a satellite in orbit about
to return to earth and I remember a Canadian house
surgeon wrote to NASA asking them to programme the
shuttle to land on Ward 7.”
Warren Jackson said he remembered when the docs were
his age but now they are getting younger all the time.
Margie Martin wanted to be an air hostess but chose
nursing and 40 years later, after many years in mental
health, “still loves it.”
Judi Harding trained in the early 70s when organ
transplants began. “They were beginning to transplant
hearts but the one organ they said could never be
transplanted was the liver. Now we’re not only doing that
but we are transplanting multiple organs at once.”
When Lesley Marsh was training she boarded with her
aunt who often recalled her nursing days. “She talked
about putting damp sawdust on the floors to keep them
clean. When I trained in the late 60s we boiled everything
within an inch of our lives – we scrubbed and cleaned the
stainless steel until it shone, pans and wash basins were
washed and polished and hung up on walls. Everything
was regimented – even the wheels on the beds had to
face outwards. At the same time we had lots of patients
to care for.”
How can we help make Smokefree NZ 2025 a reality?
New Zealand is committed
to a goal of a Smokefree
Aotearoa by 2025.
This will mean:
• that our children and grandchildren will be free from
tobacco and enjoy tobacco-free lives
• that almost no one will smoke (less than 5% of the
population will be current smokers)
• it will be very difficult to sell or supply tobacco.
It will be achieved by:
• protecting children from exposure to tobacco
marketing and promotion
• reducing the supply of, and demand for, tobacco
• providing the best possible support for quitting.
Looking after yourself
It is important that we regularly monitor workplace
hazards. Therefore it is a requirement that annually all
staff who spend the majority of their day deskbound and/
or in front of a computer screen complete a workstation
self assessment. This enables early identification of any
issues and ensures you stay comfortable at your work
station.
If you fall into this category please complete an assessment
form. Once completed have your manager sign it and
forward to the Occupational Health team via the Quality
Office (internal mail box 28). Your self assessment will
then be reviewed and the Occ Health team can provide
follow-up and individual workstation assessments and
further advice if required.
If you are currently experiencing any discomfort the
“Early Discomfort Notification Form” should always be
completed and submitted to our Occupational Health
team at the Quality Office (box 28) who will follow up with
you as necessary. You will find all the forms on the new
Health & Safety page on the intranet.
Most common contributory factors for discomfort
pain and injury:
Dianne Mazey
Health, Safety & Preparedness Coordinator
The Smokefree 2025 brand was developed in
November 2011 by the Health Promotion Association
to be used by all communities to show support
for the vision “a tobacco free New Zealand 2025”
Through simple steps, with whānau, school, community or
organisations, we can make this happen! Have smokefree
events, smokefree cars and homes, ask whānau to not smoke
around the kids, talk to kids about being smokefree - even if
you are a smoker it still helps. And we need to encourage and
support more people to quit.
To increase awareness of the Smokefree 2025 goal, a
Smokefree New Zealand 2025 logo has been developed.
It includes the current smokefree logo to build on alreadyestablished
brand recognition. Inclusion of the date supports
the government’s commitment to achieving a Smokefree New
Zealand by 2025.
We encourage you to embrace and use the logo as we
work together to achieve a smokefree New Zealand. You may
wish to use the logo at the bottom of your emails, inserted as
part of the signature. If you are willing to do that please ask
Linda Spence, Smokefree Coordinator for a copy of the logo.
Pam stands down after more than 20
years of supporting local delegates
Back row left to right - Delegates Vicki Jackson, Gail
Morrison, Ngaire Clarke, Gail Edwards, Campbell Gillam.
Front row - Pam Horncy, John Sheenan)
After more than 40 years of involvement with the PSA
union, and more than 20 of those as Wairarapa’s PSA Union
Organiser, Pam Horncy was farewelled by our PSA union
delegates.
Over a very nice lunch, Ngaire thanked Pam for her years
of support, commenting on her approachability, friendliness,
and quality advice. “The delegates will miss Pam very much,”
said Ngaire. “She will be a hard act to follow.”
Pam responded saying that delegates were the real
leaders in the workplace, and management needed to ‘bottle’
them for their values and spirit. She described how delegates
‘do the added stuff’ that is so valuable to patients, and the
people they work with.
‘It’s been a great honour to work with you’, said Pam.
‘Local delegates are the centrepiece of the union.”
Pam hands over the reins to colleague John Sheenan,
who also attended the lunch and was welcomed by the
delegates. Between them, Pam and John have over 80 years
experience with the PSA!

Still on target
The National Health Targets, which compare Zealand’s
20 health boards across six categories each quarter, show
Wairarapa DHB has exceeded four of the six targets this
quarter. We ranked first in the country for two of the health
targets.
Better help for smokers to quit
Wairarapa Hospital was the most improved DHB for “Better
help for smokers to quit”. The DHB’s performance rose from
72 % in the last quarter (last among DHBs) to 96 % (now one
of the top performers in the country), giving it an ‘outstanding
performer’ rating from the Ministry of Health. The national
target is 95% and this is the first time Wairarapa has exceeded
the target.
Hospital GM Kieran McCann, is delighted with the huge
improvement. “Everyone rallied round to make it happen. Our
staff have worked hard to make sure every hospital patient
is asked about smoking, offered advice to quit and cessation
support. There has been an increased focus on this activity
on top of a busy workload and we really appreciate the effort
everyone has made. Staff also appreciate the benefits of
encouraging patients to quit smoking, so everyone gains. It is
a superb team effort and we are thrilled with this result.”
The smokefree target is now being extended to include
medical practices in the community. Anyone visiting a
community GP can expect to be asked about their smoking
status and offered advice and help to quit. The target requires
90% of all patients visiting medical centres to be asked and
their responses recorded. When the next quarterly progress
result is reported the smokefree target will include hospital as
well as community screening rates.
Big reduction in waiting times for surgery
Wairarapa Hospital continues to exceed the national target
for elective surgery. By July this year noone was waiting longer
than six months to see a specialist or have an operation.
Tracey Adamson is proud of this result.“Last year we had 86
patients waiting longer than six months and now no-one is
waiting that long. Our theatre teams and staff have worked
hard to produce this result and these improvements are very
good for patients. Prompter treatment improves recovery and
gets patients back to normal life sooner. We deliver more than
the required number of procedures for our population (102%
against the national target of 100%) which means Wairarapa
people have excellent access to elective procedures.”
More heart and diabetes checks
Wairarapa DHB is top in the country for more heart and
diabetes checks. The national target aims for 60 percent of
eligible patients to have had their cardiovascular risk assessed
within five years. In Wairarapa over the last three months 66%
of those more at risk of developing diabetes or heart disease
had heart and diabetes checks within the last five years.
Most Wairarapa practices now have computer software
that calculates a patient’s cardiovascular risk. It also helps
clinicians improve the identification and management of long
term conditions and ensures regular checks and follow ups
are completed.
Immunisation
94% of Wairarapa two year olds were fully immunized in the
last quarter. There are 141 Wairarapa children in this category
and 132 are fully immunized. Every child in the Wairarapa has
been offered the chance to be immunised but some families
decline. There were seven (5%) who declined in this quarter
and two families opted off.
Tracey says this is a collaborative effort. “Everyone put in
an enormous effort - Whaiora Outreach, medical centres, the
DHB and the PHO. The medical centres look out for children
whose vaccinations are overdue and do their best to reach
them. If they can’t get hold of the parents they are referred
to the Outreach Service who then do home visits. It is a
fantastic team effort.”
The National Health Target for immunisation changes in
the next reporting quarter and requires 85% of eight month
olds to be fully immunised. “In Wairarapa that target has
already been achieved,” says Tracey. “At this stage we
already have 92% of our eight month old babies immunized.”
Shorter stays in the Emergency Department
We exceeded the national target of 95% for achieving
shorter stays in the Hospital’s Emergency Department in
each quarter this year. Over the last three months 97%
of people coming to ED were admitted, transferred or
discharged within six hours.
Charge Nurse Manager, Vicki Hookham, says there is
now more emphasis on patients getting help and advice from
the most appropriate provider. “We are working much more
closely with GPs and advising people to consider using their
GP rather than waiting for treatment in the ED Department
for six hours. An ongoing DHB campaign is urging people
to think about the best place to go for health care, rather
than simply heading to the Emergency Department. We are
encouraging people to use Healthline or their GP as a first
port of call unless it is a real emergency. There are plenty
of GP services available afterhours: Wairarapa After Hours
Service provides urgent medical care for all Wairarapa and
out-of-town patients and there are also evening clinics in
South Wairarapa. It’s about early intervention and seeing the
right person at the right time. I think people are getting the
message about saving ED for emergencies, so when people
do need to come to us then 97% of them are seen within the
six hour target.”
Shorter waits for cancer treatment radiotherapy
All DHBs achieved the shorter waits for cancer treatment
target. Nationally, 100% of patients, who were ready for
treatment, received their radiation treatment within four weeks
of their first specialist radiation oncology assessment. There
are six regional cancer centres providing radiation oncology
services and Wairarapa people usually go to Wellington
or Palmerston North and the hospitals there continue to
provide excellent service to the Wairarapa population.
Ms Adamson says that national health targets provide
a focus for action by district health boards to improve the
performance of their health services. “I want to congratulate
staff and other providers for our consistently good
performance against these national measures. For one of
the smallest DHBs to stay at or near the top of the table is a
reflection of real dedication to the health of our population.
It speaks volumes for the way health agencies are working
together for common goals throughout our community, and
between the hospital and the community.”
Electives slashed
John Hayes MP, on behalf of the Minister of Health, presented a
certificate of thanks to hospital staff for their contribution to outstanding
elective surgery results for 2011/12. He and CEO Tracey Adamson
thanked our amazing staff from throughout the Hospital who have
worked extra hard to achieve this result. Reps from various departments
who had been involved in the push to blitz the waiting list were there:
Booking staff, Outpatients,Theatre staff, Acute Services, Medical
Surgical Ward staff, Sterile Services, Allied Health, Day Procedure Unit
and Nurse Coordinator.
Tracey also visited all GP practices and several hospital departments
with a morning tea shout to thank staff for their contribution to our
successful health targets result.
GOALS
FOR
NATIONAL
HEALTH
TARGETS:
Quarter 1
2011/2012
Quarter 2
2011/2012
Quarter 3
2011/2012
SUMMARY FOR
THIS QUARTER
The year at a glance
How does Wairarapa perform against National Health Targets
compared with all DHBs in NZ?
Quarter 4
2011/2012
120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Shorter stays
in emergency
departments
Health targets
Improved
access to
elective
surgery
Shorter waits
for cancer
treatment
Increased
immunisation
Better help for
smokers to
quit
WAIRARAPA DHB RESULTS
NATIONAL HEALTH TARGETS FOR THE YEAR 2011/2012
Better
diabetes and
cardiovascular
services
National goal 95% 100% 100% 95% 95% 0%
Quarter one 2011/12 97% 108% 100% 90% 82% 69%
Quarter two 2011/12 95% 103% 100% 95% 66% 75%
Quarter three 2012 96% 101% 100% 97% 72% 66%
Quarter four 2012 97% 102% 100% 94% 96% 66%
100% 60% 95% 100% 95% 95%
This target has now
changed to More
Heart and Diabetes checks.
Cancer Diabetes Emergency Electives Immunisation Smoking
100% 1st= 69% 16th 97% 2nd= 108% 7th 89% 15th= 82% 17th
100% 1st= 75% 11th 95% 8th 103% 11th 94% 2nd= 66% 20th
100% 1st= 66% 1st 96% 8th 101% 15th 97% 1st 72% 20th
100% 1st= 66% 1st 97% 8th 102% 16th 94% 11th 96% 5th
Met Exceeded Exceeded Exceeded Just short of Exceeded
target target target target target target
HOW DOES WAIRARAPA DHB COMPARE AGAINST ALL OTHER DHBS IN THE LAST QUARTER?
All 20 DHBs 100% 49% 94% 106% 93% 94%
Wairarapa DHB 100% 66% 97% 102% 94% 96%
Cancer Diabetes Emergency Electives Immunisation Smoking