From
the Chair
Sally Webb - Chair, Bay of Plenty District Health Board
It’s hard to believe we are right in the middle
of winter. Apart from a couple of cold patches
it’s been pretty mild so far which is why it’s
easy to forget about how easy it is to forget
the potential risk of an outbreak of influenza
‘the flu’. Flu is contagious and is spread by
coughing, sneezing and direct contact with an
infected person or by touching a contaminated
surface. You can be infectious around a day
before symptoms appear. Flu is different from
a cold virus. A cold virus only affects the
nose, throat and the upper chest and lasts for a
few days, whereas flu can be a serious illness
that affects the whole body and can last up
to a week or more. So it’s really important to
consider having the flu vaccination to protect
not only yourself, but also your whānau and
friends. So why not go and talk about it with
your General Practice now, before you get
unwell.
This edition of Health Matters features a
work plan which sets the scene of how health
services will be provided for our people in
the next ten years. The Board approved the
Strategic Health Services Plan a couple of
weeks ago. Our world is changing pretty
rapidly and we need to find ways to utilise
new technologies and ways of working so we
can continue to provide high quality care to
our growing population. The Strategic Health
Services Plan outlines how we will work
with others across the Bay, including you, our
community to ensure people have the right
care at the right time and are supported to live
healthy lives.
There are many projects currently underway
to improve the way health services are
provided in our region. As featured here in
Health Matters, we are one of two DHBs
involved in one of Australasia’s biggest
clinical trials designed to improve language
rehabilitation for people recovering from
stroke.
If you’re not familiar with the tell tale signs of
a stroke and what to do, I strongly encourage
you to read about the FAST campaign. Acting
FAST and calling 111 if you suspect a stroke
can save lives, and improve recovery because
the sooner medical treatment begins, the
more likely brain damage can be reduced.
Arohanui
Sally Webb
Raising Healthy Kids
- What’s in your lunchbox?
Healthy foods are ‘thumbs up’
foods at Whakatāne’s Little
Orchard Preschool.
Dietitian Nikki Coates
who recently joined the
Eastern Bay Primary Health
Alliance (EBPHA) visited the
preschool earlier this month
to support staff and provide
resources for parents to keep
their children healthy.
Even if you have smoked for some of your pregnancy, quitting now
will make baby healthier.
Smoking harms your baby
If you smoke when pregnant you are:
• More likely to have a miscarriage
• Baby is 30% more likely to be born prematurely
•
Baby is at greater risk of health problems including glue ear
and asthma
•
Baby is 30% more likely to die of Sudden Unexplained
Death in Infancy (SUDI or cot death).
Give you and your baby the best future possible and call
0800 HAPAINGA
(427246)
Improving our health services
The Bay of Plenty District Health Board has
been seeking feedback from patients and
staff as part of its on-going effort to improve
the way health services are provided to our
communities. “We listened to 80 patients, their families and
whānau tell us their stories about their care.
In addition, 289 patients and their families
completed a survey about what we were doing
well and what we could improve on.
Registered Nurse and Programme leader
Rosalind Jackson says “There is a lot of
evidence and studies worldwide, showing
that when staff working in health have a
consistently good experience at work, this
has a positive flow-on effect and patient care,
safety and clinical outcomes improve.” “Mostly patients found us friendly, caring
and helpful. One thing we need to work on as
an organisation is making sure we are more
consistent. Patients told us that a welcoming
smile and staff introducing themselves on
first contact, is really important to how they
feel about their treatment in hospital,” says
Rosalind.
As well as surveying patients, the DHB invited
patients in both Whakatāne and Tauranga to
participate in workshops.
Remembering to keep patients updated with
appointment times, particularly if there is any
delay, which affects
them was also a
priority.
Rosalind says as a
result of the feedback
the DHB is in the
process of ensuring
all staff consistently
behave in a safe
and compassionate
manner when caring
for patients, their
families and whānau.
“I am passionate about healthy
eating and living an active
lifestyle. I believe this starts
from conception and carries
on through every stage of
life.”
At EBPHA, Nikki’s focused
on supporting pregnant women,
adolescents, and children to live
healthy lives through healthy
eating and activity.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO
QUIT FOR YOUR BABY
EBPHA dietitian Nikki Coates discussing healthy lunch box
options with ECE teacher Timatanga Wera.
Late last month the Ministry of Health
released ‘Sit Less, Move More, Sleep Well:
Active play guidelines for under-fives’.
The guidelines focus on limiting screen time
to less than one hour a day, active play of
at least three hours and good quality sleep
ranging from 10 to 17 hours depending on the
age of the under-five.
The guidelines are one of a range of initiatives
being undertaken to tackle New Zealand’s
rising rates of childhood obesity.
At Little Orchard Preschool staff has been
talking to the children about healthy ‘thumbs
up’ food and ‘sometimes food’ for treats.
“When there’s healthy food in lunch boxes,
children are happy and content in learning
and play. They are observant and aware and
have sustained appetites,” says ECE Teacher
Timatanga Wera.
For more information about ‘Sit Less, Move
More, Sleep Well: Active play guidelines for
under-fives’ visit www.health.govt.nz
Bay of Plenty DHB
patients survey results.
The size of the word
is proportionate to the
number of responses.