Western Bay Edition - January 2016
Twelve days of Christmas
sees over 2,000 patients
attend Tauranga Hospital ED
If you think your Christmas was busy, spare
a thought for the staff at Tauranga Hospital
Emergency Department who have seen
over 2,000 patients in 12 days.
Tauranga ED’s 12 days of Christmas (Christmas Day
to 5 January) saw a daily average of 171 patients and
a total of 2,056. New Year’s Day was the busiest with
191 patients.
The numbers are bolstered by tourists but ED Clinical
Director Dr Derek Sage said a high number of people
were still coming to the wrong place for treatment.
“The message is that the Emergency Department
is for ‘emergencies’,” he said. “If a medical problem
can wait until a regular working day, or be attended by
an alternative source including GPs, pharmacies and
dentists, then the advice is to utilise them.”
He said those attending for minor ailments could
expect to wait a long time.
“If people feel they need to attend the ED they will be
confronted with significant waits to be seen with those
who are sickest being seen first. However, whilst the
ED’s triage process ensures the sickest are seen first,
those left in the queue are still monitored.”
Holiday period average daily ED numbers have
increased from 140 in 2010, to 150 in 2013 and 171
in 2016.
“It is in line with our increasingly higher average
number of daily presentations,” said Dr Sage. “If you
go back a few years, in 2002 we would have expected
around 90-115 patients a day, now that range is
consistently around 140-160 and higher at this time of
year.”
Tauranga Hospital staff have done a superb job
under high pressure said Dr Sage.
“The community can be very proud of the way the ED
and wider hospital staff have pulled together to deliver
such a consistently high standard of care during such
a busy period.”
First Bay of Plenty Kai Hui
United by food, more than 80
locals recently came together in
Tauranga to participate in the
inaugural Bay of Plenty Kai Hui and
celebrate World Food Day. The
landmark event brought together
passionate individuals from all
walks of life to discuss innovative
solutions and issues of importance
in regards to all things ‘food’.
The hui built enthusiasm for a collective
approach to addressing current food
challenges such as food security, access
to locally produced food and access to
healthier foods.
The hui included presentations,
community panel discussions, networking
and brainstorming sessions, with many
potential solutions to local food concerns
being shared. Most importantly, attendees
reported feeling empowered to help address
food issues that mattered to them. As a
result, attendees gave their support for an
ongoing Bay of Plenty food movement. This
will start with a local ‘Food Policy Council’
being piloted in the Western Bay of Plenty
region, the first of its kind in New Zealand.
A Food Policy Council is an organised
group of people which includes stakeholders
from across the food system such as local
businesses, local government and health.
The aim is to develop a healthier local food
system.
“The Food Policy Council is about bringing
together influencers of the local food system
to help understand how it all works and test
new approaches together - multiple sectors
working together for positive
outcomes for our community,”
says Dana Thomson, Senior
Health Improvement Advisor
for Toi Te Ora – Public Health
Service.
Local food stakeholders at the Bay of Plenty Kai Hui brainstorm
ideas on growing more food locally and on public land
At a local level, an active Food
Policy Council can also help
contribute to solutions to New
Zealand’s increasing rate of
obesity. For example, one focus
could be on reducing sugary
drink consumption as these are
associated with the increased
risk of diabetes, obesity and
tooth decay.
Make Clarke Street your first
choice when visiting
Tauranga Hospital
Bay of Plenty DHB CEO Phil Cammish
wants patients and visitors to try Clarke
Street first for parking rather than driving
round and round the Cameron Road car
park.
choice when coming to Tauranga Hospital.
“There is a lift which connects the car park
to the hospital and the Clarke Street car
park can be accessed from either 17th or
20th Avenues.”
Due to the pressure on the Cameron Road
carpark, people are urged to make the
Clarke Street car park, their car park of first
There are always empty spaces, so Clarke
Street is a good first choice for patients and
visitors, Mr Cammish says.
STAFF CAR PARK
(no time limit)
CLARKE STREET PARKING HERE
ENTRANCE TO
STAFF CAR PART
(no time limit)
Path
to main
reception
to wards
MAIN
RECEPTION
EMERGENCY
(3hr limit)
MRI & CT ONLY
CONSTRUCTION
SITE