1 November 2019

A word from Chief Executive David Meates Firstly, I would like to congratulate those joint Canterbury and West Coast team who were successful in the recent for more than seven years, and this set elections. I look forward to working with up will continue. you. The results are available via a link at The DHB’s food service enjoys high the end of my intro. levels of customer satisfaction and I would also like to acknowledge the the same quality of food and service Board members who are departing at will continue, with plans over time to the end of November - my thanks and good wishes for your future endeavours enhance the range of healthy choices go to: Kevin Brown after serving 12 years and locally-sourced produce. The DHB on the Board, Michelle Lomax who has will continue to use the same food served six years on the Board and Elinor production methods. Stratford who has served 12 years on the Board. Elinor was also a member of David Meates, CEO Coast Health Care Limited from October 1998 until 2000 and was a member of Measles the transitional DHB Board in 2001. With the large number of measles cases Over the coming weeks we expect the around the country, we can expect to Minister of Health to appoint up to four see some measles cases on the Coast additional Board members and all newly at some stage. appointed and elected Board members Measles is a highly infectious virus that can will take office on 9 December 2019. be life threatening. Complications occur in about one in three people, and for them measles can be serious, even fatal.

What are the symptoms? WellFood now operating Measles symptoms are: on the Coast 1. a cough or runny nose or West Coast DHB took over the conjunctivitis AND management of all its food services from Joanne Iafeta, Café Assistant testing out the new 2. a fever above 38.5℃ AND Spotless Services on 1 October 2019. coffee machine 3. a rash. Food services operate in Grey Base Hospital, Reefton Health Centre and The only visible change to the public If you’re sick, stay home and call your Buller Health and covers patient meals, will be the logo on the food service General Practice team/family doctor for Meals on Wheels, the café at Grey staff uniforms, which will change from advice any time of day or night. Please Hospital and staff meals. Spotless to WellFood West Coast DHB. do not go to your GP in person as you may spread the illness to others. Anyone The move follows a similar move taken The DHB offered ongoing employment with measles needs to be isolated from by Canterbury DHB in 2017 to bring its to all 30 food services workers and the time they become ill until 4 days after food services under the DHB’s direct their managers, previously employed the rash appeared. management. The service took on a new by Spotless Services. The food service name and branding, “WellFood”, and Who is protected from the services on the Coast are using the workers’ new contracts have kept the measles? same branding. The operation of food same terms and conditions and they services on the West Coast under the now also enjoy additional benefits as People who have had two MMR previous contract was overseen by a West Coast DHB employees. vaccinations (typically given at continued overleaf ... 1 November 2019

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15 months and 4 years) are immune vaccinated and those who have only had The modules will go live on 3 November from measles. People born before 1969 one vaccine – need to stay away until and will be available on Learn Online will have been exposed to the measles they are given the all clear. and the Commission’s website, but virus and will have acquired immunity. if you can’t wait, you can watch a trailer As a general rule, a ‘contact’ is someone which talks about how bias affects the Those born between 1969 and 1990 who has been in the same room as a health outcomes for Māori specifically by are considered to have a good level confirmed case or who has been in a following the link at the end of this article. of protection. This group were offered room within one hour of a confirmed one measles vaccine which would case being there. Guest blogs have stimulated immunity in most but More information about measles is not all cases, which is why this group If you, a colleague or friend have a available at http://www.immune.org.nz is eligible for a free MMR vaccination. story to share about bias in health Evidence suggests that one dose of care, HQSC would love to hear about MMR protects 95% of people from Wiki Haumaru Tu– roro | it. Perhaps you identified your own developing measles, but two are given Health Quality and Safety biases and would like to share how you as an added precaution. Commission changed your practice as a result, or you may have your own experience of Who is the priority group for Patient Safety Week is coming bias because of weight, gender, sexual vaccination? – 3-9 November 2019 orientation, race, and so on. In the Auckland region, particular effort is The theme this year is: ‘Understanding Why not share your experiences in a being made to vaccinate children, Pacific bias in healthcare’. series of guest blogs throughout the people, and those aged between 15 and week – email PatientSafetyWeek@ 29 years to minimise the impact of this Learning modules hqsc.govt.nz if you would like to outbreak and the age at which the first The Health Quality and Safety contribute. dose of MMR is given has been moved Commission (HQSC) has partnered with from 15 months to 12 months. ACC and PHARMAC to produce three Social media posts In the rest of New Zealand, including free video modules on understanding The HQSC will be sharing snippets of the West Coast, there is no change at bias in health care, which will be made the video modules via social media present to the National Immunisation available to staff on the West Coast and will prepare and share social Schedule, except for babies 12 intranet on Monday 4 November: media posts with district health boards communications teams in the coming months or older who are travelling to • Module one: Understanding and weeks. Auckland, who can bring their first MMR addressing implicit bias vaccination, usually given at 15 months, Further Patient Safety Week 2019 • Module two: Te Tiriti o Waitangi, forward to 12 months. This may change updates will be provided in upcoming colonisation and racism as the national response to the Auckland editions of the Weekly Global and on outbreak evolves. • Module three: Experiences of bias. the intranet. More information is also The videos are for health professionals available on the HQSC website. What happens if there’s been a in primary and secondary care, medical Now, here’s that HQSC trailer on bias. case of measles in a school or colleges and associations, district health West Coast District Health Board workplace? boards, public health organisations, election results Health authorities will be in contact nongovernmental organisations, Allied Haere ora, haere pai with any school or workplace where Health, and anyone in health care who Go with wellness, go with care there has been a confirmed case and interacts with consumers. They aim advise accordingly. to encourage health professionals to David Meates If there is a confirmed case and a risk examine their own biases, how they Chief Executive of transmission, health authorities affect the health care they provide and West Coast District Health Board advise that those who are susceptible their interactions with consumers. There – including those who have never been is a particular focus on implicit bias. 1 November 2019

Faster treatment for stroke patients The South Island’s new telestroke service has been launched between the West Coast and Christchurch, giving more people faster access to potentially life-saving acute stroke treatment.

Using dedicated video-conferencing hub-and-spoke model, comprising six and CT image technology, the telestroke ‘spoke’ hospitals (Grey Base, Timaru, service enables neurologists and stroke Oamaru, , Dunstan and specialists to provide advice and support Southland) supported by a ‘hub’ hospital via video link to doctors treating stroke (Christchurch). If a person presents to a patients in smaller centres and after hours. ‘spoke’ hospital emergency department Dr Teddy Wu, one of six neurologists at (ED) with a suspected stroke, the local ED Christchurch Hospital, says the service team can notify an on-call neurologist or has transformed stroke care. “This stroke specialist at Christchurch Hospital, is real-time care – it’s like watching a who can then read the patient’s CT scan, movie and giving instructions. While we provide advice and make a diagnosis. can’t touch the patient, we can ask the The South Island telestroke service will doctor to examine them on our behalf. help to ensure smaller communities Potentially, one of the key aspects is can access the same 24/7 neurological deciding whether we need to fly them to expertise and care as city patients. Christchurch Hospital for a clot removal Ideally it will also lead to more South procedure. What this means is, more Islanders receiving the life-saving clot Left to right: Dr Teddy Wu of Canterbury DHB, people who experience paralysis from a and Stroke Physician Dr Daniel Salazar, West retrieval procedure, which is currently major stroke will be able to walk out of Coast DHB available only at Christchurch Hospital. hospital within a few days.” provided funding for the equipment and Dr Wu anticipates the remainder of the Following the successful 2016 telestroke implementation costs for a similar service South Island telestroke service will be pilot between Wellington and four smaller across the South Island. linked up by the end of the year. centres, including Nelson and Wairau in Through the South Island Alliance, the the South Island, the Ministry of Health five South Island DHBs developed a

Coasters benefit from comfort and personal care packs Lucina Brady, the owner of ’s ‘2 Little Dickie Birds’ op shop is passionate about supporting Coasters who are experiencing crisis and often goes the extra mile to help anyone needing support. “The shop has been operating for nearly comfort packs are designed for children three years. It was established after my and generally include a soft toy and a sister, Rachael identified that there are cuddly rug while our care packs contain people in our community who need extra toiletry items. Both packs include a note support over and above what is already book and pen. available. We started with an idea which “We provide the packs to a number of has taken off, and because of regular Coast service providers including the donations we are now able to help out West Coast DHB. DHB staff have told us quite a few people,” says Lucina. that the packs are a valuable resource to “The valuable input of volunteers helps have on hand and are very well received. keep the shop ticking over and it also It is always great to get positive feedback means that we have time to prepare our as it is what inspires us to continue what Left to right: Heather O’Donnell and Lucina comfort and personal care packs. Our we do.” Brady preparing a display of comfort and personal care packs. 1 November 2019

Cancer Nurse Coordinator connecting care across the Coast Andrea Reilly has worked as the West Coast DHB’s Cancer Nurse Coordinator since 2013. Andrea studied nursing at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (now Ara Institute of Canterbury) as an adult learner. She started with the DHB as a new graduate in 2002 where she initially worked as a District Nurse specialising in continence and urology care before moving into her current role. “As Cancer Nurse Coordinator, I am the first point of contact for someone who has cancer or a high suspicion of cancer. For me, it is important that we are able to support our patients through what is a challenging and stressful time. This includes explaining the DHB’s processes and systems around accessing treatment inclusive of wait times; providing advocacy and support; working closely with health care teams to coordinate care as well as ensuring that patients have all the information they need to clearly understand what their treatment involves,” says Andrea. “It is a really comprehensive and varied job. As well as working with around 15- 20 patients at any one time I undertake data collection; attend multi-disciplinary meetings and represent the DHB at Andrea Reilly, Cancer Nurse Coordinator (right) with Megan Tahapeehi, Māori Health Administrator both national and regional cancer group meetings. I am also involved in assessing based cancer specialists through the they can ask questions and that they are our service and systems to help identify DHB’s TransAlpine partnership with the able to access the information they need quality improvements and initiatives.” Canterbury DHB. This is really important to make informed choices about their Andrea’s involvement at both regional as there are around three to five cancer own health. and national level gives the DHB’s cancer identifications made on the Coast each “Patients become the experts in their week with an average of 200 new services a voice. It also means that she own care and know better than anyone diagnoses each year,” says Andrea. is well placed to bring any improvements what works best for them. It’s important and educational opportunities back to When undertaking an initial assessment, that we listen and use what we learn to the Coast. She says that this aspect of Andrea considers if there are any barriers help our patients make informed choices her work provides a good opportunity to that might impact on a person’s care. about their treatment.” develop strong working relationships with For example, limited access to transport a range of service providers including to and from Canterbury for some types Canterbury-based cancer specialists. of treatment can be a significant barrier. “None of my work is done in isolation. She also uses the Ministry of Health’s I work as part of a great team locally Health Equity Assessment Tool which includes three Oncology Nurses (HEAT) to determine if there are any and two Palliative Care Nurses based health inequalities - especially for Māori in Greymouth and two Oncology/ - that may need to be addressed before To sign up for the Activity & Palliative Care Nurses in Buller. To someone receives the right level of care. Nutrition Aotearoa newsletter help us provide the best care for our Andrea strongly believes that patients visit – ana.org.nz patients, we have access to Canterbury- need to know their rights; to know that 1 November 2019

Download the max. app on your smart device to access all your People and Capability needs on the go. max. keeps growing – have you seen all the updates?! Kia ora koutou, • Reorganised To-Dos and Open Send a Question and we’d be happy A busy year for your online HR self- | Closed Cases now help you see to look into your request. and search your cases service portal, max., continues with new max. You can also always request one-on- services and updates designed for you, • You can change your taxcode for one or group training from my max. and based on your feedback. KiwiSaver perts, too – they tell me these sessions are really helpful for them, too, as they Some of the highlights have included: • Manager notes can be deleted use your valuable feedback to keep • Launching , a chat bot from the Leave Calendar max.chat improving the max. platform. which can help you apply for leave, • A new Leave Without Pay service update your profile and emergency was added And don’t forget, you can download contact, and make a general enquiry the max. app to access all your People • A new Cash Up Leave service was – and connect you to live chat with a and Capability needs on the go. Just added for West Coasters wanting to follow the instructions in the image max.pert cash in their owed leave accompanying this article. • A new Update My Visa service to My team are always working on new Thanks for your time, I hope you enjoyed keep us in the loop about work status services and updates to help make your learning more about max.. • West Coasters can now claim their work, work better. So if you have any Ngā mihi, mileage through max. suggestions, please contact them via max. 1 November 2019

Robyn Larking (front row, third on the left) celebrating 40 years of service with her colleagues

Zealand State exam. When I sat my finals “Patients are still the same and illness Nurse calls it a day I became a staff nurse. Shirley Watts was hasn’t changed, but the treatment after 40 years the matron and in charge back then. Miss has. With heart attacks, now stenting Watts was very innovative when it came straight away rather than bed rest. Article (abridged) provided courtesy of to the nurses’ uniforms, she brought in People still go nursing because they Paul McBride of the Greymouth Star. nice smocks and we no longer had the want to care for people. I believe After 40 years at Grey Base starched uniforms, but we still had the nursing is a vital part of the hospital, Hospital, staff nurse Robyn starched hats.” and patient care is paramount.” Larking has called it a day. Her Ms Larking was proud of the current long career there began on hospital, which was built by her uncles, March 13, 1978. the Barrow brothers. “I was 17 years old and moved straight “They built the hospital, and working in into the nurses’ home. Back then you it I used to feel safe. I used to like the had to live in, but the odd one could live airiness of the old hospital, but the new with their parents,” Ms Larking said. one is obviously going to be smaller. “In my first week as a junior nurse I fainted Most nurses haven’t seen the new after learning and watching bed sponging!” hospital yet but they are kept informed. The latest edition of the For general training, trainee nurses eCALD newsletter includes “When I first started there were eight spent time rotating around the various information on the launch people in the office and basically running hospital wards. of the new “Working with the whole hospital. There is a bigger Communicable Disease “I worked on all the wards and did two administration staff today, and IT staff.” with CALD Clients” face-to- months at a time on each one from She has seen many changes in her 40 face course; understanding Barclay, Seddon, McBrearty, Parfitt, years on the job. death by suicide in the Asian Morice, Victoria and Hannan wards, so it population of Aotearoa gave you a general grounding.” “Technology has come a long way. New Zealand and suicide Reports used to be written up but now It was a full-time three-year course, with prevention resources for it is all computers. I saw the arrival of exams throughout. Korean people. the polytechnic nurses - they had the “We had to sit exams at the hospital and paper but didn’t have the practical CLICK HERE to read more. if you passed, you could then sit the New experience, initially. 1 November 2019

West Coast DHB’s Kia Ora Hauora rangatahi visit West Coast DHB’s Hauora Māori team in collaboration with Kia Ora Hauora recently hosted a rangatahi (young person) work placement. The rangatahi were year 11 and 12 students from West Coast high schools who have all expressed an interest in working in the health sector. This is the fifth year that the DHB has successfully run this programme with the students participating in a three day schedule where they learn about general nursing, theatre, emergency department and maternity services. They also visited some of our local health providers like Poutini Waiora, Primary Health Organisation and St John.

Grey Base Hospital case study: Resilient, multi-use design in one of the most challenging locations on earth. This case study presents the challenges and innovative solutions for providing a new secondary hospital and co-located integrated family health centre (IFHC) – Te Nikau Grey Hospital and Health Centre – for the community of Greymouth and wider West Coast region in New Zealand. It is available online – Te Nikau Grey Hospital and Health Centre 1 November 2019

West Coast Careers Expo 2019 West Coast DHB staff recently attended this year’s West Coast Careers Expo at the Tai Poutini Polytechnic Greymouth campus. This event provided a great opportunity to showcase the variety of employment opportunities available in the health sector. The heavy rain didn’t put everyone off and our stand was visited by a small group of students as well as members of the public. Since the expo, one student has made contact with our Nurse Educator - Mental Health and Addiction Services, Cassie Sim to discuss a career in mental health. There were also a number of people interested in completing the Enrolled Nursing Diploma or training to become Health Care Left to right: Sharron Shields – Theatre Technician, Tayla Cadigan – Pharmacy Intern, Jack Toulson – Anaesthetic Assistants with the DHB. Technician, Rachael De Ruyter – Registered Nurse, Theatre, Kim Baker – Nurse Manager Kahurangi

Celebrating 40 years with the West Coast DHB On Tuesday, 10 September, Buller Health staff helped Marilyn Wearing to celebrate her 40th year in the employ of the West Coast DHB by hosting a morning tea. Congratulations and thank you Marilyn for your contribution over the years.

Left to right: Buller Health staff - Deborah Wright, Manager IFHS - Northern; Marilyn Wearing, Outpatients Receptionist; Karen Gallagher, Buller Medical Records; Hellen Walker, Personal Assistant to Manager IFHS – Northern; Mary Forsyth, Administrator and Silvie Saskova, Administration Manager 1 November 2019

Language Assistance Services Programme A new telephone interpreting service replaced Language Line on 1 October 2019. The new service provides access to telephone interpreters 24 hours a day, seven days a Gargi week, who are trained to Sharma-Thapaliya speak numerous languages. District health boards, government Quality Facilitator, Quality departments, crown entities, local & Patient Safety government authorities, and all other agencies generally entitled to What does your job involve? What was the last book you read purchase services under collaborative and/or movie you saw? My job involves facilitating patient safety contracts are eligible to join the new and improvement activity in line with Home and Identity in Late Life: syndicated contract. the organisation’s quality and patient International Perspectives by Graham D. MBIE has contacted eligible agencies safety strategy. In collaboration with Rowles, PhD and Habib Chaudhury, PhD. currently using Language Line to service leaders (clinical and non-clinical), request information to speed up the I have to build capability for the on- If I could be anywhere in the world sign up process with the new provider. going development, improvement and right now it would be… Please complete the form you implementation of the quality and risk In the village of Phalante in Nepal’s received and return it to the contact management framework which ensures Kavrepalanchwok District which is where indicated in the email as soon as effective structures and processes are in my grandmother lives. possible if you haven’t done so yet. place to deliver safe, high-quality care. What do you do in typical Sunday? Visit MBIE’s website for more Why did you choose to work in this Go for walking with my hubby. information. Please click here to find field? out more about the new provider. I choose this field because when you My favourite meal is… work in the health sector you will never Momo (one of the Nepali dishes). get bored, every day is different and you will get the chance to meet different My favourite music is… people with different stories. Classical-type music. E-DIGEST ISSUE 107 What do you like about it? Have you ever won a prize/medal/ In the latest issue of the Health To analyse the problem from a different competition? Quality & Safety Commission’s E-digest you can read about Yes, first prize in national speech point of view. the co-design case study: youth competition when I was a nursing student. admissions to hospital for self- What are the challenging bits? harm; Camp Unity connecting families and whānau impacted by To change people’s belief and practice. If you would like to take part in this traumatic brain injury and making column or would like to nominate mental health a priority during Who inspires you? someone please contact global@ Mental Health Awareness Week. Stephen William Hawking. westcoastdhb.health.nz. READ MORE HERE. 1 November 2019

Lastest Quitline campaign: Quit for your pets… We’re a nation of pet lovers (with over 4.6 million pets!). And… while we all know that smoking is bad for humans, what people may not know is that second-hand and third-hand smoke can have some really nasty consequences for animals. Quitline is highlighting the risks to pets if someone smokes tobacco around them and encouraging animal-loving smokers to think about quitting… not just for themselves but for their pet too. Dogs and cats are twice as likely to get that, increases the chances of quitting channels? It’d be great if you would and cancer if their owners smoke around them, and staying quit. we can nudge more smokers to think and other animals are also susceptible to a about quitting – here’s the link to the WILL YOU HELP? range of health issues. Third-hand smoke video, or share Quitline’s Facebook is the residual chemicals and nicotine left Would you help get the word out by post here. on surfaces – it sticks to clothes, furniture, sharing the video on your social media curtains, walls, carpets, dust and other surfaces and can be harmful long after smoking has stopped. That third-hand smoke can cling to animal fur and feathers and can be ingested when pets are cleaning themselves. Quitline, with the great support of the SPCA, has produced a short video that tells the universal story of the love of an owner for their pet, and after showing the path that smokers are leading their pets down, reminds them it’s never too late to change direction – and to quit smoking. And getting support from Quitline to do

COMPLEX CLINICAL CARE NETWORK (CCCN) Bouquets Just to say, a very special thank you to Alison Stevenson, CCCN Clinical Assessor from all my family. We couldn’t GENERAL have achieved moving Dad to rest home care without you! A huge relief - the • The only thing that beats the food move went well and Dad has a lovely is the staff – and the food was home where he will be cared for and pretty good. close to family. BARCLAY WARD • I want to put on record my huge It’s been such a privilege working with To all the fantastic staff in Barclay Ward thanks and admiration for all you and your team. You have such – thank you very much for all the kind of your staff from ED, X-Ray, a gift to put people at ease, so client help and hard work. Barclay and Morice Wards, the focused and always delivering care to lab, pharmacy and Allied Health MORICE WARD the highest standard. - in fact everyone else in any To all the Doctors and Nursing staff way associated with my care - We will always be so grateful for your working in Morice Ward - thank you so even the cleaners and the staff kindness and support. Dad said thank much for the care and kindness you delivering meals. you so many times. showed our Mum.