Pulsethe Newsletter of the Taranaki District Health Board
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December 2010 PULSEthe newsletter of the Taranaki District Health Board Inside ThisThis IssueIssue Desert Runner Conquers Sahara Outstanding Immunisation Rates Medication Reconciliation Project Taranaki Together, A Healthy Community Taranaki Whanui He Rohe Oranga Comments from CEO Tony Foulkes facilitated by Dr Murray Horn, Chairman of As we await fi nal sign off from the National the National Health Board. The challenges Health Board, we plan to go to tender for the New Zealand health sector faces in the a main builder in March/April, and progress years ahead were encapsulated by Murray, to start building in July/August. I’m sure as ‘we need to fi nd ways of providing a lot we’re going to have a facility and service more services with a little more money’. I’m our community can be proud of. looking forward to working with new Chair Mary Bourke, all Board members and many Meanwhile, the Minister has a keen CEO Tony Foulkes others on these challenges. focus on DHB’s performance against the Government’s six health targets, which are This Pulse includes a wealth of examples The past year has seen a lot of changes now publicly reported regularly. Whilst only of celebrating the achievements and nationally and locally within services, and a snapshot of the wider range of important contributions of many people to the for PHOs and local service providers. The activity that goes on, they do provide an Taranaki health sector, past and present, pace of change is likely to continue and indication to our community on how we combined with the opportunity to welcome accelerate in the year ahead, including are going compared to the targets we set. a number of key new members to the team. greater regional collaboration between The sound progress is very pleasing with DHBs, and we will have to all work to ensure improvements made in all areas, and work These combined with the stories on a any changes are for the better here in underway for further improvements in the sample of the initiatives going on to Taranaki. months ahead. improve the service and experience for patients and visitors are an indication of It is really exciting to see the detailed design Thank you to everyone who has played the great work that continues by so many stage of Project Maunga completed, after a part in the Taranaki health service over people in a challenging environment. a tremendous contribution by user groups the last year, and very best wishes for the and staff in affected areas working together holiday season and 2010 to you and your Following the recent elections and with the design team. The life size mock up families. A special acknowledgement and Ministerial appointments our new Board of a ward bedroom and operating theatre thanks to those working to provide services members met for the fi rst time in December. have both enabled important refi nements and support to the community during this On their fi rst day the Board and executive to the design before we start building for time. team had an introductory workshop real next year. Board Members • Mary Bourke (chair) is a trustee of the Bishop’s Action Foundation • Brian Jeffares has been on the Hospital Advisory Committee for and the TSB Community Trust. She chairs the Western Institute of three years and is the former mayor of Stratford. Technology in Taranaki Council, and has recently accepted a role on the Interim Governance Board for a New Families Centre. • Allison Rumball was a New Plymouth district councillor and is now looking forward to being involved in health. • Peter Catt (deputy) Peter has been a GP with the Family Health Centre in New Plymouth for more than 20 years. • Ella Burrows is Chair of the South Taranaki Medical Trust. She has had wide involvement in education, social service, • Alex Ballantyne is deputy mayor of South Taranaki. He is a trustee community law committees and boards. of the TSB Community Trust, chairman/advocate for Central and South Taranaki Advocacy Service and Parish Worker St • Kura Denness is a director of many organisations and is chair of Joseph’s Eltham. He is also a member of the Peak Health Taranaki Tui Ora Limited and Hauora Taranaki PHO Ltd. Local Management Group. • Colleen Tuuta is the chair of the TSB Community Trust, a • Karen Eagles has taken a leadership role with Royal New Zealand director of the TSB Bank and a member of the Public Advisory Plunket Society as a councillor. Committee for the Legal Services Agency. • Flora Gilkison has a Doctorate in Management and a strong senior • Pauline Lockett is a chartered accountant and a New Plymouth management background. She is currently the principal of the district councillor. Pacifi c International Hotel Management School in Bell Block. 2 // PULSE Taranaki Whanui He Rohe Oranga Contents page 5 2. CEO Comments 13. Project Splice Moving Along 4. Clinical Board Update 14. Joy Farley on the Move 5. Knowledge Missed 15. City Pulls Together 6. New Chapter for Librarian 16. Medicine Reconciliation Project 7. Judge Helps Youth 17. Life Changing Diagnosis page 6 8. Social Workers Visit Taranaki 18. A True Gentleman 9. White Ribbon Day 10. Desert Runner Conquers Sahara 12. Junior Docs Fun Day page 10 page 14 page 17 Key EDITORIAL PANEL The Pulse is the newsletter of Lisa Hofstee the Taranaki District Health Karlina Nickson Board. We welcome your ideas Honor Lymburn website or intranet link and contributions please submit Gillian Gonthier Marianne Pike them by email to: Tim Connole email link e Frances Pentelow [email protected] Bronwen Pepperell x phone number extension e EDITOR For an interactive colour Krysti Wetton version of the Pulse visit: Farewell Our Pulse editor Krysti Wetton is leaving DESIGNER at the end of this week. We wish her luck www.tdhb.org.nz in her future Its been great working with Nick O’Sullivan you from the Pulse and Communications team. PUBLISHER and PRINTER Communications Team Taranaki District Health Board David Street Private Bag 2016 New Plymouth 4342 Taranaki Together, A Healthy Community PULSE // 3 Clinical Board Update The Clinical Board addressed a wide guide and mentor to the board and his viewing. For details contact Frances variety of topics over the last three wisdom and experience will be missed. McNulty on ext 8645. months. Here is a snapshot. Recently the Clinical Board suggested The Clinical Board encourages clinical As the Clinical Board has just passed the adoption of ‘Allow Natural research at TDHB as it provides good its fi rst anniversary, a stock take Death’ (AND) instead of ‘Not For staff development and is a draw to was undertaken of how the board Resuscitation’ (NFR) to TDHB’s attract staff to work here. A database is functioning. All members were Resuscitation Committee. The board is of all research that is going on is canvassed for their opinions on what interested to receive comments from maintained for the Clinical Board works well and not so well. Several staff around the proposed alteration. and it has recently ratifi ed the TDHB ideas came out of this, including Please feedback to Frances McNulty, Clinical Research Policy. This provides sponsoring an award for Clinical Clinical Board Coordinator, at guidelines for staff wishing to carry Excellence. Watch for further news of [email protected]. out research at the hospital and can be this in 2011. found in the Clinical Practices Manual. The Clinical Board has approved a new The Clinical Board also said a fond Informed Consent Policy to ensure the The Clinical Board’s work plan is farewell to Associate Professor current laws are adhered to. This is a pretty packed and each member has John Buchanan of the University complex area and an important one nominated themselves to work on of Auckland, as he goes into a well to get right. Education sessions were specifi c topics so 2011 looks like being deserved retirement. John was sponsored by the Clinical Board when another busy year. requested by the CEO to undertake Iris Reuvecamp, a Senior Associate with a review of the Clinical Board and its lawyers Buddle Findlay, came to talk Staff online viewers function and his report resulted in to various groups at the hospital. This Click here for more on the new board. He has worked as a was video-taped and is available for the Clinical Board Outstanding Immunisation Rates Taranaki DHB has been congratulated on its outstanding performance on the immunisation health target. The DHBs who achieved the 2010 national health target for immunisation (85% of all two year olds by 2010) received an outstanding achievement certifi cate signed by Minister of Health Tony Ryall. New Plymouth MP Jonathan Young presented the certifi cate to Taranaki DHB. He said immunisation worked to ensure that many serious diseases that Tony Foulkes, Jonathan Young, Nurse Rochelle Hall and Immunisation Support could seriously harm children may Worker Sonya Popovich, who is holding fully immunised baby Tawhitorangi be avoided. “It is one of the most Clement. effective means of protecting people against such diseases. Congratulations news for our children so a big thanks and Ruanui Health Services. to our health professionals who have to all involved.” worked hard to bring protection to Mr Ryall said the number of Kiwi our children.” He said the result and immunisation children fully immunised by their programmes were mainly down to second birthday had risen from 73% Taranaki DHB Chief Executive Tony the hard work of GPs and practice in 2007 to 87% in 2010. “It is pleasing Foulkes was delighted with the nurses, along with providers of to see such progress in this prevention recognition for Taranaki.