Keeping our Community Healthy WellNowSUMMER 2014 Canterbury

Special centre page feature: Redevelopment of Burwood Health Campus and Hospital Take a breather this summer

What do you think of when you think about our health system? Hospitals and car parks? General practice teams and pharmacists? Maybe X-rays and blood tests? The Canterbury Health System is a together with a friend, taking a walk to take time for complex beast made up of thousands in the park and breathing some fresh yourself. Take a of hard working professionals Canterbury air, or noticing a beautiful breather every committed to improving the health of sunset. These may seem unimportant now and then

Cantabrians. While our health system but they’re not … they’re actually what and make some David Meates, CEO, plays a hugely important role in keeping makes life worth living. time for you. Canterbury DHB us well, having a healthy population To remind and encourage Cantabrians And remember goes far beyond the realms of the to look after themselves All Right? is it‘s the little things you do that can health system. about to launch the latest phase in their make the biggest difference to those Health starts where we live, learn, campaign – ‘Take a Breather’. It will be around you. work and play. Personal lifestyles and all about encouraging Cantabrians to If you are feeling overwhelmed our physical environment have a huge take short breaks away from the daily remember it’s all right to ask for help. impact on our health and wellbeing. grind of the recovery to do the things You are not alone. If you need support It is safe to say that the health of that are good for their wellbeing. you can ring the Canterbury Support Cantabrians has been well and truly put Summer is a really busy time, and Line on 0800 777 846. to the test post quakes. It’s been over Christmas and holidays away can add David Meates four years since our first big shake and to our stress levels. With all the rushing CEO, Canterbury DHB many of us are still struggling. round at this time of year don’t forget According to the All Right? campaign’s latest research, over two thirds of us are still grieving for what’s been lost, half of us aren’t regularly sleeping well, and, Tips for a good night’s sleep not surprisingly, two thirds of us are Do: Don’t: feeling tired. 1. Go to bed at the same time 1. Exercise just before going to bed. You don’t have to look far to find a tired each day. 2. Have drinks containing caffeine and stressed Cantabrian – many of us 2. Get up at the same time each in the evening. know first-hand how tiring our recovery day. 3. Go to bed too hungry or too full. can be. 3. Take regular exercise each day. 4. Stay in bed if you are awake. All of us are at different places on 4. Try to spend some time 5. Share your bed with children our recovery journey. Some people, outdoors or in natural light. or pets. particularly those under forty, are 5. Make the bedroom as restful flourishing. Many of these people have 6. Smoke. as possible. no property to worry about and are excited about the future of our city. Others, many of whom are older, are If you have concerns over sleep or bogged down with insurance issues other stress-related conditions talk and worry that Christchurch will never with your family doctor. be the same. For some families it’s one financial aftershock after another. All of us are over the never ending road works and road closures, and the loss of community facilities other cities take for granted. Now more than ever, we need to continue to look after ourselves and each other. Little things like getting

2 | Summer 2014 Caitlin Cowan (right) and the team. From cradle to … cradle Caitlin was born at 26 weeks, or 14 Caitlin says she’s always felt a calling Twenty-two-years ago a tiny Caitlin weeks premature, on April 24, 1992 to work as a nurse in the place where Cowan was just starting out life in Wellington Hospital’s neonatal unit, she spent the first few months of her life at home after spending the first weighing about 1100 grams. She is and feels extremely lucky to have got three months of it in Christchurch what some would say ‘a miracle baby’. a place on the NetP programme in the Women’s Hospital Neonatal Her mother had been transferred to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Wellington for an emergency caesarean Back in September Caitlin began a new “I’m really excited to go back. To get a section because there was no room in chapter in her life - and incredibly it’s place, finally, is amazing. It was my goal Christchurch’s Neonatal Intensive Care almost exactly back where she started. all the way through and I’ve made it to Unit at the time. where I always wanted to be.” Caitlin gained a position as a graduate “When I was born I wasn’t breathing nurse in Canterbury DHB’s Nursing Caitlin says NetP is a fantastic option and did not have a satisfactory entry to Practice (NetP) programme for graduate nurses. heartbeat for the first eight minutes working in the Neonatal Intensive Care of my life - I should have had a lot of “NetP provides us with additional Unit, after completing a Bachelor of permanent health issues from that - so support and guidance throughout our Nursing at CPIT. it is really quite amazing I haven’t,” first year of practice as newly qualified “It’s sort of surreal at the moment; going Caitlin says. registered nurses, rather than being back as a Registered Nurse to where I thrown in the deep end straight away.” After a month in Wellington Caitlin started life,” Caitlin says. was transferred to Christchurch’s Caitlin is looking forward to developing “It’s an amazing feeling to think I will be Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where her skills and also hopes many of the the person who gives neonatal babies she stayed for another three months families she meets in the Neonatal and their families the same wonderful until she was strong enough to go Intensive Care Unit will gain a sense of care I received and to work alongside home on oxygen support. hope when they hear her story. some of the nurses who may have cared for me.”

WellNow Canterbury | 3 Tiny Adventures is going nationwide!

A new tool developed in the aftermath of the earthquakes will help parents around New Zealand spend more quality time with their children.

Tiny Adventures is a new app for available for the rest of New Zealand,” smartphones that has been developed she says. in partnership between SKIP (Strategies Sue Turner says Cantabrians are grateful with Kids, Information for Parents) and for all the support we’ve received from the All Right? campaign. our friends around the country. All Right? manager Sue Turner says “This is a small way of saying thanks for the Tiny Adventures concept was that,” Sue says. developed in response to All Right? Anna says playing with your kids builds research that showed parents are under Anna Mowat, SKIP Community strong relationships and healthy brains. pressure in Canterbury. Coordinator says SKIP has funded the “Even if you’ve only got a minute, you development of the app to enable all “Our research found that parents have time for a Tiny Adventure!” are among those hit hardest by New Zealand parents to have access to the stressors associated with the Tiny Adventures, for free. The Tiny Adventures App can be downloaded for free from the App earthquakes. Not only do they have Its release is also a step forward for the Store for Apple devices and Google children to look after, but may also campaign, Anna says. have property issues to deal with (from Play for Android. “Until now, everything All Right? has finding somewhere to live to managing The App was launched at Niu Preschool done has been solely for Cantabrians. repairs and insurance issues) and can in Linwood, Christchurch. Photos here: It’s nice that this element is now have older parents to look after as well,” Tiny Adventures launch. Sue Turner says. Tiny Adventures began as a set of oversized playing cards that offered KEEN FOR ideas, games and quick, fun ways for parents to spend time with their children. SOME QUICK, Each set of cards has fun activities that take anywhere from one minute to an FUN FAMILY hour, and include items like “bouncy balloony fun” and “jokey journeys” as ACTIVITIES? well as arts and crafts activities. The Download our Tiny cards have been an enormous hit, with Adventures app today! more than 17,000 packs being given out over the past six months. “In fact, they’ve been almost too popular,” Sue Turner says. “We haven’t Launching Launching thethe app app at at Linwood’s really needed to promote them as allright.org.nz Linwood Niu NiuPreschool Preschool demand has been high from the start.”

4 | Summer 2014 Be a summer starter!

All Right? is getting behind ’ Summer Starter fun run and walk. All Right? research shows that many people in Canterbury aren’t doing many of the little things that can have the biggest impact on their wellbeing. We’re not socialising with others as much, we’re not Parking arrangements as physically active, we’re not as connected to nature, and we feel for Christchurch hospital we’ve got more health issues than before the earthquakes. There have been some necessary changes to parking and traffic flows at The Summer Starter has the Christchurch Hospital. To enable work on the new Acute Services building, potential to have a big impact on the the carpark alongside Oncology and behind Christchurch Women’s has been wellbeing of people who enter it – as closed. The only public parking now on site is for mobility permit holders. well as being active, participants Several options have been set up are not suitable for wheelchair users are connecting with others, giving to make it as easy as possible for who should either park in one of the to a local charity, taking notice people to access the hospital. If it’s mobility car parking spaces near the of the awesome costumes and not possible for you to get dropped off hospital main entrance, get someone entertainment all around them, and in the Drop-off zone there is a Park & to drop you off, or catch the St in many cases rediscovering a part Ride service. The Park & Ride shuttle John shuttle (which does cater for of the city that has been the heaviest runs between the old brewery car park wheelchairs) from Burwood or The hit by the quakes. Princess Margaret Hospitals. on the corner of Antigua and St Asaph For more information go to http:// streets, and the front of the hospital. Parents coming to hospital with children summerstarter.co.nz/ The shuttle ride takes about 10 under seven will need to bring their minutes. Alternatively, if you are able to, own carseats. There is a secure area at the walk to the hospital main entrance reception where seats can be left until takes about five minutes. In case of they are needed for the return journey. bad weather, there is a shelter on the Orderlies and volunteers at the front carparking site. Look for the big blue entrance are available to help people container and the shuttle flag. find their way to where they need to go, Parking costs $2 per hour or $5 for or to sit with people while they wait for the day. Please note that the pay the shuttle or their taxi. and display meters are coin or credit The shuttles carry over 450 people daily, card only (no banknotes or EFTPOS). with peak times between 10 and 11am, The shuttle ride is free. The shuttles and between 12.30 and 2pm.

WellNow Canterbury | 5 Tony examines a titanium plate with MPBE Team Leader Chris Morison. Local artist has technicians forever on his mind It was almost a year ago that Tony Cribb collapsed at a touch rugby game then had a seizure. The diagnosis was a benign brain tumour. Tony is a local artist and creator of ‘The Tin Man’ character who now has a ‘tin’ plate all of his own.

He was admitted to Christchurch induced coma and while in the Intensive and white into a real workshop with Hospital and came under the care Care Unit (ICU), was connected to an drills and large machinery. I am so very of a neurosurgeon. The hospital’s Alaris Infuse-Rite System machine – a grateful for all the care I received and Medical Physics and Bioengineering unique system developed by the MPBE being able to meet the people who team (MPBE) worked closely with the team in close collaboration with ICU, to crafted the plate that’s in my head is neurosurgeon to make a custom fitted automatically control sedation. really special,” says Tony. titanium plate which would be inserted Tony had suffered a stroke. His condition Tony was fortunate to benefit from both into Tony’s skull following the surgery to slowly improved and after two weeks at the skilled work by the DHB clinical remove the tumour. Christchurch Hospital he was placed in team, and the technical expertise and MPBE imaging scientist Nick Cook the care of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation equipment provided through the MPBE used CT and MRI scans of Tony’s Service at Burwood Hospital. Intensive team. Because the plate was made head to determine the size and shape therapy followed and Tony was able to in-house Tony only needed a single of the plate required. Then using a full return home that New Year’s Eve. operation. At most other hospitals he size model of Tony’s skull created on a would have needed two - one to remove computer controlled mill, mechanical Tony is well on the mend now and was the tumour and another to fit the plate technician Paul Tolson made a custom delighted to be invited in to meet the once it arrived. MPBE team and see where his titanium mould and used it to press sheet Tony is still dealing with jokes about the plate was made. He was able to speak titanium into the exact shape required. use of metal in his recovery. Comments directly with the scientists, physicists, In the future MPBE hopes to be able to like ’the Tin Man has turned titanium’ are technicians, and software developers, all of produce a 3D model of a whole skull common and friends have created tin whom played a ‘behind the scenes’ part in using a 3D printer. man models complete with metal skull his treatment. Surgery took place on 22 November plate. Tony takes it all in his stride as he using instruments maintained by the He says he was ‘blown away’ when he continues to recover. entered the workshops on the lower MPBE team. You can find more information about the Unfortunately Tony had a brain bleed and ground floor of Christchurch Hospital. Canterbury DHB MPBE team on our started having uncontrollable seizures “It was amazing to step from a hospital website: www.cdhb.health.nz/mpbe while in recovery. He was placed in an environment where everything is sterile

6 | Summer 2014 1000 repaired bikes help get Canterbury moving Meg Christie in the workshop. A community led, Canterbury DHB supported programme providing ICEcycles volunteer and Canterbury “Since the earthquakes there’s been a pre-loved bikes to people on DHB health promoter Meg Christie says deluge of bikes donated every month. low incomes gave away its one the focus of the project has changed It seems that everyone in Christchurch thousandth bike in October. over the past couple of years. is clearing out garages for earthquake repairs and finding dusty old treadlies to ICEcycles (Inner City East Cycles) aims “We used to focus on holding four or donate to us,” says Meg. to get people on low incomes biking by five workshops a year. Now we’re more fixing up their old bikes for free or giving about repairing bikes and giving them “We’re also getting unclaimed stolen away. Every month volunteers spend bikes from the police, and CERA have away restored bikes. A recent review an evening repairing bikes and stripping provided abandoned bikes from the found it’s having a huge impact on the useful parts off the ones beyond .” people it’s targeting. Bike recipients restoring,” says Meg. say it makes a huge difference to their Meg says they’ve had so many bikes lives, helping them cover the costs of Meg says that one of the reasons for donated that they were able to send transport and get around quickly and this change is the huge number of bikes some down to Dunedin to add to their reliably without having to rely on others. now being donated. bike library.

Rebuild trainees fit and mobile ICEcycle bikes have made a huge difference to one trainee on the Salvation Army’s “U Build 4 the Rebuild” Employment Training Programme. Course graduate Kane Goode started the Salvation Army course in April this year, after being out of the workforce for some time. “If it wasn’t for the bike I probably wouldn’t have gone to the course. It’s been a huge asset for me,” says Kane. “I live in Redwood and had to get to the Salvation Army in Aranui by 7am every day. Being provided with an ICEcycles bike made it possible for me to get there. It took me over 50 minutes each way but I loved it.” As soon as he graduated Kane got a job installing ultrafast broadband. Not only is he back in the workforce, but he’s adopted a much healthier lifestyle as well. Kane, who has lost nearly 90 kilograms in the past 14 months, has committed to cycling around Lake Taupo with friends next year, and is even Early starts made having his own transport a must for Kane Goode. volunteering his time to help fix up old bikes for ICEcycles.

WellNow Canterbury | 7 A community pharmacist can give advice. Community pharmacies helping people manage warfarin

Visiting her local pharmacy for warfarin monitoring is a big time saver for Christchurch woman, Sue Johnston. Sue has a medical condition which requires her to take a low dose of the anti-coagulant drug every evening.

To ensure she was taking the correct New Brighton for a blood test today’. dose Sue used to have to make weekly Now there’s no trip across town, no visits to a laboratory in New Brighton, more waiting around and I don’t have have a blood test and sit and wait for to have a needle in my arm. I’m very up to 45 minutes while the correct happy, it’s brilliant,” says Sue, who dosage was calculated. works from home. “A nurse would phone and give the lab To ensure she doesn’t forget, Sue result, which was usually more or less receives email reminders from the the same anyway. It’s important to have pharmacy. it checked though,” she says. In December 2010 a Community Now Sue visits a pharmacy just Pharmacy Anti-Coagulation around the corner from her home, Management Service (CPAMS) was where she gets a finger prick and piloted in community pharmacies a small drop of blood is put into a throughout New Zealand. CPAMS machine which gives a reading within uses international normalised ratio 10-15 seconds. Pharmacy staff use (INR) point-of-care testing and adjusts the reading to calculate the amount of warfarin doses with the aid of a decision warfarin Sue needs. support system in the pharmacy. Sue can have a print out of the results if After a successful evaluation of the she wants one, and the results are also pilot by the University of Auckland sent to Sue’s General Practice team. the service was expanded under the Sue Johnston This is important for continuity of care new Community Pharmacy Service Some pharmacies were awarded and if there is anything irregular in the Agreement. CPAMS contracts so that patients can test, either Sue or her doctor, prompted CPAMS was initially introduced for be tested locally with no waiting time by the pharmacy, can set up an eastern Christchurch as many patients and get an immediate result. Now appointment to discuss the next step. there were experiencing long waiting pharmacies in eastern Christchurch have “I used to wake up in the morning times to have their blood test for this capability, people in the east can get and think, ‘oh I have got to go to warfarin monitoring. the support they need locally.

8 | Summer 2014 More convenient having antibody treatment at home Christine White self administering at home.

Since Christine White started self- immunoglobulin replacement therapy Administering the product just under administering immunoglobulins for adults and children for primary the skin was more comfortable as she she has noticed fewer chest immunodeficiency disease and other could slow the speed of the infusion infections, less anxiety around her immune system disorders. which made her feel less nauseous treatment and a feeling of self- and fatigued. Christine says she used to dread the empowerment. intravenous therapy as it was always It was also much quicker than her four-hour monthly hospital visits, with Christine has a condition called difficult for staff to find a suitable vein. common variable immune deficiency no travelling. Self-administering the which makes her more vulnerable to “It wasn’t pleasant and I used to get product takes only 15 minutes for each infection. Once a month for the past anxious about it.” of the two needles. five years she has caught a bus to When she was invited to try self- Christine says her immune system is Christchurch Hospital’s Medical Day administering she was immediately keen. coping better with weekly, rather than Unit for an intravenous infusion. “I know people with diabetes monthly infusions and she is getting fewer of the chest infections that had A Canterbury District Health Board successfully put needles in their tummy affected her in the past. quality improvement initiative means so thought it wouldn’t be a problem for Christine can instead, with training, me to do that.” “I think it’s great. To know you are give herself the necessary injections at doing something for yourself, I feel Over several weeks Christine was home. For patients like Christine this empowered and my husband is always means less disruption to their lifestyle taught the correct technique, including there to help me if I need it.” and work commitments. how to avoid a blood vessel and how to Currently eight more Canterbury DHB numb the skin before inserting needles The immunoglobulin product is patients are giving themselves sub- into two sites. formulated specifically to be injected cutaneous immunoglobulins at home, just beneath the skin. It provides “It was easy to learn,” she says. and several more are in training.

WellNow Canterbury | 9 Jo Dearsley Coin-sized hypertension control Jo Dearsley has experienced hypertension since she was in her late thirties and has been hospitalised because of it twice since –she is now in her fifties. There is a family history of hypertension and she confesses to being terrified of what her children might inherit.

Besides the acute episodes that landed clinicians on a Neuromodulation for too young for a her in hospital, Jo had been suffering Hypertension Study and Dr Blake stroke or heart from smaller headaches almost daily. thought she might be an ideal attack, and that The headaches limited what she could candidate for the study. had been a very do and she often had to come home Jo was game to try anything that might real risk before from work early because of them. work on the basis that if it didn’t work, the trial. I worry She had reached a point where the she would be no worse off. far less about that headaches were just part of her life and now.” “Of course, I hoped for rather better she was resigned to having to put up than ‘no worse off’, and I wasn’t “Who would with them permanently. disappointed. It’s been amazing, I feel have thought In October 2012, she had an episode of a million times better - I have hardly felt that such a small really high uncontrollable hypertension any headaches since!” and unobtrusive and had to take four months off work Jo describes the implant as “barely implant in my and was on medication to help with her noticeable” and far better than having forearm could condition and manage the pain. During headaches daily. Most people don’t make such a that time she had such bad headaches notice her implants, but if they do she difference? While she couldn’t move out of bed and jokes that the coin-like bulge in her I personally feel describes a feeling “like her head was forearm is her ‘parking money’. “It’s very lucky to have going to explode”. certainly a talking point and I really benefitted, I’m also Dr Blake, her cardiologist at Christchurch don’t mind people’s curiosity, it’s totally very excited for Hospital conducted a battery of tests, understandable,” she says. other people with the same condition. This could be a real but they all came back inconclusive. Being constantly monitored by Dr life-changer for them too.” Her condition could only be partially Blake and research nurse Sara Prue controlled by six different medications. gives Jo huge peace of mind and she Whatever the final outcome of the trial, Then, out of the blue, Dr Blake called Jo is delighted that her systolic blood she is happy to have learned that you to ask if she would consider taking part pressure is now routinely in the 140s. never know what life holds for you. “You in a clinical trial. Valencia Technologies She is also reassured about her future need to make the most of whatever you had been working with Christchurch health too – “I absolutely thought I was have at the time,” she says.

10 | Summer 2014 Ngāi Tahu Board member Nuk Korako, Mayor and Prime Minister John Key plant a kowhai tree - the first of 100 new trees to be planted in Hagley Park to replace trees removed to make way for the Acute Services building.

The ground has been blessed, the fences you have a valid mobility permit there are more are up and there is excitement in the air at mobility spaces available in front of the hospital Christchurch Hospital. than before. There are increased numbers of Work has started on our new Acute Services volunteers and orderlies to help at the main building with site preparation that includes entrance to the hospital so consider getting removing trees and shrubs, clearing the ground, dropped off in the Drop-off zone and picked up and installation of underground pipes and later. services ahead of the building’s foundations Drive slowly and carefully and watch for being constructed. Schick Contracting and pedestrians as traffic flows in front of the Cartage won the contract to carry out this first hospital have also changed to become two-way. round of activity, which is expected to take until Keep an eye on our website (cdhb.health.nz) for the beginning of next year. updated parking information. Parking has always been a challenge at By mid-2018 we’ll be enjoying a state of the art Christchurch Hospital, and with site works now Acute Services building at Christchurch Hospital. underway there is no public parking within the There will be new medical and surgical inpatient hospital grounds. The new Park & Ride shuttle is beds, world-class ICU, ED and operating proving very popular. theatres, and purpose-designed spaces for You’ll find more details of the shuttle overleaf children. And the cherry on the top, a helipad. and on page 5 but if you are attending No more rushing very sick and injured patients outpatients, or are visiting someone, plan your across from Hagley Park into the hospital. trip and please allow extra time to get to your David Meates appointment. You will need to be aware that the CEO shuttles are not suitable for wheelchairs, but if IT’S ALL HAPPENING Canterbury District Health Board: WellNow | 11 at THE CHRISTCHURCH HEALTH CAMPUS

PARK & RIDE to Hospital Car parking is available on the site of the Metro Sports Facility (old brewery site) HEADING TO on Antigua/St Asaph St. Parking costs $2 per hour or $5 for the day. There is CHRISTCHURCH a free shuttle that runs every 10 – 15 minutes between the car park, Hagley Outpatients and the front of the Christchurch Hospital, 7 days a week from 7am HOSPITAL? to 8:30pm. Plan your trip! The shuttles are not suitable for wheelchairs. If you have mobility restrictions, Traffic flows around the hospital use either the mobility parks outside the main entrance of the hospital, or have have changed. There is NO parking a support person drop you off in the Drop-off zone. They can park at the Park & on site, except for a limited number Ride and catch the shuttle back. You can also park at either Burwood Hospital of designated mobility parking or The Princess Margaret Hospital and catch the St John shuttle (which does spaces. However, several transport cater for wheelchair users) to Christchurch Hospital. Parents with small children and parking options are available. please note that car seats are not supplied.

ON THE MOVE It was a big move for Te Whare Mahana in September. The 9.2 tonne building, which provided marae-style accommodation for whānau living outside of Christchurch and supporting a family member in hospital, was relocated from behind Christchurch Women’s Hospital to Hillmorton, where it will be used as a dental lab. The slightly reduced Te Whare Mahana service is now based out of the YMCA. Contact Māori Health Services on (03) 364 0640 ext 86160 for more details. YOU WANTED TO KNOW… IS THE RIVERSIDE EXIT ON THE LOWER GROUND FLOOR OF CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL A FIRE EXIT ONLY? Yes. This is for infection control reasons. The road at the rear of the site will be used for dirty dock collections, and for construction traffic. Once construction begins there will be no pedestrian or car access along that road. Patients and staff will have to enter and exit via the front main entrance. WHERE WILL DISABLED/MOBILITY PATIENTS PARK? New mobility parking is provided at the front of the site, as part of the traffic flow work. These are for use by mobility card holders only. Overall on site there are more mobility parking spaces than there were before. WHERE WILL I BE ABLE TO PARK MY BICYCLE? Some of the bike parking between Parkside and Riverside has been removed, but an equivalent amount of bike parking is now provided at other areas on site. WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE BLUE CAR PARKING BUILDING? WHY CAN’T WE USE IT? The blue car parking building has been off-limits since the earthquakes – it’s too damaged to be able to use safely. However, it also contains essential transformers and On 15 September (from left) Sister Mary Hanrahan, CEO switchgear that run the hospital buildings, so it can’t yet be demolished. The plan is to eventually rebuild the car David Meates, CDHB Chair Murray Cleverley, Rev Hilary parking building near to its current location. Barlow (Christchurch Women’s), Rev Alexa Evenden WILL ALL THE SITE WORKS BE NOISY? ARE THERE ANY and Rev. Moega Lasei joined CDHB Kaumatua Maurice MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO CONTROL NOISE? Gray in a karakia/blessing of the site of the new Acute It is difficult to achieve a silent construction site. If they Services building. have to do excessively noisy or disruptive works they need The blessing was held ahead of site enabling works started to submit a disruption notice. That means we can control in September, and was attended by CDHB staff and the excessively noisy works or schedule them at specified project teams. times e.g. after hours. See the CDHB website for answers to your Frequently Asked Questions on the Acute Services building programme.

in THE design lab

People power Buildings don’t make a health system – people do. So to make sure we are getting it right, CDHB has worked closely with health consumers to get their perspective on services. At a recent update on design progress, consumers were shown the latest progress on the planning and design of the Acute Services building at the Design Lab. The group, including representatives from Canterbury’s elder care groups, consumer council, mental health groups, hearing and sight-impaired groups, as well as one horse-riding enthusiast with a great deal of experience as an orthopaedic patient, has been deeply involved with our facilities planning from the start. Wide-ranging discussions with staff included feedback about the need for good directional signage in the new facilities, fire evacuation procedures, what is planned for quiet spaces and family/whānau spaces on wards – even checking that we’ll build external footpaths to the correct width to make sure that guide dogs can use them. Update from the Burwood Health Campus

Work is underway to convert Travis Café temporarily into from the Travis Café to his eventual new home in the new the main cafeteria at Burwood. This is expected to happen front of house. when the existing Back of House is demolished soon. Construction continues at pace as concrete panels and Mataamua, the large Oamaru stone carving in the Travis pillars find a home in the Back of House and ward blocks. A Café, has moved temporarily from his current position massive 35 tonne panel was lifted into place on the building to the main link corridor between Surgical Orthopaedic recently. There has also been another marathon concrete and Orthopaedic Rehab wards. Prior to the move, pour. It took nearly 19 hours, 19 concrete trucks and 101m3 Burwood chaplain Matua George Ehau, accompanied by of concrete to lay the slab for the Level 1 Finger 1 ward Kaiwhakahaere, Ranga Hauora Mere Hibbs, cleansed the block. new site and said karakia for Mataamua’s safe journey Conversations That Count Day was aimed at encouraging people to talk to their loved ones about their wishes. Kate Grundy and Claire Baker with their display board. Plan ahead – for your family Most of us won’t have considered developing an electronic Advance Care Plan with our General Practice team but it’s one of the most important things you can do for yourself, and your family.

Creating an electronic Advance Care know how to act if you can’t speak for Once developed, an Advance Care Plan is about planning your medical care yourself,” Jane says. Plan can be stored electronically on in advance of a health crisis occurring. Peter Dixon, from Christchurch, the computer system used by general practitioners and public hospitals in Jane Goodwin, Canterbury DHB says having an Advance Care Plan Canterbury. There are two benefits to Advance Care Plan coordinator, says is something everyone needs to do, electronic loading. most people think Advance Care Plans whether they are healthy or not. are something for older people or for Peter is in chronic renal failure and “Firstly, if people update their Advance those who are dying – and while it’s so for Peter and his family making Care Plan, the latest version is on the really important for these people to decisions about what type of medical computer system.” have them, it’s a good idea to make care and intervention he wishes to “Secondly, if people don’t have their a plan at any age and even if you are receive at the end of his life are real-life paper Advance Care Plan with them perfectly healthy. questions he is dealing with now. when they are admitted to hospital, the “Talking about your current and likely “I’ve had a lot of discussions with my clinicians can see the electronic version future health, and developing and family about what I want to happen, on the computer system.” sharing treatment preferences can and having an Advance Care Plan gives You can search for an Advance Care Plan result in better medical decision- me peace of mind that the medical download at www.healthinfo.org.nz making. When everyone knows your profession are going to respect my preferences for medical treatment they wishes,” Peter says. WellNow Canterbury | 15 Bruce Waddleton checking a mosquito trap. Keeping foreign mossies out! Malaria, dengue fever, and Ross River fever are serious and sometimes deadly diseases that can be carried by blood sucking mosquitoes. Fortunately these types of disease- facilities. As part of Bruce’s role he also “Regularly emptying water out of things carrying mosquitoes are not found in identifies potential breeding grounds such as buckets, pot plants, and New Zealand and Canterbury DHB’s for mosquitoes. Under the Biosecurity play equipment around the home is Health Protection Officers are tasked Act, he can ask the person or a key way to reduce the risk of exotic with the job of ensuring it stays this way organisation responsible to remove any mosquitoes getting a foothold in New in Canterbury and South Canterbury. potential breeding spots he identifies. Zealand,” Bruce says. Health Protection Officer Bruce There are two types of traps: car Bruce says mosquitoes thrive in warmer Waddleton says there are two ways tyres filled with stagnant water, which months, especially after heavy rain. exotic mosquitoes can get into New target mosquito larvae; and a more “Mosquitoes struggle in the cold but as Zealand – through International Airports sophisticated trap that attracts adult and Seaports. we head into spring and the weather mosquitoes using a combination of gets warmer, areas of stagnant and “If exotic mosquitoes were to sneak light and carbon dioxide. pooled water can be perfect breeding through, breed, and infect people, the Every fortnight over winter, and weekly grounds. results could be disastrous. The diseases they carry cause severe illness and in summer, Bruce empties the traps A number of exotic mosquitoes have can be fatal. An outbreak could have to look for adult mosquitoes or their been found at New Zealand borders but significant cost implications for the health larvae. “We can spot the larvae as they have failed to get established because system, and eradication campaigns can come up to the surface to breathe; of the work of Health Protection Officers cost millions,” Bruce says. otherwise it can be like looking for and Biosecurity staff. needles in a haystack.” An important part of Bruce’s job is You too can help reduce how often regularly visiting Lyttelton Port and The larvae and mosquitoes Bruce your family gets bitten, as well as the Christchurch International Airport to catches are sent to a New Zealand risk that exotic mosquitoes will breed look for adult mosquitoes and larvae in Biosecurity laboratory in Wellington to successfully, by getting rid of stagnant traps positioned in and around these see if they are native or exotic. water that collects in garden containers.

16 | Summer 2014 Stay connected A new name Your choice with free HealthOne is a secure electronic record If your General Practice team or that allows healthcare providers to community pharmacy is part of the Wi-Fi in quickly access information such as your HealthOne programme, some of your test results, allergies, medications, GP health information will be available Hospital summaries and hospital information. to authorised medical professionals involved in your care. HealthOne was formerly known as If you don’t Patients and visitors at Shared Care View or eSCRV but want your health information Christchurch Hospital neither name really described what it shared in this way, you can “opt off” can now stay connected HealthOne at any time. did. People also found it difficult to say wirelessly free of charge. and it was even harder to remember If it is specific information you don’t Patients can what it stood for. want shared, ask one of your healthcare feel cut off from providers such as one of your General Your health information their normal Practice team to ensure that information lives while Your health information is collected is not shared. If you want to opt off in hospital. and shared between the healthcare altogether, simply call freephone 0508 Now we can help them stay providers looking after you. 837 872 (0508 TESTSAFE) or email: connected to their family and This helps them to make safer, faster [email protected]. friends while they are with us. and better informed decisions about For more information visit The service is provided your care. www.HealthOne.org.nz. in conjunction with local telecommunications provider Snap, who have been providing Canterbury DHB with a range of services for over four years. Introducing eMeds It will be available 24 hours per day, seven days a week to nearly eMeds is short for the electronic Medicines Management Programme. 4,000 people who come through eMeds is five projects in one, the first of which, ePrescribing and the doors of Christchurch Administration (or ePA for short), has already been rolled out to parts of Hospital each day. Hillmorton Hospital – the first in a planned Canterbury wide rollout. The service can be accessed ePA provides the following benefits and “It’s always a great feeling when a from many Canterbury DHB sites improves patient safety by; plan works as it should and I am including Christchurch Hospital • eliminating paper chart based errors very proud of the professionalism, and some parts of Burwood and and reducing medication error enthusiasm and sheer determination Hillmorton campuses as part the team showed in making this • giving clinicians a clear view of each of a six month trial. Other sites, one work.” patient’s medications on a single such as The Princess Margaret electronic drug chart Stu Bigwood, Director of Nursing Hospital will not have the service at Hillmorton, is excited about the due to technical capabilities. • improving communication between difference ePA is already making to Ashburton Hospital may provide nursing, medical and pharmacy staff patient safety. the service following the six month trial. • promoting best practice without “I never expected anything but replacing clinical judgement. positive outcomes from having Support for the service is Programme sponsor and Canterbury eMeds here, but our rollout available via the Canterbury DHB Innovation Lead Stella Ward is delighted experience has proved that change website which also provides with the way the rollout has gone. doesn’t have to hurt.” instructions on how to connect.

WellNow Canterbury | 17 Accessibility the way of the future A well planned, accessible bathroom.

The earthquakes threw tremendous challenges at the people of Canterbury, but for some who are looking for a home, undergoing repairs or hoping to build, there are tremendous opportunities too. Rebuilding smarter is one of them, and that means planning ahead. It can cost 10 times as much to retrofit some accessibility features such as wider doors, so it’s far better to get it right while you have the opportunity. Accessible housing refers to the principle. It aims to ensure the right One further thought – what if you construction or modification of homes people are involved in the decision- sell your home? Are a lack of these to enable independent living for making process on issues that affect common sense features going to limit people with disabilities. If you currently people who experience disability, such who might be interested in buying? experience disability or have in the past, as accessible buildings. no doubt you already have that in mind. Gary says they built an accessible Here are just five prime examples of Gary Williams and his wife Ruth are house five years ago, with their current what you could be thinking about: both members of the Earthquake and future needs very much in mind. • Is your main entrance Disability Leadership Group, set up “We see ourselves as being able to live on the ‘nothing about us without us’ accessible to someone in a in our house for a long time,” Gary says. wheelchair? “What’s good for us is also good for • Are your doorways and access the people who visit. Having a home routes wide enough to provide that’s well thought out and easy to get easy access? around is all part of making our guests feel welcome.” • Are light switches and controls low enough? If you have never given accessibility a 18 | Winter 2014 second thought, maybe now is a good • Do you have high cupboards time – people are living longer and more in the kitchen or elsewhere that wish to stay independent in their homes might be a stretch to reach? for as long as they can and health • Do you have a walk in/roll services are gearing up to support in shower with no steps or people to do that safely. threshold? Remaining safely independent means thinking about how your needs might change and renovating, adapting or Canterbury DHB is working with its building your home accordingly. If cross-sector health partners to develop that doesn’t get you thinking – do you a whole of health Strategic Disability have disabled or elderly friends and Action Plan 2014-2018. It aims to relatives that might visit, or even live ensure equity of access to health with you in future? information and services. Ruth and Gary Williams

18 | Summer 2014 One of the Dry July murals. Dry July leads to uplifting view We’d like to thank all our Dry July supporters who helped us raise just under $200,000 this year.

Funds go to the Canterbury Regional treatment areas and other patient beds and two patient chairs. The Cancer and Haematology Service spaces. The Bone Marrow Transplant Medical Day Unit has 12 new patient (CRCHS) based at Christchurch Unit now has six additional electric chairs and Ward 26, for young people Hospital. They are used to improve the having cancer treatment, has been wellbeing of adult cancer patients by upgraded courtesy of Dry July. Six improving treatment environments for new iPads loaded with apps, movies them and their families. and games are also available for A number of people and groups, patients undergoing treatment. including consumers, are currently Iain Ward, Clinical Director Radiation being consulted on the best possible Oncology with our Canterbury use of these precious funds. The money raised this year will be used to Regional Cancer and Haematology help make people going through cancer Service says it is wonderful to have all treatment in our regional hospitals more these new items. comfortable too. Meanwhile items “Receiving cancer treatment can be a purchased with funds from last year’s very lonely and tedious experience. All campaign are popping up all over these items help. In particular the new Christchurch Hospital. artwork provides a better view for our Beautiful murals and illuminated Maria Schaap and Dry July Ambassador Marg patients and hopefully helps to lift their ceiling panels adorn radiotherapy Foster with one of the new comfortable chairs. spirits,” says Iain.

WellNow Canterbury | 19 Canterbury DHB nutritionist Janne Pasco at the Agropolis Urban Farm. Edible city on its way Canterbury’s urban landscape looks set to change forever thanks to a quiet revolution being led by a committed group of green-fingered Cantabrians.

Seedlings are being nurtured, fruit The number of community growing Janne says the success of community trees are being grafted, and an army of spaces is steadily increasing in growing spaces relies on having large volunteers is gathering strength. Canterbury. Key projects already numbers of local volunteers who can underway include the establishment adopt and protect these plants and The mission? To increase the number of a nursery to provide seedlings and trees for future generations. of community food growing spaces young fruit trees, the planting of three in Canterbury so more people have “Food is not the only thing that grows fruit orchards at Christchurch schools access to healthy, organic, locally in edible gardens and orchards. They by the Canterbury Horticulture Society, grown food. also help grow communities as their and the creation of the Agropolis Urban success relies on having people in Dr Matt Morris, from the Food Farm in the central city. the community who can help them Resilience Network, has been working Canterbury DHB nutritionist Janne thrive. Volunteers don’t need to be with a group of like-minded individuals Pasco says Canterbury’s recovery green fingered – they just need to be to identify community spaces for provides a once in a lifetime opportunity motivated to make a difference in their growing food. Depending on the space to fill our city with fruits and vegetables community,” says Janne. and the community’s desires, land can and make edible plants the norm. For more information, and to find out be turned into community gardens, “There’s a lot of vacant spaces in how you can get involved, go to www. food forests, orchards or urban farms. Christchurch and right now, facebook.com/foodresiliencenetwork “These kinds of initiatives are part of making it the perfect time to get For inspiration, check out Pam a growing worldwide movement that planting. Growing free and nutritious Warhurst’s video, ‘How we can eat food benefits our whole community,” helps people reconnect with the earth in our landscapes’ at www.ted.com/ says Janne. a positive way,’’ says Matt. speakers/pam_warhurst

20 | Summer 2014 Making parties Good Ones

An online party register is helping reduce alcohol harm and make our community safer. The Good One project provides people with all the information they need to have a great party, and allows party organisers to register their party with the police. Once a party is registered, police will get in touch to have a Sgt Steve Jones helps plan a Good One. quick chat about the party and what’s planned. The police may also turn up “The atmosphere had totally changed. The Good One is backed by a number at the party to make sure everything is You now see it in a positive light when of community and government going okay. the cops come. Overall it’s led to much organisations including Canterbury Riccarton Neighbourhood Policing better parties,” says Tomos. DHB, ACC, the Police, the Health Team Sergeant Steve Jones says the Canterbury DHB Public Health Manager Promotion Agency, Lincoln University, register has made a huge difference Kerry Marshall says the Good One’s the University of Canterbury, University since it started in February 2014. success reinforces the importance of Canterbury Students Association Steve says the biggest difference has of organisations working together to (UCSA) and Lincoln University Students been in the attitudes of partygoers to reduce alcohol harm. Association (LUSA), and CPIT. the police. “We all know that alcohol causes a lot The project aims to reduce alcohol “The attitude when we turn up at of harm in our community, and health related incidents and harm, increase parties has changed completely. We’re and justice services are often left to pick access and distribution of information now welcomed with open arms - it’s up the pieces,” says Kerry. to enable the public to self-manage parties, and reduce disorderly almost like you’re an invited guest”, “Tackling alcohol harm is a massive behaviour. says Steve. challenge but the Good One initiative Tomos Davies, University of Canterbury shows that by working together we Good One is available to anyone student and president of the Backyard can reduce alcohol harm and make our planning a party. For more information Cricket Society agrees. communities safer.” go to: www.goodone.org.nz

WellNow Canterbury | 21 Make the right call and get well sooner

It’s a weekend in Christchurch. The 24 Hour Surgery has x-ray facilities, a pharmacy and experienced staff on site to deal with fractures. Someone has eaten a bad prawn An orthopaedic surgeon is available during scheduled fracture clinics. kebab from the barbecue and is suffering stomach cramps, vomiting urgent wound care and do minor on weekends. Each centre has its and a raging fever. Someone else surgical procedures, such as closing rates explained on their website and on has a broken leg after falling off wounds. Patients can also go for any signs inside the practice. All are ACC their mountain bike and someone urgent medical issue or accident- accredited accident treatment providers. else is worried their friend has had related injuries such as sprains, cuts Pegasus Health’s 24 Hour Surgery too much to drink. or broken bones that they would is located on the corner of Bealey If you need urgent medical treatment normally have seen their own general Ave and Colombo St and is the only after hours, where do you go? What do practice for, if they had not fallen ill urgent medical and accident centre in you do? or injured themselves after hours. All Christchurch open 24 hours a day, 365 three practices have radiology facilities, First, call your own General days a year. As the nominated preferred pharmacies and good on-site parking. Practice team. provider of afterhours care by over 300 general practitioners, Operations All general practice phones are linked to an after-hours service staffed by Manager, Claire McQuilken, says The registered nurses. If it’s after hours, your “We do 24 Hour Surgery is well connected with call will automatically go through to one general practices in Canterbury and of the nurses. They will advise you on everything from their clinicians work closely with the what to do and where to go if you need headache to patients usual General Practice team for to be seen. follow up care, as required. If patients need extra care and monitoring, but do If your condition is not life threatening, leg break.” not need to go to hospital, The 24 Hour but you need medical attention, Surgery has a five bed observation unit there are three after-hours urgent available at no extra charge. medical and accident care centres in All three also offer continuity of care, Christchurch – 24 Hours Surgery on the as patient notes and any test results Off Moorhouse Avenue, opposite corner of Bealey Avenue and Colombo are sent on to the patient’s general Pak ‘n Save is Moorhouse Street, Moorhouse Medical just off practice, unless they request otherwise. Medical. Practice manager Kate Moorhouse Avenue and Riccarton This ensures that a person’s usual Verpoorten says the centre is staffed Clinic on Yaldhurst Road. general practice team is involved with in the evenings and on weekends by clinicians with specialist accident and Each one of these practices provide the treatment plan if required. medical qualifications. services that include urgent care for There is an expectation of payment, medical conditions. They can take except for children under six who are “Moorhouse Medical director Dr Neil X-Rays, treat broken bones, provide treated free of charge after hours and Beumelburg is completing a Fellowship

22 | Summer 2014 with the New Zealand College of Urgent Care and he also trains doctors specialising in urgent care.” On the western side of Christchurch, Riccarton Clinic is a combined General Practice and Accident & Medical Centre handling over 80,000 patient visits per year. An ear examination at Moorhouse Medical. “Our doctors and nurses are trained to diagnose and assist patients to manage all the common chronic diseases as well as being able At a glance to handle just about any medical condition or injury that comes through The 24 Hour Surgery, Cnr Bealey Ave & Colombo St – Open every day the front doors,” says General Tel: (64) 3 365 7777, www.24hoursurgery.co.nz Manager Mark Darvill. • Urgent accident & medical care In addition to the consulting rooms • Specialist-led fracture service (X-Ray & plaster service on site) there are three treatment rooms, a plaster room and a minor procedures • Five bed observation unit with attached whānau room room for minor surgery, such as • Sports injuries suturing wounds. • Urgent pharmacy – open till 11:00pm daily “We don’t get involved with head injuries or fractured femurs (thigh Moorhouse Medical, 3 Pilgrim Place – Open 8am – 8pm every day bones) but manage just about everything else. Put simply we do Tel: (64) 3 365 7900, www.moorhousemedical.co.nz everything from headache to leg break,” • Free ACC wound care for everyone (no surcharge) says Mark. • X-Rays and fracture clinic on site Because waiting is never fun, between • Free treatment and care for under 6’s enrolled at the practice them the three surgeries offer a variety of different options to help keep you • Minor surgery – sexual health – traveller’s health – immigration medicals entertained, including free Wi-Fi access, • Pharmacy open till 8:00pm daily SKY or regular TV, colouring pencil packs or play areas for children, and there are Riccarton Clinic, 6 Yaldhurst Rd – Open 8am – 8pm every day nearby coffee shops and food outlets. Tel: (64) 3 343 3661, www.riccartonclinic.co.nz • Resuscitation room, plaster room, minor operations room, treatment and triage rooms along with regular GP consulting rooms • Specialist travel doctor and nurses • Two large waiting areas (& Sky TV)

We welcome feedback to • X-Ray, physio, optometry, podiatry also on site. [email protected] Emergency mental health services – 24 hours, every day Canterbury District Health Board Freephone: 0800 920 092 PO Box 1600, Christchurch 8140 www.cdhb.health.nz In an emergency, call 111

23 | Summer 2014 When you need health care, make the right call. Call your own General Practice team 24/7.

After-hours, your call will be answered by a In Christchurch there are also three Accident registered nurse who can advise on what to and Medical clinics providing urgent care – no do and where to go if you need to be seen. appointment needed. They are equipped to provide urgent medical care, treat fractures, broken bones, wound care, minor surgery and more. My GP is: When you make the right call Phone: everyone gets well sooner.

In Christchurch there are three after-hours clinics:

The 24 Hour Surgery Moorhouse Medical Centre Riccarton Clinic Cnr Bealey Ave and 3 Pilgrim Place 4 Yaldhurst Road, Upper Riccarton Phone: (64) 3 365 7777 Phone: (64) 3 365 7900 Phone: (64) 3 343 3661 Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day Open 7 days a week until 8pm Open 7 days a week until 8pm

Christchurch Hospital emergency department is always our health system open for those with serious and life-threatening conditions.