Commissioner’s
Update
As I have signalled in earlier
updates, a number of
initiatives and actions arose
following the ‘Listening
Sessions’ last year, which
have formed our Southern
Future improvement
priorities.
One of these has been
to grow teams across
locations, roles and services.
As part of this initiative, this
month a series of Senior
Medical Officer (SMO)
forums and administration
symposiums were held and
were well supported by staff
across the district. The SMO forums provided
an opportunity for our senior
doctors to spend time with
their colleagues to discuss
wider issues of the DHB and
to look for opportunities in
improving the way we work.
SMOs are a valued and
critical part of the DHB, and
there is good international
evidence that when
they contribute to wider
organisational questions,
outcomes for patients
improve.
Meanwhile, the
administration symposiums
provided an opportunity for
our valued administration
staff – who are quite literally
the glue that holds much
of the DHB together – to
share ideas, learn from
and support one another.
This year, as a way of
acknowledging the Southern
Future improvement priority
of building a culture of
appreciation, Southern
DHB will be celebrating
Administrative Professionals’
Day (APD) on Wednesday
26 April. APD is celebrated
globally and is an
opportunity to recognise the
important contributions that
administrative professionals
make to their respective
organisations.
Kathy Grant
Finally, the Commissioner’s
team travelled around
the district last week to
visit some of our services
and meet informally with
staff. These sessions are
a valuable opportunity for
us to hear directly from
our staff, and for them to
share their thoughts and
suggestions. This input is
invaluable in helping us to
continue to build a quality
and patient-focused health
system.
***
Last month, Southern
DHB’s new Chief Executive
Chris Fleming was formally
welcomed at a powhiri on Te
Runanga o Otakou Marae.
I would like to extend my
special thanks to hosts
Edward Ellison, Te Runanga
o Otakou who led the
proceedings for the powhiri,
Te Runanga o Otakou
Chair, Donna MatahaereAtariki and Southern DHB
kaumatua and Chair,
Kati Huirapa Runaka ki
Puketeraki, Matapura Ellison,
who coordinated events on
behalf of Southern DHB.
The event was supported
by the Southern DHB
Commissioner team, Maori
Health (Kaiwhakahaere
Hauora Maori) team,
Executive Leadership Team,
other management and staff
members, and other leaders
in the community. We were
also delighted to welcome
representatives from Nelson
Marlborough Health Services
who supported Chris in his
transition to Southern DHB.
Suicide prevention workshops target
support for Queenstown community
A world-renowned expert on
suicide prevention returned
to Queenstown this month
to upskill and support more
Queenstown-based health and
social service practitioners who
are working with clients at risk of
suicide harm.
her knowledge and lessons
with a wider local audience
of practitioners via a half-day
workshop.
The workshop was developed
following feedback from more
than 1000 rural health and
social service professionals
Annette Beautrais, Adjunct
and is part of the Government’s
Professor at the University
emergency response for rural
of Canterbury, has worked in
New Zealand. Marie Roxburgh,
suicide research and prevention Health Promotion Advisor from
for over 35 years and is
Public Health South, coordinated
internationally recognised as an the event, and says, “We are
authority on this important and
delighted that someone with
challenging topic. Following an
such world-class experience
oversubscribed workshop held
could come and provide
in Queenstown in November
valuable support for those
2016, Annette has returned to
dealing with this challenging and
Queenstown this month to share important issue in our community.”
Virtual fracture clinic
proving a win-win
A virtual fracture clinic at
Southland Hospital is proving a
win-win, with patients avoiding
time-consuming follow-up
appointments and medical staff
able to dedicate more time to
those in need.
The virtual clinic has helped
reduce follow-up fracture clinic
appointments by about 40 per
cent.
Orthopaedic Consultant
Paul Rae said the idea was
pioneered at the Glasgow
Royal Infirmary, where fracture
clinic appointments have been
reduced by up to 60 per cent.
The Southland Hospital
fracture clinic was very busy
and it made sense to try to
streamline patient flows, which
in turn reduced appointment
times needed, saving time and
resources, he says.
“It’s not about money. It’s
about improving the patient
experience.”
Previously patients with less
urgent cases spent a significant
amount of time being initially
assessed and treated, often
with follow-up appointments.
The virtual aspect involves
much earlier assessment of a
patient’s case by a senior team
member.
Emergency department
treatment records, x-rays and
other patient information are
assessed without the patient
present.
An assessment and treatment
plan is then sent out to both the
patient and their GP.
The hospital follows this up with
a phone call to check if patients
are satisfied with their plan.
A telephone helpline is also
available.
“People used to have a lot of
unnecessary visits. It’s more
patient-centred now. It’s a
win-win. It doesn’t replace
face-to-face but means we can
concentrate on people who
need more attention,” Dr Rae
says.
From left: Emma Lacey, Orthopaedic Consultant; Chuck Luecker, Orthopaedic Consultant; Lara Gleeson,
Emergency Department Clinical Nurse Specialist; Shanin Brider, Fracture Clinic Administration Officer
Southern DHB encouraging
flu vaccinations
With flu season nearly upon us,
Southern DHB is encouraging
its staff to take up the offer of
a free influenza vaccination
once again this year to protect
themselves, their patients, their
colleagues, their families, and
their friends.
“We really want our staff to
be immunised against flu,
especially as healthcare
workers are often more likely
to come into contact with the
influenza virus, and as a result
are at greater risk of catching
it. Having a well-vaccinated
workforce then limits the risk to
our patients.
a simple vaccination. This staff
flu vaccination campaign is
aimed at ensuring staff know
the importance of having the
flu vaccination,” says Southern
DHB Chief Medical Officer Dr
Nigel Millar.
“We know that flu can be a
very serious illness for some
people, but we also know that
it can be easily prevented with
Members of the public are
also encouraged to have the
flu vaccination, which is free if
you meet any of the following
criteria:
• Are over 65
• Are under 65 but suffer from
a medical condition such as
asthma, breathing difficulties,
diabetes, heart disease and
most cancers
• Are pregnant.
To find out if you are eligible for
a free vaccination, or for other
information, talk to your family
doctor or practice nurse.
Southern DHB Chief Medical Officer Dr Nigel Millar
having his flu vaccination
You can also find out more by
visiting www.fightflu.co.nz or
texting FLU to 515
New Community Health
Council for Southern DHB
Patients, families and whanau
across the Southern district
have a stronger voice in health
services thanks to the new
Community Health Council.
“The depth and breadth of
knowledge and experience of
the council members is very
impressive,” says Southern DHB
CEO Chris Fleming. “We look
forward to working with this
The nine-member council –
dedicated and insightful group
comprising representatives from
to further ensure the views of
around the district with expertise
patients and the community are
in community development,
heard.” education and healthcare,
including Maori health, mental
“The Community Health
health and women’s health —
Council seeks to ensure
will help provide input on health our people have a voice
service planning, delivery and
in primary and community
strategies.
health services, as well as into
hospital-level services. Council
members come from diverse
backgrounds, ages, health
and social experiences,” says
Council chair Sarah Derrett.
“They come with a strong
commitment to engage with
and support the important work
that is already undertaken by
patients and their whanau within
the Southern district, and to
ensure that opportunities for
participation and engagement
are increased.”
Admin day creates a buzz
The Southern DHB Admin Staff
Symposium held in Dunedin
and Invercargill in late March
has left administrative staff that
attended feeling positive and
inspired.
The two half-day sessions were
held for administrative staff
as professional and personal
development and included
inspirational speaker Julie
Woods (also known as ‘That
Blind Woman’), Bex Wilson and
Olympic cyclist Alison Shanks.
“Administrative staff are the
backbone of Southern DHB
and we wanted to acknowledge
and celebrate their valuable
contribution by hosting these
sessions,” says Southern DHB
Organisational Development
and Performance Director Mike
Collins.
Commissioner’s Office
Executive Assistant Kate Lilley
says the Symposium was a
rewarding experience.
“The speakers were fantastic
and you could feel a really
positive buzz in the air. It was
a great opportunity to take
some time out to recharge,
meet colleagues who we may
have communicated with but
never had the opportunity to
meet, and also get a fresh
perspective both personally and
professionally.”
Southern DHB administrative staff enjoyed an inspiring
and engaging symposium
Children decorate special capes
for local firefighters
Back Row: Ian Macara, Martin Burke, Ilka Fedor, Bronnie Grant, Nigel Millar, Russell MacPherson. Front
Row: Takiwai Russell-Camp, Lesley Gray, Paula Waby, Sarah Derrett and Kelly Takurua
Have a conversation that counts!
Staff, patients and residents
across the southern district
were encouraged to ‘get talking’
this month for Conversations
that Count Day. The national
day (5th April) aimed to raise
awareness about Advance Care
Planning amongst the general
public and encourage people to
start important conversations
with family and loved ones
about their future and end-of-life
care.
An advance care plan records
what is important to an
individual and what gives their
life meaning. This might include
people and pets, a person’s
values and how they would like
those caring for them to look
after their spiritual, cultural and
emotional needs. Having a plan
is particularly important if a
person becomes too unwell to
communicate their wishes with
their loved ones and healthcare
team.
General practices, aged
residential care facilities,
hospitals and hospice services
across the southern district will
be displaying and distributing
posters, pamphlets and
information to the general
public and staff during April
to help raise awareness of the
day and help trigger important
conversations.
Helen Sawyer, Palliative Care
Clinical Nurse Specialist at
Southern District Health Board,
is the Regional Clinical Lead
for Advance Care Planning.
The day provides an important
focus for staff and clients of
the DHB, explains Helen: “The
day helps remind us that it’s
not just patients who need
to think about Advance Care
Planning, but that every single
one of us could benefit from
having discussions with our
loved ones about our personal
health wants and wishes for the
future. I hope that the displays
we have arranged at the hospital
and the resources that are out
in the community encourage
more people to start thinking
and talking about their future
healthcare.”
Conversations that Count Day
is coordinated by the Advance
Care Planning Cooperative and
the Health Quality and Safety
Commission.
There are lots of free resources
to help you think about and
prepare your advance
care plan at
www.advancecareplanning.org.nz
Southland firefighters will participate in the Sky Tower Challenge
in May, equipped with some extra special superpowers! Capes were
brought into the Southland Hospital Children’s Ward for patients to
decorate so firefighters could wear them on the challenge day.
The children had a wonderful time decorating the capes, with
some very creative designs
Commissioner’s Public Forum &
Advisory Committee Meetings
— Open to the Public —
Members of the public are welcome to attend the following public
forum and advisory committee meetings, to be held in the Board Room,
Community Services Building, Southland Hospital campus, Invercargill,
on Wednesday 24 May 2017, or view them by videolink from the Board
Room, Level 2, West Wing, Main Block, Wakari Hospital campus, 371
Taieri Road, Dunedin.
Public Forum
9.00am
Hospital Advisory Committee (HAC)
9.30am
Joint meeting of the Disability Support
Advisory Committee and Community & Public
Health Advisory Committee (DSAC/CPHAC)
To commence at the
conclusion of the HAC
meeting.
Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Helen Sawyer having a conversation about advance care
planning with Commissioner’s Office Executive Assistant Kate Lilley
Public Forum:
To register your interest in speaking at the forum, please complete the form on
our website www.southerndhb.govt.nz or contact the
Board Secretary: [email protected],
phone (03) 476 9443.
1888427-20/4-h
Agendas and associated reports for the advisory committee meetings can be
downloaded from the DHB website 48 hours prior to the meetings.