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A Nelson Marlborough Medical Officer of Health has been seconded to Canterbury Public Health Service to assist in disease control as water contaminated by raw sewage continues to be a major public health risk.
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A Nelson Marlborough Medical Officer of Health has been seconded to Canterbury Public Health Service to assist in disease control as water contaminated by raw sewage continues to be a major public health risk.
Health Coordinator Mike Cummins said, “Requests from Canterbury DHB for additional staff and all NMDHB staff offers of assistance are being coordinated through the National Health Coordination Centre (NHCC) the local liaisonfor this group is through Emergency Planning Officer Peter Kara.”
He said the Nelson Marlborough Public Health Service has two Health Protection Officers (Water Specialists) on standby to assist with water quality issues and Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ed Kiddle has been seconded to assist and is currently in Christchurch.
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Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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Medical Radiation Technologists will strike for 24 hours from 8am, tomorrow, Tuesday, September 7 to 8am Wednesday 8 September.
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Medical Radiation Technologists will strike for 24 hours from 8am, tomorrow, Tuesday, September 7 to 8am Wednesday 8 September.
The withdrawal of radiation technology support from Nelson and Wairau Hospitals has led to more elective surgery being postponed, outpatient appointments being postponed and will leave patients waiting for diagnostic imaging for up to 24 hours.
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, District Manager Clinical Support, James Bowyer said, “While we have tried to continue with some elective surgery it is only procedures that do not require in-theatre radiology support, and those procedures that do not have a high likelihood of needing post-operative radiology scans.
“In the Emergency Department patients who do not qualify to have radiology support as a life-preserving measure or to prevent life-long disability will either be admitted to hospital for observation or made as comfortable as possible and asked to return the next day for their scans.
This will also affect scheduled outpatient appointments for all radiology apart from ultrasound and mammography in Wairau Hospital and MRI in Nelson. The strike affects General X-Ray, Computed Tomography (CT Scans) and Angiography.
“We regret any inconvenience that this may cause to people and we ask that the public be patient,” said Mr Bowyer.
He said staff would make patients as comfortable as possible but a diagnostic X-Ray could not be performed over the strike times unless there was a danger of a permanent disability or death.
Mr Bowyer said there could be delays on Wednesday, 8 September when the backlog of patients was being seen in the Radiology Department. There could also be unavoidable delays in the Emergency Department when patients returned to the ED to have their scans read as clinical staff attend to seriously ill patients.”
In Wairau Hospital the strike will continue on weekdays from 4.30pm to 8am, and over the weekends from 4.30pm Friday until 8am, Wednesday, September 22.
Nelson Hospital will follow the same weekday strike times as Wairau Hospital 4.30pm to 8am however in Nelson on the weekend the standard on call service will operate from 9.30am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The strike will end on Wednesday, September 22 at 8am.
ENDS
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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Nelson Marlborough patients travelling to Canterbury District Health Board to outpatient appointments this week are advised that these are proceding as planned.
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Nelson Marlborough patients travelling to Canterbury District Health Board to outpatient appointments this week are advised that these are proceding as planned.
Patients scheduled for surgery or other inpatient appointments where the patient would be admitted to the hospital are being assessed and patients are advised to contact the Travel Coordinator on Nelson 546 1800, or Blenheim 520 9999.
This notice applies for all Canterbury DHB hospitals in Christchurch.
Accommodation used by NMDHB patients at Rainui House is operational however information about Ronald McDonald House and Davidson House was unavailable and advice will be issued on Monday.
Nelson Marlborough Public Health Service have two water specialists from the Health Protection Unit on standby to go to Canterbury to assist with water quality assessment.
Health Controller Mike Cummins said, “The DHB will do what it can to assist our counterparts in Canterbury. He said the systems were working well at present and the national and regional links that had been put in place during the Pandemic had assisted communications."
He reminded people in Nelson Marlborough that home emergency kits were essential with food and water and medications to last at least three days
Further information received today indicates that Christchurch patient accommodation houses; Ronald McDonald House, Davidson and Daffodil House are all operational as is the Gothic Motel, (which is also used by NMDHB patients).
As reported in a media release yesterday, Rainui House is also operational.
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board Board Office Braemar Campus Private Bag 18 Nelson
DD 03 546 1824
Cell 0274 466 799
Fax 03 546 1747
katherine.rock@nmdhb.govt.nz |
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has improved on all health targets since they were introduced a year ago.
The fourth quarter Health Target results released today (27/08) by the Minister of Health showed NMDHB achieved outstanding results for Improving Waiting Times for Emergency Departments and has done so consistently throughout the year.
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Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has improved on all health targets since they were introduced a year ago.
The fourth quarter Health Target results released today (27/08) by the Minister of Health showed NMDHB achieved outstanding results for Improving Waiting Times for Emergency Departments and has done so consistently throughout the year.
NMDHB General Manager Planning and Funding, Dr Sharon Kletchko said, “Overall quarter four results were very encouraging. Emergency Department waiting times, Immunisation coverage and Elective Services have consistently produced results higher than the targets set.
“The largest improvement over the four quarters has been in the Better help for Smokers to Quit. This measure; with a target of having 80% of hospitalised smokers provided with advice and help to quit, was introduced in July last year. And while processes for capturing this data were still being developed NMDHB went from 16% achievement of target in Quarter One to 52% in Quarter Four.”
The agreed target of 85% of eligible two-year olds immunised was surpassed with NMDHB finishing the year with 89% of this group immunised during 2009/10. This was achieved through collaboration with Immunisation Coordinators from Nelson Bays and Marlborough Primary Health Organisations. The national average increased by 2% in this quarter resulting in a national average achievement of 87 %.
The regional cancer centre at Canterbury DHB did not meet the target for Shorter Waits for Cancer Treatment Radiotherapy. However 97% of patients from Canterbury and Nelson Marlborough DHBs were treated within the target of being seen within six weeks of their First Specialist Assessment. This is an improvement on the 91% achievement for Quarter Three.
Results for the Better Diabetes and Cardiovascular Services target showed slow but steady progress, with an overall improvement of 3% compared to quarter one.
ENDS
NMDHB Quarter One to Quarter 4 Health Targets
* The better diabetes and cardiovascular services health target is an average of three target indicators and there is no overall national goal.
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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Nelson Marlborough District Health Board’s (NMDHB) District Annual Plan (DAP) 2010/11 outlines the Board’s priority for the next three years is to achieve the best and smartest use of constrained resources across the district.
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Nelson Marlborough District Health Board’s (NMDHB) District Annual Plan (DAP) 2010/11 outlines the Board’s priority for the next three years is to achieve the best and smartest use of constrained resources across the district.
Focus for the 2010/11 year continues to be on elective services and achieving sustainable health services for the Nelson Marlborough district.
NMDHB received an increase of $10m in funding for the 2010/11 year from the 2010 Budget, an increase of 2.89%. However costs have risen significantly especially in aged care, medical consumables and some staffing areas.
The revenue for the year is estimated to be $391m from all sources and the DHB has budgeted a smaller deficit of $3.7m for the 2010/11 year as signalled last year. A break-even year position is predicted for the following year once Rutherford Initiatives are firmly in place. This year’s deficit will again be funded out of previous years’ surpluses. Gains from the sale of surplus land will be utilised as part of the funding of the redevelopment of Wairau Hospital.
NMDHB Chief Executive, John Peters said, “Developing the 2010/11 DAP has involved some complex challenges.
“We have set a budget that balances limited revenue growth with a changing population resulting in more demand for services.”
NMDHB Board Chair, Suzanne Win said, “The DHB has responded to significant fiscal pressure in 2009/10 that will continue for the next three years and onward.
“The extremely difficult economic position means that we are planning for limited growth in our future revenue.”
She said the whole of the DHB had worked incredibly hard to bring the 2009/10 deficit back into line with the budgeted position forecast in our 2009/10 DAP and that the Board appreciates the valuable work that has been done.
“The Board is clear that we must transform how, for whom, where and by whom we deliver services. This means we will not only be considering how we fund and deliver our services, but where services will be based,” said Ms Win.
NMDHB hospital services continue to show steady growth due to a number of pressures including new technologies, patient expectations, increasing numbers of people with long-term conditions and a growth in those over the age of 65.
Other challenges include higher proportions of younger adults developing long term conditions and requiring more intensive interventions to both maintain their health and prevent their health deteriorating.
The DHB has also experienced significant pressure for access for older people to Home Based Support Services (HBSS) and Aged Residential Care (ARC).
Other ‘demand driven’ growth expenditure in the DHB involved pharmacy services and community pharmaceuticals with significant increased utilisation over the past three years.
Mr Peters said those trends reflected higher rates of conditions that required complex, long-term, and high cost medical care as well as acute care services.
The budget outlined includes redevelopment of DHB hospital services for modern, safe and more delivery of a range of secondary services. It also recognised the need to work collectively with the South Island Region and, as appropriate with the Central Region, for the full range of secondary and tertiary health services.
ENDS
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
District Annual Plan 2010/11 Summary
The focus for the 2010/11 DAP is to ensure viability of NMDHB services over the next three years within our allocated funding path while maintaining productive (efficient and high quality), health and disability services delivery to people in the Nelson Marlborough district.
Our priority for 2010/11 and the next three years is to achieve the best and smartest use of constrained resources across the whole Nelson Marlborough district. This requires a transformational shift in thinking and operating to deliver maximum value for our health care dollars so that services are delivered in better, sooner and more convenient ways to our communities.
In the 2010/11 DAP the DHB has set a budget that balances:
· very limited revenue growth vs. a changing population resulting in more demand for services
· optimising services delivery through working collaboratively at regional and sub-regional levels
· significant growth in the need for services to those aged over 65 plus e.g. HBSS and ARC vs. ensuring a ‘restorative model’ for better ageing
· meeting the Government’s commitments for transformed Primary Health Care through ‘better, sooner more convenient’ services vs. ‘business as usual’
· delivering the health targets vs. ensuring the system functions sustainably into the future
· achieving health gains through supported self-care vs. more expert driven care.
Delivery of the Government’s Commitments
NMDHB is giving priority to delivery of the Government’s commitments. More detail on our delivery can be found in the 2010/11 DAP. The following are addressed:
1. Ensuring clinical leadership through engagement and accountability
- Transforming the ‘Patient Care’ System’s model to meet the ‘Better, Sooner, More Convenient’ Policy
- Improving our productivity
- Delivering our Performance Improvement Actions (PIAs)
- Delivering on the Minister’s Health Targets:
- increase the percentage of 2-year olds fully immunised
- boost help for smokers to quit
- better diabetes and cardiovascular services
- meet Elective Service targets for 2010/11
- shorter waits for Cancer Treatment – Radiotherapy
- shorter stays in Emergency Departments
NMDHB is working collectively with the National Health Board and new national agencies, with DHBs regionally, and with all of our providers and communities locally to deliver our agreed strategy and processes. We are reporting on our achievements through the normal Ministry of Health Accountability framework but also locally through our ‘Balanced Scorecard’.
The Rutherford Initiative
The core approach NMDHB has taken to achieving smarter ways of working and identifying efficiencies is through the Rutherford Initiative (RI). Our objective last year was to find $10M over three years. However, because of the service needs outlined above we now must find closer to $20M over the next three years. This equates to less than 2% of our Population Based Funding over that period. The RI is ‘high priority’ for NMDHB. Recommendations for change involving all major budgets are scheduled for completion by end December 2010.
The focus for 2010/11 forward will be on implementation of the changes that need to be made to achieve better efficiency and smarter ways of working as recommended through the RI process and agreed by the CE. The RI principles will be embedded into our ‘way of working’ so that ongoing improvements within constrained resources are continued over the medium to longer term.
Click here to view the District Annual Plan Advert for 2010
The attached DAP advert appeared in the Leaders and Motueka Golden Bay News 26 August 2010, and will appear in the Saturday Express 29 August, 2010.
For further information contact:
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, currently in its third week of the Medical Radiation Technologists (MRT) strike, has received further notice of a 24 hour strike on Tuesday September 7.
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Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, currently in its third week of the Medical Radiation Technologists (MRT) strike, has received further notice of a 24 hour strike on Tuesday September 7.
The DHB was also notified of further withdrawal of overnight MRT services for a fifth week to September 14.
MRT support in Nelson and Wairau Hospital will be withdrawn for 24 hours from 8am Tuesday September 7, to 8am Wednesday September 8, with MRT service only available in cases where there is a threat of life-long disability or death. This one-day action means more elective surgery will be postponed, outpatient appointments rescheduled and imaging for diagnostic purposes will be delayed for 24 hours.
The one-day strike affects General X-Ray, Computed Tomography (CT Scans) and Angiography with only ultrasound and mammography in Wairau Hospital and MRI in Nelson available.
District Manager Clinical Support, James Bowyer said, “Only the most seriously ill patients coming through the doors of Nelson or Wairau Hospital on Tuesday September 7 will get an X-ray or CT Scan, the rest will be made as comfortable as possible and asked to return the next day for their scans or admitted to a ward for observation.
“We regret any inconvenience that this may cause to people and we ask that the public be patient,” said Mr Bowyer.
He said staff were making patients as comfortable as possible but a diagnostic X-Ray could not be performed over the strike times unless there was a danger of a permanent disability or death.
“Emergency Department (ED) staff try to minimise the discomfort and inconvenience to patients. However patients returning to ED to have their scans read the next day should be aware that delays could occur while clinical staff attended to more serious cases,” said Mr Bowyer.
The strike will continue overnight on weekdays from 4.30pm to 8am, and in Wairau there is no coverage, apart from Life Preserving Services (LPS) over the weekends from 4.30pm Friday until 8am Monday.
Nelson Hospital will follow the same weekday strike times as Wairau 4.30pm to 8am however in Nelson on the weekend the standard service will operate from 9.30am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The strike is expected to end at 8am on Tuesday, September 14.
However for one day, Monday September 6, in Nelson Marlborough DHB there will be no strike action for 24 hours and normal services will resume.
ENDS
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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Nelson and Wairau Hospitals have been issued with notice of a fourth week of withdrawl services in the Medical Radiation Technologists strike.
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Nelson and Wairau Hospitals have been issued with notice of a fourth week of withdrawl services in the Medical Radiation Technologists strike.
MRTs’ work is associated with General X-Ray, Computed Tomography (CT Scans) and Angiography.
In Wairau Hospital the strike will take place on weekdays from 4.30pm to 8am, and over the weekends from 4.30pm Friday until 8am Monday September 6.
Nelson Hospital will follow the same weekday strike times as Wairau Hospital 4.30pm to 8am however in Nelson on the weekend the standard on-call service will operate from 9.30am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The strike will end on Monday September 6 at 8am.
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board elective surgery will be further delayed due to this strike. Surgeons who had started to rebook patients into the first week of September have had to reschedule some surgery that required imaging services. As access to X-rays and scans is limited to between 8am and 4pm again.
District Manager James Bowyer said major surgery that was not acute life saving surgery has had to be postponed as we cannot risk patients needing imaging services during the night when MRT cover is unavailable. The union would only provide overnight services where the action would save a life or where permanent disability
would result if a scan was not performed.
He said "This strike also puts further pressure on the Emergency Department (ED) as people who cannot have scans overnight, return to Radiology the next day for scans and then have to return to ED to have their scans read by a doctor. Thus it has the potential to double the workload in this very busy department."
ENDS
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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Candidate nominations for the seven elected Nelson Marlborough District Health Board (NMDHB) members will close tomorrow (20/08) with ten candidates nominated so far (19/08).
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Candidate nominations for the seven elected Nelson Marlborough District Health Board (NMDHB) members will close tomorrow (20/08) with ten candidates nominated so far (19/08).
Candidates have until 12 noon Friday, August 20, 2010, to get their nominations in the hands DHB electoral officers. This Friday also marks the close of the electoral roll - the last date electors can register to get their voting packs sent out in the mail.
Board Secretary Mike Cummins said, “We have a good number of candidates who have put their names forward and it will make for an exciting election campaign. The Board is made up of seven elected members and four members appointed by the Minister.
He reminded candidates that, all board members, both elected and appointed, were directly responsible and accountable to the Minister of Health. He said board members were not there to represent a particular geographic or demographic sector, their role, “at large” was for the good of the whole of the population across the district.
The DHB will display candidate information on their website www.nmdhb.govt.nz once the candidate booklet has been released through Elections 2010. Local Government Online has also made space available to candidates to display information on the website www.elections2010.co.nz . This site will have information for all local authorities throughout New Zealand, including district health boards.
The elections are to be conducted, by postal vote, closing on Saturday, October 9, 2010.
Candidate names will be listed in psuedo-random order on the voting documents. The order of candidates will be determined by lot by a Justice of the Peace at the offices of electionz.com, Level 1, 506 Wairakei Rd, Christchurch at 4pm on Friday, August 20, 2010.
Mr Cummins said he expected one or two more candidates may appear before the closing of nominations at noon on Friday.
He said in the 2007 DHB election there were 19 candidates vying for seven elected board member positions.
ENDS
Questions and Answers
Who are board members responsible to?
While most board members are elected by the public, all board members (both elected and appointed) are directly responsible and accountable to the Minister of Health. This is because DHBs are funded by the Government, using taxpayer dollars. It is acknowledged though that elected members provide an important community voice on DHB boards.
Board decision-making is highly transparent. Meetings, agendas and board papers are normally required to be open and available to the public. The DHB’s District Strategic Plan is also subject to a public consultation process, as are many other decisions DHBs make.
Do board members receive any training?
Yes. Board members who are not familiar with their obligations and duties as members are expected to undertake and complete any necessary training. DHBs fund this training and keep records of it.
Both the Ministry of Health and individual DHBs usually provide induction/refresher sessions for board members, upon their taking office.
How much time does being a board member take up?
Time requirements for board members vary from DHB to DHB, depending on the way the board works, how efficiently members work and on members’ experience.
Board members should be prepared to commit the equivalent of about 60 days per year for board business. This includes preparation time, board meetings, committee meetings, and community liaison activities.
How long do board members serve for?
An elected member serves a three-year term. This term begins on the 58th day after polling day (10 December 2007) and ends on the equivalent date in 2010 when new boards come into office. Board members may stand for re-election every three years.
Appointed members serve at the Minister of Health’s pleasure, and have a term of up to three years. They may, however, be appointed for a shorter time. They may also be reappointed, subject to a upper limit of nine consecutive years on the board. Reappointment is not automatic, and there is no guarantee that any appointed member will be reappointed to a board on the expiry of their term.
Are board members paid for their work?
Yes. The Minister of Health determines board members’ terms and conditions of office and levels of remuneration. Board members are paid an annual fee for their service on the board, and fee levels vary from DHB to DHB (depending on the size and assessed complexity of the DHB). Fees currently range from $16,000 to $26,000 per annum. The board chair and deputy chair receive a higher fee.
Board members are paid an additional fee of up to $2500 per annum for each statutory advisory committee they are a member of. Members serving on certain other committees (eg, audit, risk and finance committees) also receive an additional annual fee.
Members are covered for reasonable expenses associated with board and committee business, such as travel costs.
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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| Murchison Hospital and Health Centre will remain open however residents will have to pay for GP visits.
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| Murchison Hospital and Health Centre will remain open however residents will have to pay for GP visits.
This comes after a half a century of being a
“special area” where GP visits were provided free-of-charge to
residents. This designation was removed in 1993 when the Government
revoked all “special area” status.
Information released at a public meeting last
night (16/08) showed that while there may still be a deficit for the
facility built in 2007, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board would
continue to support the community of Murchison through
meeting the shortfall.
NMDHB Chief Executive, John Peters said,
“Murchison Hospital and Health Centre will probably never be
economically viable as the income generated from six continuing care
beds does not support standard staffing ratios 24 hours per day
7 days per week.
“However the DHB will continue to support the
facility as it serves a dual purpose of providing continuing care beds
for elderly people of Murchison and it is the first response for road
accidents on the busy stretch of State Highway
6 that carries a large amount of tourist traffic.”
“The payment for GP
visits will contribute an additional $60,000 per year and go some way
towards addressing the deficit incurred in providing the Murchison
Hospital and Health Care facility,” said Mr Peters.
The charges have
been estimated based on the amounts being paid in other GP practices
throughout the District which depending on a patient’s age and whether
they have a Community Services Card range from
$25-$45, with children under six years of age free.
The information came from the DHB’s Rutherford
Initiative that takes its name from the famous Lord Rutherford quote,
“we haven’t the money so now we have to think.” Every service within the
DHB will be reviewed under the Rutherford Initiative
both hospitals and community providers.
The DHB also
recommended that a Nurse Practitioner be appointed to provide additional
Primary Care cover for the community. This position will be developed
to work in conjunction with GP services of the area.
Mr Peters said the average deficit for the
Murchison Hospital and Health Care Centre between 2006 and 2009 was in
excess of $100,000 per year.
ENDS
Questions and Answers
What services does Murchison Hospital and Health Care Centre Provide?
MHHC provides Primary and Aged Care services to a
catchment area from the Murchison Township extending from Boundary Road in the South to St Arnaud in the north. These services include:
- Six Aged Care beds, palliative, respite and Needs Assessment and Coordination services;
- Three day GP support;
- 24/7 access to Prime-trained nursing services for emergency and acute care;
- Various registered-nurse Community Services; and
- Other services provided by Health Care professionals.
What is a “special area” and why haven’t Murchison residents paid for their GP services?
Murchison was designated as a “special area” by the Government in the early 20th
century to ensure miners living in the area had ready access to health
services. As a result the community currently does not make
contributions/co-payments
towards primary care services as do other residents of Nelson
Marlborough and indeed New Zealand. Murchison to all intents and
purposes stopped being a special area in 1993 when the Government
revoked all “special area” status.
How much of the shortfall will these charges cover?
Murchison Hospital and Health Centre will
probably never be economically viable –the accounting data shows that
the income does not meet the overheads. A large part of this shortfall
comes from maintaining standard staffing ratios 24
hours per day 7 days per week.
However the DHB will continue to support the
facility as Murchison Hospital and Health Centre serves a dual purpose
of providing continuing care beds for elderly people of Murchison and as
the first response for road accidents on the
busy stretch of State Highway 6 that carries a large amount of tourist
traffic.
Between 2006 and 2009 the average shortfall was in excess of $100k.
What will the GP charges be based on?
The co-payment amount has been estimated based on
the amounts being paid in other GP practices throughout the District.
It should also be noted that the total estimated consultations per annum
is less than the 2008/2009 actual consults
for Murchison.
The benefits of GP charges were determined by
applying the Nelson region average consults per annum by age group
(supplied by Nelson Bays PHO) to Murchison’s patients by age group as at
January 2010 and applying a Co-Payment amount.
The current level of patients (1075) is higher than the 976 total used
in making this estimate.
What is a Nurse Practitioner? (From Nursing Council NZ)
Nurse Practitioners are expert nurses who work within
a specific area of practice incorporating advanced knowledge and
skills. They practice both independently and in collaboration with other
health care professionals to promote health, prevent
disease and to diagnose, assess and manage people’s health needs.
They provide a wide range of assessment and treatment
interventions, including differential diagnoses, ordering, conducting
and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests, and administering
therapies for the management of potential or actual
health needs.
They work in partnership with individuals, families,
whanau and communities across a range of settings. Nurse Practitioners
may choose to prescribe medicines within their specific area of
practice.
Murchison currently has a senior nurse who is close to completing her Nurse Practitioner qualifications
To view a copy of the Murchison Hospital Staff - Rutherford Report Summary click here
For the Rutherford Initiative page click here
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
email katherine.rock@nmdhb.govt.nz
www.nmdhb.govt.nz
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Nelson and Wairau Hospitals have received notice that the Medical Radiation Technologists will add a third week to their strike that will now end on Monday August 30. MRTs’ work is associated with General X-Ray, Computed Tomography (CT Scans) and Angiography.
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Nelson and Wairau Hospitals have received notice that the Medical Radiation Technologists will add a third week to their strike that will now end on Monday August 30.
MRTs’ work is associated with General X-Ray, Computed Tomography (CT Scans) and Angiography.
In Wairau Hospital the strike will take place on weekdays from 4.30pm to 8am, from August 9 to August 27 and over the weekends from 4.30pm Friday until 8am Monday August 30.
Nelson Hospital will follow the same weekday strike times as Wairau Hospital 4.30pm to 8am however in Nelson on the weekend the standard on-call service will operate from 9.30am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The strike will end on Monday 30 August at 8am.
This will mean elective or planned surgery is further disrupted with people waiting longer for surgery.
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, District Manager Clinical Support, James Bowyer said, “After four days of strike action the hospitals are admitting patients who cannot be given a conclusive diagnosis, but do not meet the union’s criteria of Life Preserving Services or prevention of life-long disability.
“Some planned surgery has therefore been postponed to ensure enough beds in hospital wards for this category of admission each night and on weekends.”
Life Preserving Services have been negotiated with the union to ensure that where there is danger of death or permanent disability there will be MRTs available to carry out radiation technology functions.
People who go to the Emergency Department moderate injuries and ailments during the strike times will be asked to return the following day to have X-Rays and scans performed.
Mr Bowyer said this could lead to long delays over the weekend hours in Nelson Hospital and on Monday mornings in Wairau Hospital.
“We appreciate the cooperation of patients so far and we regret any inconvenience that this industrial action may cause.”
ENDS
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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Health authorities are warning that even though the World Health Organisation has moved to a post-pandemic phase New Zealand is still in the midst of a second wave of influenza H1N1.
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Health authorities are warning that even though the World Health Organisation has moved to a post-pandemic phase New Zealand is still in the midst of a second wave of influenza H1N1.
The Ministry of Health reported levels of the H1N1 influenza virus in New Zealand are showing a lot of regional variation, and warned that a number of areas, especially in the South Island, that did not have high levels of influenza last year may see increased levels of influenza in the near future.
Nelson Marlborough Medical Officer of Health, Dr Jill Sherwood said, “Nelson Marlborough schools are experiencing a fast moving outbreak of influenza AH1N1.
“Motueka High School reported there were 138 students out of 589 pupils away on Friday; the majority of these had cold or flu symptoms.
“Limited samples were taken from students confirming H1N1 is in the school.”
The school is doing extra cleaning of hard surfaces and have alcohol hand-sanitiser in all classes.
Dr Sherwood said people should not return to school or work until they are essentially well. If students were well there was no reason to keep them home from school.
She said influenza can range from a mild to severe illness that is highly infectious and easily passed to other people through coughing and sneezing. It may take up to four days to feel symptoms after a person catches influenza
Dr Sherwood said, “For some people influenza can be a very serious illness. If you have influenza-like symptoms and are concerned or are getting worse, you should contact your GP as antiviral medicine may help but needs to be started early.”
She advised that medical advice be sought early if people with flu symptoms had underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or were severely overweight or were pregnant women.
The symptoms of H1N1 area high fever and cough or sore throat along with headache, muscle aches and pains, tiredness and in some cases diarrhoea and vomiting.
“If you or your family are ill and you are concerned, or if a person’s condition worsens, get health advice by calling your GP or Health line on 0800 611 116.
“Do not take sick peopledirectly to hospital without phoning your GP or Healthline first,” she said.
ENDS
Important ways of stopping the spread of the flu are:
- Regularly wash hands and dry them thoroughly
- Stay home if you are unwell
- Avoid close contact with sick people
- Get your seasonal influenza immunisation, which includes protection against swine flu
- People with underlying medical conditions at increased risk of complications are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated, avoid contact with sick people and have good hand washing practices
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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After holding prices on Meals on Wheels for seven years the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has finally conceded that meal prices must rise by $1.20 on October 1, and a further $1.20 on April 1, 2011.
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After holding prices on Meals on Wheels for seven years the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has finally conceded that meal prices must rise by $1.20 on October 1, and a further $1.20 on April 1, 2011.
Hot meals are prepared and delivered by Meals on Wheels Services to people living at home who, because of their age, illness or disability, are unable to prepare their own meals.
Consumers currently pay $4 per meal and despite significant increases in food and fuel prices this has not changed in seven years. To take into account further cost of living increases there will be an annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase on April 1 each year starting in 2012.
The October 1 increase takes into account the GST rise to 15%.
Access to Meals on Wheels is by referral from, GPs, Wards, District Nursing, and Support Works. The meals are mainly for people over 65 years of age, who require short or long term assistance with meals due to disabilities or personal health needs.
NMDHB District Manager Clinical Support, James Bowyer said, “The shortfall in covering the costs of these meals has been supported by general health funding and is projected to be $150,000 in this financial year which can no longer be sustained.”
“Distribution and food costs have significantly increased over the last seven years and we now need to increase the co-payment that consumers pay,” said Mr Bowyer.
“I acknowledge that there is never a right time to increase prices however the longer we leave this the bigger the gap between what consumers pay and the funding provided for these meals.”
The DHB contribution will continue at $5.01 per meal.
Mr Bowyer said the DHB contribution is significant and the meal price to consumers was below the average
Meals on Wheels price charged by other DHBs.
ENDS
Meals on Wheels - Questions and Answers
Where has funding been coming from for the shortfall?
This shortfall to cover costs of Meals on Wheels has been supported by general health funding that is needed in hospital services. Next year the shortfall is predicted to be $150,000.
This move will allow more hospital services to be provided. The DHB can only spend a dollar once and getting the best value for each dollar sometimes means finding savings where we have previously been over-supporting at the expense of other services.
How many people receive Meals on Wheels services?
Numbers of clients provided with Meals on Wheels for the month of June 2010 across the district 548.
Nelson, Stoke & Richmond area 274
Blenheim, Renwick & Picton area 176
Murchison area 7
Golden Bay area 32
Motueka area 59
Is there a necessity to provide these meals?
Meals on Wheels are provided according to Ministry of Health Service Specification dated June 2001 which sets out who can access the service:
o People discharged from Secondary Health Services who require short term assistance with meals, e.g. up to a maximum of 6 weeks
o People with disabilities or personal health needs who require ongoing assistance with meals beyond 6 weeks
o Clients of Primary Health Care Services assessed as requiring assistance with meals whether for the short or long term as noted above.
Referrals come from: GPs, Wards, District Nursing and Support Works.
How much does the DHB contribute to each Meals on Wheels meal?
The DHB contributes $5.01 per meal this level of support will continue.
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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| Both Nelson and Wairau Hospital have had to reduce the amount of surgery performed during the Medical Radiation Technologists’ (MRT) strike action over the next two weeks from August 9 to August 23.
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Both Nelson and Wairau Hospital have had to reduce the amount of surgery performed during the Medical Radiation Technologists’ (MRT) strike action over the next two weeks from August 9 to August 23.
In Wairau Hospital the strike will take place on weekdays from 4.30pm to 8am, and over the weekends from 4.30pm Friday until 8am Monday.
Nelson Hospital will follow the same weekday strike times as Wairau Hospital 4.30pm to 8am however in Nelson on the weekend the standard on-call service will operate from 9.30am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The strike will end on Monday 23 August at 8am.
Life Preserving Services have been negotiated with the union to ensure that where there is danger of death or permanent disability there will be MRTs available to carry out radiation technology functions.
District Manager Clinical Support, James Bowyer said, “As we must keep the use of radiology scans to a minimum with no routine radiology after 4.30pm we must reduce the number of people going to surgery.
In the interest of patient safety we have reprioritised surgery performed during the next two weeks based on clinical need and whether the procedure required further radiology support.
“We will reschedule all postponed surgery in the coming weeks.
“We also anticipate more admissions over the strike period as we cannot get diagnostic scans performed overnight without invoking the Life Preserving Service. Therefore we need to make sure beds are available for these admissions.
“During the strike patients referred for X-Rays after 4pm, through GPs or the Emergency Department, with non life threatening conditions will be asked to return the next day from 8am to 4.30pm. This may cause unavoidable delays and the DHB regrets any inconvenience this may cause.”
MRTs’ work is associated with General X-Ray, Computed Tomography (CT Scans) and Angiography.
This strike relates to members Association of Professionals and Executive Employees (APEX).
ENDS
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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South Island sentinel surveillance data for influenza is now showing some influenza activity in Nelson Marlborough with an increase in numbers over the last week.
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South Island sentinel surveillance data for influenza is now showing some influenza activity in Nelson Marlborough with an increase in numbers over the last week.
This data is collected from a sample of GP practices around the country and gives an indication of the numbers of people attending general practice with influenza symptoms.
The most common strain of influenza this winter is expected to be the influenza A H1N1 or swine flu strain.
Medical Officer of Health Dr Ed Kiddle said, “This increase is consistent with our recent experience of school
outbreaks of influenza in Marlborough.”
“Students unwell with influenza like-illness with symptoms of a cough, sore throat, fever, muscles aches should stay at home until well.
“Similarly pre-schoolers with these symptoms should not go to preschool.”
To help lessen spread of the influenza virus Dr Kiddle advised people to cover coughs and sneezes, and wash
hands with soap and water, and dry them well.
“Ring your doctor if your child is unwell and you are concerned,” said Dr Kiddle.
He said it is important to contact your doctor early if your child has an another medical condition such as asthma or diabetes and gets influenza as antiviral medicine will help but needs to be started early.
He said H1N1 was a mild illness in most cases however if you are concerned you should see your GP or phone Healthline 0800 611 116.
“Vaccination provides the best protection and is very important for people who have other medical conditions,” said Dr Kiddle.
He advised people to contact their GP to inquiry about vaccination to protect against influenza if they had not already been vaccinated.
ENDS
Surveillance Data from Sentinel GP Practices (two Nelson, one Blenheim)
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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The release of credit card expenditure details for Nelson Marlborough District Health Board’s (NMDHB) Chief Executive (CE) has shown that all transactions were appropriate.
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The release of credit card expenditure details for Nelson Marlborough District Health Board’s (NMDHB) Chief Executive (CE) has shown that all transactions were appropriate.
The analysis of credit card expenditure was part of information gathered for a recent Official Information Act request to all DHB CEOs.
John Peters has been CE of NMDHB for five years, and has responsibility to the public and the board for delivering health services to the value of $380m per year to the population of Nelson Marlborough district.
The analysis of DHB CEOs’ use of credit cards showed that there were different processes in each individual DHB for card use. In NMDHB the card is for CE work-related expenses including taxis and meals, professional development, conferences and accommodation where charge-back is unavailable.
While CE John Peters’ use of the credit card was high in comparison to some other CEs, NMDHB encouraged credit card use as a transparent and efficient means of recording expenses for accounting purposes.
Total expenditure on the card for $2008/09 was $21,300 and $10,400 for 2009/10 which covered 368 transactions, of which 249 were for taxis and 41 were for parking charges.
Almost one third of the total card expenditure for this two year period was for other staff members. This included conferences for staff members charged to the CE’s credit card, for convenience purposes, all of which was
appropriate DHB spending.
The majority of transactions were associated with the demands of Mr Peters’ role as a senior health executive on national and regional health committees (see attached list). These meetings and committees plan and coordinate regional and national health services. The majority of transactions on the NMDHB CE’s credit card were for taxis used while attending these meetings.
Mr Peter said, “You will note that since the National Health Board has taken on responsibility for areas that CEs previously worked on there has been a decrease in travel and meetings that I need to attend. I anticipate that these will continue to decline.”
The CE acts within his delegated financial authorisation where credit card expenses were concerned and Suzanne Win, Board Chair subsequently views and signs off expenditure.
Suzanne Win said she was comfortable with the analysis of the spending and the authorisation process for credit card expenditure.
“There is a policy for credit card use that Mr Peters adheres to and this process meets the approval of Audit New Zealand,” she said.
Mr Peters said, “There have been occasions where it was appropriate for me to charge meals to the card, for example in recognition of a Strategic Leadership Team member being farewelled or where it was appropriate to share a meal with strategic partners like the Primary Health Organisations.
“I am always mindful of the financial circumstances and have kept expenses to a minimum. However I do need to engage with others in local, regional and national planning and provision of health services.
“The expenses are all scrutinised by the annual audit process and no issues have been raised.”
The CE’s credit card is a Westpac Business Credit Card that is paid monthly with no interest charged.
ENDS
Credit Card Usage 2008/09 and 2009/10
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Taxis
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249
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Parking
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41
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Other
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71
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*Purchase on behalf of others
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7
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368
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*Purchase on behalf of other staff members 2008/09 and 2009/10 $9200.96
Health committees and meetings attended during the 2008/09 year and 2009/10 year
2008/09
Value for Money, Wellington (monthly although many were teleconferences)
SI (South Island) CEOs, Christchurch bi monthly
CEO Executive, Wellington bi monthly
National CEOs, Wellington monthly
NQIP (National Quality Improvement Programme), Wellington periodically
PFG, (Performance Framework Group) Wellington monthly
Health Management System Collaborative, Wellington starting off in September 08 and progressing through to end 2009
Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) Advance – July 08
Australasian Health Leaders Conference – August 08
Learning Set, Queensland – August 08
SLT Advance – October 08
International Health Leaders Conference – October 08
Innov’8 Conference, Wellington October 08
Learning Set, Tauranga – December 08
SLT Advance – March 09
HSRA Learning Lab, Wellington – March 09
Healthlink Conference, Wellington – April 09
SLT Advance – May 09
2009/10
Performance Framework Group – no longer attending
Health Management System Collaborative – no longer attending
CEO Exec
SI CEOs
National Quality Improvement Programme – no longer attending
National Institute of Health Innovation
National CEOs
Trip to UK (paid for by Ministry of Health) – September 09
Learning Set, Melbourne – October 09
SLT Advance – November 09
SLT Advance – March 10
Questions and Answers
Why is the CE’s card used for other staff?
Sometimes it is convenient that conference bookings or other purchases are made by credit card on line to receive early registration discounts. These items amount to nearly one third of the value charged to the CE’s card in the last two years.
Who audits the CE’s expenses?
These expenses are audited each year, as part of the focus on Sensitive Expenditure. No issues have been reported by Audit NZ with regard to the use of the CE's credit card. This is audited against the credit card policy as outlined below:
Sensitive Expenditure Policy Letter to CE and SLT
Credit Card
You have been issued with an NMDHB credit card. You may use the card for the purchase of:
- food and alcohol for a business meeting as *above
- petrol for a DHB vehicle when the preferred supplier is not available
- flowers on the bereavement of a senior staff member, Board or committee member or a member of their immediate family
- minor consumables for the DHB Office
- urgent changes to air travel that cannot be made through Orbit.
The card may be used for the following business expenses:
- professional work related subscriptions
- approved courses and conferences
- taxis and other transport when travelling on DHB business
- purchase of gifts on retirement.
You may not use the credit card for a cash advance unless exceptional circumstances arise, eg when travelling and your personal belongings are lost or stolen.
* Alcohol
You may pay for alcohol for a business related meeting with a supplier, contractor, other business partner and occasional appropriate staff functions. The amount is not to exceed $10 per person.
Why is NMDHB CE credit card usage higher than some other DHB CEs?
The use of a credit card for all possible transactions reduces the transaction cost of using alternatives such as taxi chits, and charge backs. It is also a very transparent means of reporting expenses.
As Nelson is not a major centre most meetings of a national or regional nature are held in Wellington and Christchurch with associated taxi charges to-and-from airports.
NMDHB’s CE participated in a higher than average number of national and regional activities over the two year period.
What is a Learning Set?
A Learning Set brings together people of similar roles to share experience and knowledge. This is appropriate professional development for the CE of a $380m health care service.
What is an Advance?
This is a two-day planning workshop for SLT.
Why did the Marriot Vancouver refund $2144.19 in 28 October 2008?
This amount was refunded after the CE discovered the hotel had charged the full room rate instead of the conference room rate.
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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Nelson Marlborough District Health Board hospitals are preparing for a Medical Radiation Technologists (MRT) strike that will see after hours routine imaging services withdrawn during the night from Monday August 9 to Monday August 23, 2010.
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Nelson Marlborough District Health Board hospitals are preparing for a Medical Radiation Technologists (MRT) strike that will see after hours routine imaging services withdrawn during the night from Monday August 9 to Monday August 23, 2010.
MRTs’ work is associated with General X-Ray, Computed Tomography (CT Scans) and Angiography.
In Wairau Hospital the strike will take place on weekdays from 4.30pm to 8am, from August 9 to August 20 and over the weekends from 4.30pm Friday until 8am Monday.
Nelson Hospital will follow the same weekday strike times as Wairau Hospital 4.30pm to 8am however in Nelson on the weekend the standard on-call service will operate from 9.30am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The strike will end on Monday 23 August at 8am.
Life Preserving Services have been negotiated with the union to ensure that where there is danger of death or permanent disability there will be MRTs available to carry out radiation technology functions.
During the strike patients referred for X-Rays, through GPs or the Emergency Department, with non life threatening conditions will be asked to return the next day from 8am to 4.30pm.
This strike relates to members Association of Professionals and Executive Employees (APEX).
NMDHB District Manager Clinical Services, James Bowyer said, "Life Preserving Services processes are being arranged for wards and the Emergency Departments. As well as this hospitals are putting in place contingency plans that will see procedures and appointments that require imaging to be completed earlier in the day.
"Life Preserving Services include injury or illness that could lead to life-long disability. This will be clinically assessed by senior doctors and a radiologist before requesting LPS cover to be brought into the hospital."
ENDS
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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The District Health Board is encouraging candidates to come forward to be nominated for the District Health Board elections.
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The District Health Board is encouraging candidates to come forward to be nominated for the District Health Board elections.
Nominations for Nelson Marlborough District Health Board opened on July 23 and will close on Friday August 20, 2010. The local body election to be held in October is a postal vote, closing on October 9.
Board Secretary Mike Cummins said, “We are looking for people who are interested in being involved in the future direction of health services in Nelson Marlborough.”
“These are people who want to make a contribution towards improving the health and wellbeing of people in our community.”
Candidates should be willing to represent the whole community. They must work with the management team to implement appropriate strategies that reflect changing demands, fiscal constraints, a rapidly aging population and growing expectations on the health sector.
There are seven elected members of the board, with a further four board members appointed by the Minister of Health. Appointments are usually made after the election to complement the elected members. Appointments could take into consideration gender, Maori, and geographic spread of members.
Mr Cummins said there could also be a representative from another DHB appointed to the Nelson Marlborough DHB to improve regional collaboration.
DHB elections use the Single Transferable Voting (STV) system to elect candidates to boards. Under STV, voters rank their desired candidates in order of preference. Candidates for the DHB elections will be listed in pseudo random order on the voting form.
The Department of Internal Affairs has developed computer software which counts STV vote preferences. This software is used by DHB electoral officers to calculate the election results.
ENDS
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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Nelson Marlborough District Health Board (NMDHB) has finished the 2009/10 financial year with a deficit of $5.389m which is $491k better than the budgeted deficit of $5.880m.
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Nelson Marlborough District Health Board (NMDHB) has finished the 2009/10 financial year with a deficit of $5.389m which is $491k better than the budgeted deficit of $5.880m.
Total revenue for the year was $381.5m from all sources.
NMDHB General Manager Finance and Commercial, Nigel Trainor, said in these challenging financial times the DHB can be proud of the result coming in under the District Annual Plan projected deficit.
He said the DHB had planned this deficit to spend previous years’ surplus and planned a breakeven position in 2011/12 once Rutherford Initiative recommendations had been implemented.
NMDHB has three divisions; funding health services, governance of health services and provision of health services.
The funding division that purchases health services for the district, ended the year with a deficit of $4.234m against a budgeted deficit of $4.965m.
Mr Trainor said, “The funding division came in under budget for a number of reasons, additional funds were received and spent on primary health and palliative care. However areas where this division was over budget included; patient travel to other DHBs for specialist care, community pharmaceuticals and Residential Care for the elderly.
He said the provider of health services, which includes hospitals, had a deficit of $1.155m which was more than the budgeted deficit of $915k.
“We had a higher than budgeted revenue for this area due to additional volumes in intellectual and physical disability services, some personnel costs were also under budget however medical and nursing costs and staff numbers were over budget.
He said clinical supplies were over budget primarily because the type of surgery delivered relied on greater clinical supplies. For example orthopaedics delivered 31% more than expected.
Mr Trainor said thanks should go to all DHB staff who earlier this year got behind the Recovery Plan that brought spending within the DHB back on track however we must maintain this restraint during 2010/11 to stay on budget.
The governance of health services division ended the year in a breakeven position.
ENDS
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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An outbreak of illness at Seddon School has been identified as H1N1 influenza, swine flu. The Public Health Service investigated the outbreak as a lot of children had been sick and off school with initial reports of vomiting suggesting possible norovirus.
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An outbreak of illness at Seddon School has been identified as H1N1 influenza, swine flu.
The Public Health Service investigated the outbreak as a lot of children had been sick and off school with initial reports of vomiting suggesting possible norovirus.
However on speaking to parents Nelson Marlborough Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ed Kiddle said, “Most children had upper respiratory tract infections, cough, sore throat and a fever.”
He said swab tests were taken from sick children on Wednesday and results were received today (30/07), all have shown H1N1 influenza.
Dr Kiddle said this is the swine flu strain and the most common strain of flu in NZ this year.
These are the first confirmed cases in Nelson Marlborough this winter but it is likely there are other cases out in
the community.
He said the outbreak at the school started over a week ago but is waning now. At its peak nearly half the children were off school. He said the outbreak at the school started over a week ago but is waning now. At its peak 46 children out of a roll of 107 were been ill.
Information on influenza is being sent to schools across the district to send home to parents.
Influenza is highly infectious and easily passed to other people through coughing and sneezing.
Important ways of stopping the spread of illness are staying home if unwell, covering coughs and regular hand washing.
“If you are concerned or are getting worse or if you have an underlying medical condition such asthma you should contact your GP as antiviral medicines will help but needs to be started early,” said Dr Kiddle.
Pregnant woman are also at higher risk of complications from influenza.
“Vaccination provides the best protection and is very important for people who have other medical conditions,” said Dr Kiddle.
He advised people to contact their GP to inquiry about vaccination to protect against influenza if they had not already been vaccinated.
If you need more information phone Healthline 0800 611 116 or go to the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board website www.nmdhb.govt.nz
ENDS
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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Nelson Marlborough DHB is walking the talk when encouraging breastfeeding mums on their return to work.
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Nelson Marlborough DHB is walking the talk when encouraging breastfeeding mums on their return to work.
Shelley Shea has recently returned from maternity leave to her position as Clinical Nurse Educator for Medical across Nelson and Marlborough and is expressing breast milk for daughter Kamryn (5 and half months), to continue to receive the benefits of breastfeeding.
Shelley says she has been supported by team members and the Director of Nursing and Midwifery to be able to find places to pump while out and about in her role. Kamryn is also coming in to breastfeed while Shelley is at work.
“Between offices, interview rooms and consultants rooms I can usually find a quiet spot with a three point electrical outlet for the pump or to breastfeed Kamryn when she is on site.
Shelley says she only needs to express milk at work once a day and sometimes her daughter is brought to her for a lunch-time feed as well.
“I’ll continue to do it as long as I need to, we’ve just started to introduce solids and there is formula available but she hasn’t needed it as yet.”
“Continuing to breastfeed while returning to work requires some organisation and juggling. There are still the night feeds and the need to express milk and feed baby Kamryn at 6am before heading into work. There is also the need to be efficient at work with my role and to get away home on time to meet her afternoon feed.”
“I also manage continued post graduate nursing study and thus the need to be organised is critical so that Kamryn and family time occur.”
So far it is working well and Shelley says she is very happy having husband Matt, who is training to be an Early Childhood Teacher, looking after baby Kamryn during work hours.
She says the benefits to Kamryn and herself are many and she would recommend anyone considering returning to work to create a system that is manageable to them and their family and workplace in terms of establishing or continuing a breastfeeding regime.
Director of Nursing and Midwifery Robyn Henderson is very supportive of new mothers continuing to breastfeed whilst they return to work.
She says, “This is an important transition point and can be a difficult time for parents and babies.
“Support that is real, practical and realistic is critical for the mother to effectively transition back into her role without feeling a “burden” or oddball in the workplace.
“It is important that this is successful for all parties and creating an environment focused on the best outcome for all parties is essential.
Whilst it is each woman’s decision, Ms Henderson supports the World Health Organisation’s recommendation that babies are served well by being breast fed for six months.
In 2007/2008 71% of Nelson Marlborough mothers were breastfeeding their babies at six weeks of age, and 61% were continuing to breastfeed at three months and 32% were breastfeeding at six months.
Midwifery Advisor Debbie Fisher said, “Wairau, Nelson and Golden Bay maternity units have achieved Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) accreditation. BFHI is a World Health Organisation primary intervention strategy for promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding.
Debbie’s advice is, “The best feeding option globally is the initiation of breastfeeding within the first half hour of life, exclusive breastfeeding for a full six months and continued breastfeeding through the second year or beyond.
“Breastfeeding has a positive influence on the health status and social wellbeing of the baby, mother, family and community.”
ENDS
Benefits of breastfeeding and breast milk (Ministry of Health 2010).
- Breast milk is easily digested and is free, always fresh and immediately available.
- A mother with a healthy diet provides breast milk with a perfect blend of nutrients and protective antibodies (although it doesn’t replace the need for immunisations).
- Breastfeeding helps baby grow and develop physically and emotionally
- Breastfeeding and breast milk helps protect a baby from chest infections, meningitis, ear infections and urine infections.
- Breastfeeding decreases the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI).
- Breastfeeding and breast milk may protect a baby from chronic tummy problems and some childhood cancers - there is also evidence of a reduced risk of allergies, eczema and asthma.
- Breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of obesity and may help reduce the risk of diabetes in baby’s later life
Benefits for mothers
- Breastfeeding helps mothers recover from birth.
- Skin-to-skin contact is a wonderful way to start intimately connecting with your baby and a great boost to breastfeeding.
- Breastfeeding reduces the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer in mothers.
- Breastfeeding may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and hip fracture in mothers later in life.
- Breastfeeding may help mum to lose the weight gained through pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding can be part of a healthier lifestyle for mum.
Media Opportunity – Breastfeeding Week August 2 - 9
Media Marlborough – Shelley is at Wairau Hospital on Tuesday 3 August if you would like to set up a time to meet with Shelley for a photograph.
Media Nelson – Shelley and Kamryn will be at Nelson Hospital, Braemar Campus on Monday 2 August between 12 noon and 1pm
Contact:
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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Nelson Marlborough District Board has approved an interim upgrade for Nelson Hospital while it waits to see if national funding will be available for a proposed major redevelopment of $45m.
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Nelson Marlborough District Board has approved an interim upgrade for Nelson Hospital while it waits to see if national funding will be available for a proposed major redevelopment of $45m.
At a Board meeting on Tuesday (06/07) it was agreed that planning for the interim redevelopment that will cost up to $10m would go ahead.
The interim solution included:
- A refurbishment of surgical wards on levels five and six of the George Manson Building and refitting level four for inpatients if needed
- Extend intensive care unit by infilling two courtyards for 12-bed Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU)
- Build extension to Surgical Outpatients on level 2 over rehabilitation gym.
Nelson Hospital presently has 179 beds and it is estimated to need 195 beds by 2016 with provision for another 14 if demand dictates, and for 254 beds by 2026.
NMDHB Board Secretary said, “Redevelopment planning identified increased demand in cardiology, intensive care and medical patients and surgical outpatients as pressure points that needed to be addressed immediately.
“The recommendation from the Board was that planning should go ahead for its option 3 interim solution followed by option 4, the new build, once national funding becomes available.
“While the DHB must still find efficiencies and constrain costs wherever possible we also need to plan for the future.”
He said that as the interim upgrade was expected to cost less than $10m it would not need approval from the national Capital Investment Committee.
The capital cost of the interim build would come from accumulated surpluses. Funds will be borrowed to assist with the cost of the larger building.
A detailed business plan would now be prepared for the next Board meeting on August 17 before a preliminary design was undertaken.
This second stage builds on the earlier redevelopment of Nelson Hospital that was completed in 2003.
Mr Cummins said once funding for the larger redevelopment was approved it would take 15 to 18 months for the new six-level building to be planned and up to two years to be built.
This would be sited on the existing car park and would have: a two-level underground carpark, one level for assessment treatment and rehabilitation (AT&R), a level for surgical inpatients and learning centre, and the top floor for medical, oncology, and dialysis patients.
ENDS
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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While Nelson Marlborough has yet to have any cases of H1N1 influenza (Swine Flu) reported through sentinel GP surveillance sites medical officials say this pandemic strain of influenza will be back this winter.
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While Nelson Marlborough has yet to have any cases of H1N1 influenza (Swine Flu) reported through sentinel GP surveillance sites medical officials say this pandemic strain of influenza will be back this winter.
Nelson Marlborough Medical Officer of Health Dr Ed Kiddle said it is likely cases will increase over the next few weeks and the best defence against influenza is through immunisation from your GP.
“This immunisation, covering the pandemic "swine flu" strain of influenza along with two other strains, is still available through GP practices,” he said.
The immunisation is free to more people this year including pregnant women and people who are significantly obese as well as people 65 years and over and those with long-term conditions. These conditions include: cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease including asthma, diabetes, chronic renal disease, cancer, and people with immune system conditions.
He said most people who had the flu could be cared for at home, however if concerned about their condition people should phone their GP or the national Healthline on 0800 611 116.
Dr Kiddle said there were some basic infection control measures that people could take to help to stay healthy such as; washing hands especially before eating, staying away from other people if you are unwell, and covering coughs and sneezes.
Typical influenza symptoms are fever, cough and sore throat, headache, aches and pains and tiredness. H1N1 influenza can also cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Influenza symptoms are more severe than cold symptoms that include runny or blocked nose, sneezing, a cough and sore throat.
In the event that people did get the flu he said fluid intake and reducing fever with paracetamol were the most important factors.
ENDS
The national influenza surveillance system in New Zealand is an essential public health component for assessing and implementing strategies to control influenza. The Influenza Weekly Updates summarise the data collected from sentinel general practive (GP) surveillance and non-sentinel surveillance.
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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Acute admissions to Golden Bay Hospital in Takaka are being redirected to Nelson Hospital following urgent unplanned staff leave.
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Acute admissions to Golden Bay Hospital in Takaka are being redirected to Nelson Hospital following urgent unplanned staff leave.
The remaining staff at the facility will concentrate their workload around patients already in the hospital. From Thursday evening (24/06) patients who would normally be referred by their GP to the Golden Bay Hospital were instead being referred to Nelson Hospital. Transport, for these patients, to Nelson Hospital would be by ambulance, helicopter or by private vehicle.
Local GPs generally referred two to three acute adult patients to Golden Bay Hospital per week. Patient conditions ranged from respiratory ailments to patients who required clinical observation. Unstable or very ill patients were routinely transferred to Nelson Hospital by the most appropriate means of transport.
Nelson Marlborough DHB, District Manager Rural Hospitals, Rosey Wilson said, “There has been a variety of unforeseeable
factors that has led to the current staffing situation.
“We have a good workforce in Golden Bay, our staff are professional and caring. We are unable to accept new admissions due to staffing level.
“We appreciate that this will inconvenience some patients, however their safety is our greater concern.”
The situation will be reassessed by hospital management on Monday and a decision made on whether acute admissions can again be referred to the Golden Bay hospital, said Mrs Wilson.
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Ph 03 546 1824 or 0274466799
Private Bag 18
Nelson
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| Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has announced the restructure of its senior leadership team.
The new structure brings those concerned with district wide delivery of services into the senior team and increases the input of clinicians. It is also intended to achieve greater clarity and accountability across both operational and support functions.
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Chief Executive (CE) John Peters said, “The previous structure served the organisation well for the past four years, with surpluses and new initiatives in a number of recent years.
“However with changing pressures and priorities the Leadership Team needed to work towards long term clinical and financial viability of the DHB while including greater clinical involvement.”
Some of the pressures and priorities included moving into deficit from a period of sustained surpluses, changed long term outlook, and changed political priorities.
Mr Peters said the new structure goes well beyond the functions that traditionally reported to the Chief Executive, offering an exciting leadership opportunity to take the DHB into a challenging future.
The ELT will have two distinct functions; Service Delivery and Support.
Service Delivery includes: Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Director of Maori Health and Whanau Ora, Chief Medical Officer as well as Primary and Secondary Clinical and Service Directors in; Medical/Surgical, Primary (including Oral Health and Public Health), Mental Health, Clinical Support, and Wairau Services.
Support functions include General Manager (GM) Strategy and Planning, GM Corporate Services, GM Workforce and Organisational Development, and CE Office Support .
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Questions and Answers
1. What positions were included in the former Strategic Leadership Team?
Chief Executive,
Chief Operating Officer,
Chief Medical Advisor,
Director of Nursing,
General Manager Planning and Funding,
General Manager Finance and Commercial
Board Secretary,
Director of Maori Health,
General Manager Primary and Community,
General Manager Organisational Development,
Chief Information Officer.
2. How long was the previous structure in place?
Since October 2005
3. Why has this restructure been undertaken at this time?
In late March 2010, the Strategic Leadership Team undertook a stringent self-evaluation and objective analysis of the organisation’s current leadership need. In order to complete this, the following principles were established:
· Minimise transaction cost; minimise bureaucracy
· Minimal points of accountability
· Person-centred - whole of service
· Future focus, recognising likely further regional or national change
· Simple, practical, workable
· Fairness and equity.
This also gave us the opportunity to give greater Clinical Engagement and Clinical Leadership in the most strategic setting. This follows the Minister’s working group paper, “In Good Hands” which defines clinical governance as:
“Clinical governance is the system through which health and disability services are accountable and responsible for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care, by creating an environment in which clinical excellence will flourish.”
With a major requirement of modern health care being the need to “ensure that clinicians are brought together across primary and secondary care” the intention behind both the Clinical Team and Service Delivery approach is to facilitate this integration.
Contact:
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Board Office
Braemar Campus
Private Bag 18
Nelson
DD 03 546 1824 Internal Extn 7824 Cell 0274 466 799 Fax 03 546 1747
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After a thorough investigation into the complaint from Victoria Davis no evidence has been found to substantiate her claims that she was told to hire a private nurse as ward nurses were too busy to care for her mother.
The Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has complete confidence in the nursing care provided in Nelson Hospital Medical Unit.
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Chief Executive John Peters said, "There is no evidence to verify the allegation that Ms Davis was told to employ her own nurse. And under no circumstances would we condone public hospital nursing care being supplemented with private nurses paid for by families.
"I would like to assure the community and patients that it is not, and has never been, the policy of the DHB to require families or patients to provide their own nurse.
"The Medical Unit provides a very high standard of care and from this investigation we can categorically say that from the evidence produced by our staff and the lack of cooperation on the part of Victoria Davis that at no stage was it suggested to Ms Davis that private nursing was required."
Ms Davis may have confused a nurse's comment about prioritising her mother's needs as not meeting her wishes because when asked if her mother would get a shower at a specific time the nurse indicated that there were other clinical priorities for her mother's care at that time.
Staff were interviewed and the Director of Nursing and Midwifery Robyn Henderson, reviewed the patient's clinical file and advised that there was clear evidence that NMDHB nurses not only planned the patient's care but delivered this consistently throughout the patient's hospital stay. Clear documentation, including a comprehensive nursing care plan is evidenced in this file.
"In these notes there is mention of a family friend who was at the patient's bedside and did what we would expect any friend to contribute to care. However we were unaware that this was a paid carer and the complainant has refused to give any information around the name, agency, or qualifications of the carer who described herself as a "former carer but was now a family friend"," said Ms Henderson.
She said the nurses caring for the patient delegated only things that would normally be delegated to any family member or friend of family. There was never any expectation on the part of staff, that this friend would 'nurse' the patient.
"If anyone has issues with care in any facility we would expect them to speak with the Charge Nurse Manager," said Mrs Henderson.
If this patient had been assessed as needing a higher level of clinical care she would have been admitted to ICU.
"Nursing staff encourages the contact a patient has with friends and relatives as sometimes having familiar people involved in basic cares has a reassuring effect on elderly patients.
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Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has received an increase of around $10m in funding in this year's Budget.
This represents a 2.89% increase for the DHB which brings the annual population-based funding for Nelson Marlborough to around $355m.
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Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has received an increase of around $10m in funding in this year's Budget.
This represents a 2.89% increase for the DHB which brings the annual population-based funding for Nelson Marlborough to around $355m..
NMDHB Board Secretary, Mike Cummins said, "Although there is an increase and we are grateful for this, the DHB will still need to maintain tight control over expenditure.
"The increase is not as high as previous years, however this was signalled some time ago, and is reflected in the DHB's District Annual Plan for 2010/11."
The DHB will still have a budgeted deficit for next year however this will be less than the budgeted deficit of this financial year of $5.4m.
Mr Cummins said the increased funding would go toward some of the increased costs that the DHB has experienced as well as $660k increase in funding for elective services and $300k increase for community mental health services.
The national Population Based Funding formula is designed to distribute available funding fairly between DHBs, according to the relative needs of their populations and the cost of providing health services to meet those needs.
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Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Board Office
Braemar Campus
Private Bag 18
Nelson
DD 03 546 1824 Internal Extn 7824 Cell 0274 466 799 Fax 03 546 1747
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| Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has met most Health Targets in the third quarter to the end of March 2010.
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Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has met most Health Targets in the third quarter to the end of March 2010.
The Health Targets released today (19/05) show that nationally, these third quarter results showed improvement in rates in most target areas. The 2009/10 national immunisation target of 85 percent has been achieved throughout the country three months before the end of the year.
General Manager Planning and Funding, Dr Sharon Kletchko said, "The six national Health Target results for quarter three showed that NMDHB was doing well against the targets set. However a faster rate of improvement in some District Health Boards (DHBs) this quarter has led, in some cases, to lower national rankings for NMDHB."
"There are areas like Diabetes where we are working on data issues that may see an improvement for the next quarter when these have been remedied."
"Again the Radiotherapy Cancer Waiting Times for treatment have led to a low ranking in this target. NMDHB had 91% of patients seen within six weeks however seven patients waited longer than six weeks for treatment in Christchurch.
She said capacity issues related to the installation of a patient management system in Christchurch were the cause of some delays. To alleviate this, from March 1 all Marlborough patients who need radiation treatment are being referred to Wellington.
In summary:
Health Target: Shorter stays in Emergency Departments- Target achieved
Target: 95% of patients admitted, discharged or transferred from ED within 6 hours. Ranking: 3rd
In Nelson Marlborough hospitals 98% of Emergency Department patients are admitted, discharged or transferred from the department within six hours this is equal to the last quarter.
Health Target: Improved access to elective surgery -Target achieved
Target: Increase the volume of elective surgery by an average of 4000 discharges per year. Ranking: 8th
The DHB achieved 106% of the "Improved access to elective surgery" target this is down 2% on the last quarter.
Health Target: Shorter waits for cancer treatment radiotherapy- Not achieved 7 (9.5%) patients waited more than six weeks. 100% of the 4 NM patients were treated within 6 weeks in Wellington this quarter, 91% of the 74 NM patients were treated within 6 weeks in Christchurch.
Target: Everyone needing radiation treatment will have this within six weeks of their first specialist assessment by the end of July 2010, and within four weeks by December 2010.
Ranking: 20th
Christchurch January and March results were at 95% and 92% respectively. February’s poor result of 69% related to reduced capacity while the new patient management system was installed. Effective 1 March Canterbury entered into an agreement with Capital and Coast DHB to undertake treatment for Blenheim based patients.
Health Target: Increased immunisation - Target achieved
Target: For 85 percent of two-year olds to be fully immunised by July 2010; 90 percent by July 2011; and 95 percent by July 2012. Ranking: 12th
Local immunisation rates increased from the national target of 85% to 86% of two year olds fully immunised.
Health Target: Better help for smokers to quit - Partially achieved
Target: 80 percent of hospitalised smokers will be provided with advice and help to quit by July 2010; 90 percent by July 2011; and 95 percent by July 2012. Ranking: 6th
An improvement to 47% in the target "Better help for smokers to quit" may see the annual target of 80% of hospitalised smokers provided with advice and help to quit, reached by the deadline of July 2010
Health Target: Better Diabetes and Cardiovascular Services - Diabetes Detection & Follow up target not achieved - Diabetes Management target not achieved - CVD Risk Assessment target partially achieved
Target: (a) an increased percent of the eligible adult population will have had their cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessed in the last five years; (b) an increased percent of people with diabetes will attend free annual checks; (c) an increased percent of people with diabetes will have satisfactory or better diabetes management. Ranking: 18th
The DHB is currently working with the Ministry of Health to clear up a discrepancy in the data for the target "Better Diabetes and Cardiovascular Services" as there is some concern that the number of people with diabetes in the community may be overestimated.
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A table of the national targets showing each DHB placing in these areas is available on www.nmdhb.govt.nz
Katherine Rock
Communications Advisor
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Board Office
Braemar Campus
PO Box 18
Nelson
DD 03 546 1824 Internal Extn 7824 Cell 0274 466 799 Fax 03 546 1747
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