Category: Health

Auto Added by WPeMatico

Posted on

CYANOBACTERIAL WARNING UPDATE: Health warning lifted for Lake Ngā Roto

Source: Waikato District Health Board

CYANOBACTERIAL WARNING UPDATE: Health warning lifted for Lake Ngā Roto, and remains in place for Lakes Rotoroa (Hamilton Lake), Waikare, Hakanoa, Rotokauri, Whangape and Kainui.

The Public Health warning issued on 7th November 2023 for Lake Ngā Roto has now been lifted after subsequent tests showed that cyanobacterial levels are below the warning level. Lakes Rotoroa (Hamilton Lake), Waikare, Hakanoa, Rotokauri, Whangape and Kainui continue to have a cyanobacterial health warning in place.

Dr Richard Wall, Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Medical Officer of Health for Waikato recommends that where cyanobacteria health warnings are in place, lakes should not be used for any activity that involves skin contact with the affected water.

“Swallowing water from lakes affected by blooms should also be avoided,” said Dr Wall.

Cyanobacteria can release toxins which can trigger asthma and hayfever symptoms, and can cause skin rashes, stomach upsets, and in some cases neurological effects such as tingling around the mouth, headaches, breathing difficulties and visual problems.

These symptoms may not appear until some time after contact with the affected water.

Scums are a particular risk because they contain a high level of toxins.  If contact with scum does occur, skin should be rinsed clean and clothing changed as soon as possible. This warning is particularly important for children.”

“If people do come into contact with the lake when warnings are in place, or any other lake where there are visible changes to water colour, they should shower and change their clothing as soon as possible afterwards, even if no symptoms are noticeable,” he said.

Dog owners should prevent their dogs from drinking or swimming in the water, as dogs are particularly sensitive to cyanobacteria.

Health NZ would like to be informed about health problems that develop after exposure to any of the Waikato lakes.

Up-to-date information on cyanobacterial cell counts is available by visiting the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website at https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/waikato-region/

Posted on

South Waikato Hauora day sets new benchmark for community wellbeing

Source: Waikato District Health Board

An event taking health and wellbeing in the community to the next level is how a South Waikato Hauora day is being described by Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Waikato.

Chief Medical Officer – Primary Care, Dr Julia Carr said the South Waikato Hauora (wellbeing) Day held at Tokoroa Hospital on 9 March was co-ordinated by the South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Services Trust (SWPICS).

“This day provided a unique opportunity for Health NZ staff to combine with trusted, local primary care providers and our secondary colleagues to offer vaccinations, screening and information services to the community, in the setting of the community’s rural hospital.

“The generous and collaborative effort of all involved resulted in a welcoming atmosphere, and the uptake of services was really heartening to see.

“These events usually involve several of our screening and immunisation services teaming up with local providers but Saturday’s real point of difference was some people attending the Hauora day were able to attend outreach specialist clinics and undergo elective surgical procedures on site.”

This had been able to be done by identifying people in the community who were on the surgery waiting list and getting them seen.

The elective procedures conducted in Tokoroa Hospital’s Outpatients Clinic on the day were minor surgical procedures performed by Mr Jasen Ly in a PR Bleeding Clinic set up on behalf of the Braemar Charitable Trust which owns Hamilton’s Braemar Hospital.

Trust manager Paula Baker said the organisation runs and funds a wide range of activities aimed at boosting health outcomes across the Waikato.

“Eight patients who had been on the public waiting list were able to receive treatment from Mr Ly or where needed, be referred for additional specialist care at the Hauora day which is great news,” she said.

Dr Stephen Ng and a team from Waikato Hospital provided vision screening for cataracts & keratoconus and pre-assessments for cataract surgery- a new model of care to improve access for surgery for people from disadvantaged communities in Waikato regions.

In all 82 people were screened by Stephen’s team and 18 people seen by the on-site clinic, 15 of whom were able to be pre-assessed for cataract surgery within the next three months.

SWPICS Chief Executive Akarere Henry said those procedures as well as vaccinations, screening services and general health and wellbeing advice shared with the 500-600 members of the public that visited the Hauora day were all part of a larger plan.

“One of the challenges of rural communities is ‘access.’ This initiative sought to reduce the inequities impacting our communities by deploying outreach health services to reduce barriers to health care for priority populations in the South Waikato.

“As a community provider we’re extremely grateful for the willingness of all partners to work collectively and demonstrate the better utilisation of resources within the one space. SWPICS is deeply honoured to have been able to coordinate this day and bring about its success because it is what the community wants.”

Both Akarere and Julia said it is hoped Saturday’s event will be the first of many such initiatives where the shared outcomes of placing whānau /aiga / kopu tangata (family) at the heart, is tangibly seen and felt.

Services provided by the participating 12 agencies included:

·         Body Mass Indexing

·         Blood Pressure reading

·         Cataract assessment

·         Keratoconus

·         PR Bleeding Clinic

·         Bowel Screening

·         Breast Screening

·         Stop Smoking support

·         Mental Health/ Korero Mai

·         Maternity Services

·         Child Immunisations

·         Cervical Screening

·         AWHI Healthy Homes

·         Drive through vaccines

·         Oral Health

For further information:
Akarere Henry, Chief Executive South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Services Trust 0272400043
Email:  ceo@swpics.nz

Paula Baker, Braemar Charitable Trust Manager
Email: PaulaB@braemartrust.co.nz

Caption: SWPICS CEO Akarere Henry left, with Health New Zealand Regional Pacific Lead, Tamati Peni at the Hauora day.

Posted on

Proposed Revised Code of Practice for Nuclear Medicine: ORS C2 for consultation

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Privacy

We may publish submissions on the Ministry’s website, unless you have asked us not to. If you are submitting as an individual, we will automatically remove your personal details and any identifiable information. You can chose to have your personal details withheld if your submission is requested under the Official Information Act.

Posted on

Revised Code of Practice for Nuclear Medicine: ORS C2

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Privacy

We may publish submissions on the Ministry’s website, unless you have asked us not to. If you are submitting as an individual, we will automatically remove your personal details and any identifiable information. You can chose to have your personal details withheld if your submission is requested under the Official Information Act.

Posted on

Transforming the waiting experience at Day of Surgery Admission

Source: Waikato District Health Board

Coming to hospital for surgery can be a daunting experience for any parent and their child. Waikato Hospital’s Day of Surgery Admission (DOSA) team have been working hard to make the experience more pleasant and relaxing for children.

Thanks to the initiatives of Theatre and Perioperative Services Administration Team Leader Katrina Downing and Administrator Sam Mitchell, the team has implemented novel ideas aimed at providing distraction and comfort to children during the waiting period.

Inspired by a vet clinic’s mural, Sam Mitchell collaborated with illustrator Scott Pearson from Visual Evolution to design a large, colourful custom art wall in the DOSA children’s waiting room. Depicting the hospital and landmarks of greater Waikato, the new art wall engages children (and their whānau) with hidden items for them to find.

The team sourced activity bags containing crayons, an activity book, stickers, games, and colouring sheets matching the new artwork, which children are able to take away with them.

The waiting room is also equipped with toddler-friendly ride-on cars, sensory play spaces with squidgy floor tiles, and a fish tank.

Operations Manager Theatre and Anaesthesia, Niki Houghton is thrilled to see the positive changes made by the DOSA team.

“The cars and the wall art are a huge hit with waiting toddlers and their parents.

“We can have up to five children and their parents in the waiting room at a time. These interactive distractions make a big difference,” says Niki.

Looking ahead, the DOSA team is focusing on the creation of a sensory room for special needs patients. With features like a sparkle cloud, bubble tube, and a projector with visual effects, the room aims to provide a calm and safe space. These additions are expected within the next two months.

Photo – Transformation team: (left-right) Sam Mitchell, Charge Nurse Manager DOSA Raewyn Wilson, Katrina Downing and Niki Houghton.

Posted on

Nursing class of ’64 revisits Waikato Hospital

Source: Waikato District Health Board

A group from the nursing class of 1964 recently gathered at Waikato Hospital in Hamilton to celebrate their 60th reunion. They were greeted by Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Sue Hayward and toured the hospital to see how things had changed. They left amazed at all the developments.

Class of ’64 find their spot on the history wall.

Retired nurse, Judy Osborne, reminisced about the past Emergency Department, “We had a few cubicles and two plaster rooms with x-ray nearby,” highlighting the stark contrast with the current ED, now equipped with 55 beds and five resuscitation rooms.

The nurses found comfort in seeing the hospital chapel, even though the original one was gone. The stained-glass windows had been transferred from the original and brought back memories, especially for one nurse who was married in the old chapel.

The tour ended at the history timeline on the walls of level 2 Meade Clinical Centre, where the nurses traced their journey. It was a trip down memory lane, filled with shared experiences and milestones.

Sue Hayward said it was great to see the camaraderie of work colleagues from all those years ago when it was common for nurses to train, work and live together onsite at the hospital.

Group photo: (left-right) Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Sue Hayward welcoming class of ’64 nurses Lynette Aish (nee Gardiner), Judy Osborne (nee Udy), Paula Butterworth (nee Houghton), Diane Hishon (nee Hillary)

Posted on

CYANOBACTERIAL WARNING UPDATE: Health warning lifted for Lake Arapuni

Source: Waikato District Health Board

CYANOBACTERIAL WARNING UPDATE: Health warning lifted for Lake Arapuni, and remains in place for Lakes Rotoroa (Hamilton Lake), Ngā Roto, Hakanoa, Waikare, Rotokauri, Whangape and Kainui.

The Public Health warning issued on 23rd January 2024 for Lake Arapuni has now been lifted, after subsequent tests showed that cyanobacterial levels are below the warning level. Lakes Rotoroa (Hamilton Lake), Ngā Roto, Hakanoa, Waikare, Rotokauri, Whangape and Kainui continue to have a cyanobacterial health warning in place.

Dr Richard Wall, Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Medical Officer of Health for Waikato recommends that where cyanobacteria health warnings are in place, lakes should not be used for any activity that involves skin contact with the affected water.

“Swallowing water from lakes affected by blooms should also be avoided,” said Dr Wall.

Cyanobacteria can release toxins which can trigger asthma and hayfever symptoms, and can cause skin rashes, stomach upsets, and in some cases neurological effects such as tingling around the mouth, headaches, breathing difficulties and visual problems.

These symptoms may not appear until some time after contact with the affected water.

Scums are a particular risk because they contain a high level of toxins.  If contact with scum does occur, skin should be rinsed clean and clothing changed as soon as possible. This warning is particularly important for children.”

“If people do come into contact with the lake when warnings are in place, or any other lake where there are visible changes to water colour, they should shower and change their clothing as soon as possible afterwards, even if no symptoms are noticeable,” he said.

Dog owners should prevent their dogs from drinking or swimming in the water, as dogs are particularly sensitive to cyanobacteria.

Health NZ would like to be informed about health problems that develop after exposure to any of the Waikato lakes. Phone: 07 838 2569.

Up-to-date information on cyanobacterial cell counts is available from local councils, Waikato Regional Council or by visiting the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website

Posted on

Leak investigation concluded

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Following the leak of confidential Ministry information to an external third party last month, the Ministry of Health began an investigation to determine how this occurred.

We can now confirm that the individual responsible has been identified and no longer works at the Ministry.

“We take matters of integrity extremely seriously. Our job is to work to the direction of the government of the day. Any efforts to undermine this process erodes the strong values and ethics of the public service and the trust and confidence held in us by the public. I cannot stress how disappointing this has been,” said Dr Diana Sarfati, Director-General of Health.