Category: Other Health News

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Health warning of extreme risk for Lake Rotoroa (Hamilton Lake) lifted, though a health warning remains in place

Source: Waikato District Health Board

The Public Health warning of extreme risk for Lake Rotorua issued on 19th July 2024 has now been lifted. This is due to significant reductions in the concentration of cyanobacterial biovolumes, which earlier prompted the increased level of risk and vigilance. Please note a health warning still remains in place at Lake Rotoroa (Hamilton Lake), as cyanobacterial levels continue to be above the warning levels.

Lakes Hakanoa, Waikare, Rotokauri, Whangape and Kainui also continue to have a cyanobacterial health warning in place.

Dr Richard Vipond, 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 Vipond.

“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.

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/

National Public Health Service – Waikato would like to be informed about health problems that develop after exposure to any of the lakes with health warnings in place. Please contact on (07) 838 2569.

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Charity thanks hospital staff across the Waikato

Source: Waikato District Health Board

Night shift workers ending their shift at Waikato Hospital and their daytime colleagues on their way to replace them were greeted by the pleasant aroma of a BBQ on Thursday morning as a Hamilton charity cooked thousands of burgers to say thank you for their work.

Health NZ Waikato Interim Manager Health and Safety, Kent Holdsworth, said all dietary options were catered for at the event that was provided by the Hamilton branch of the international charity, the Rapid Relief Team (RRT).

“About 4000 fresh hamburgers were cooked by the RRT staff including vegetarian and gluten-free options with fruit pottles and bottled water also available.

“This is the second year in a row the RRT have donated their time and the food in appreciation for the work done by our staff at Waikato Hospital and what’s really humbling is learning a large number of the volunteers took time off work to be part of this event.”

RRT Hamilton leader, Braden Goddin said his team were all very pleased to be able to show the hospital staff their gratitude for the remarkable work they do every day.

“All our volunteers were able to recall when hospital staff helped them with skill, kindness and compassion in times of real need, so it’s very pleasing to be able to show them in some small way how much we appreciate and respect them, and their special work.”

Kent said not only had the RRT provided this show of appreciation to staff at Waikato Hospital, they wanted to ensure workers in the district’s rural hospitals are included as well.

“As a result of their generosity we have scheduled events to be held at our Tokoroa, Thames, Taumarunui and Te Kuiti hospitals over coming weeks.”

Pictured from left is RRT volunteer Joel with Health NZ Waikato’s Group Director Operations Hospital and Specialist Services, Michelle Sutherland centre and RRT volunteer Grant on the hotplate.

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Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Waikato Midwife of the Year 2024

Source: Waikato District Health Board

Held each year on 5 May, the International Day of the Midwife, celebrates the work and contribution midwives make to newborn and maternal health.

A key part of these celebrations is the announcement of the winner of the annual Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Waikato Midwife of the Year award.

From a talented field of nominees, the 2024 award winner was Nicki Tames, a Registered Midwife in Ward E2 at Waikato Hospital.

Nicki’s nomination described her as a midwife making a real difference who has a passion for providing the best experience for women no matter the reason they are in hospital.

“Nicki really gets to know the women she cares for and provides such a ‘mothering’ experience. She thinks holistically in all her care plans and will always involve whānau.

“Nicki is able to really improve a mother’s experience by simply listening to her concerns and offering ideas that show she had thought about the mother’s mental and physical health and she is always ready to guide and support colleagues in thinking more holistically.”

The criteria for the award is a registered midwife who makes a real difference to the areas they work in. This could be related to improvement in experience and/or safety of women, pregnant people and whānau, it may encompass innovation, improvements to a wider team, or implementing process changes.

Pictured: Nicki Tames on receiving her award

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Country’s first baby for 2024 delivered safe and well in Waikato Hospital

Source: Waikato District Health Board

Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Waikato congratulates mum, Danielle Nowacki and dad, Connor Williams on the birth of their daughter overnight, believed to be the first baby born in the country for 2024.

Harlee Jean Patricia Williams arrived into the New Year at 12.01am weighing 3.3kgs. Both mother and daughter are doing well in Waikato Hospital and hope to be able to return to their Hamilton home soon.

Pictured are baby Harlee resting on mum, Danielle Nowacki with dad, Connor Williams at right.

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Contractor in place to build replacement mental health unit at Waikato Hospital

Source: Waikato District Health Board

Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand has appointed Naylor Love as the contractor to build the replacement Adult Acute Mental Health Inpatient Facility at Waiora Waikato Hospital.

The current Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre is no longer considered suitable. The new inpatient facility will be a more appropriate space for contemporary approaches to mental healthcare.

The replacement facility has been designed to provide a welcoming and therapeutic environment for people experiencing mental illness, in accordance with an adult acute healthcare plan that incorporates key cultural elements.

It will have eight internal courtyards, maximising the use of natural light, and space for 64 beds.

It will offer views of neighbouring trees and will be built to the Greenstar Five Star sustainability building standard, as well as the best-practice Australasian Health Facility Design Guidelines.

Construction is expected to begin in mid-2024, after the completion of enabling works, which began in mid-2023 under a preliminary agreement.

The project is expected to reach practical completion by mid-2026. The mental health facility will be built where the Renal Centre is currently sited, in two stages. Work on the second stage will start once the Renal Centre has opened at a new location on the Waiora Waikato Hospital campus, allowing the old Renal Centre to be fully demolished.

The new Renal Centre building is on schedule to enter service in early 2025.

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Waikato cardiologists using new technology to help high-risk patients

Source: Waikato District Health Board

Treatment of high-risk patients with coronary artery disease can now be done more safely, thanks to an Australasian-first performed by a Waikato Hospital cardiology team.

Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Cardiologist Dr Madhav Menon said the team successfully completed a Complex High Risk Indicated Procedure (CHIP) angioplasty using a Pulse Cath iVAC2L hemodynamic support catheter, on 31 August.

Angioplasty is a procedure to open a narrowed or blocked artery, usually using a short wire mesh tube known as a stent.

“Patients who are complex cases with a very poor heart, need support during the procedure to maintain cardiac output,” Dr Menon said.

Previously, the heart was supported using a balloon pump that inflates and deflates to assist the heart’s pumping action.

The iVAC2L device provides a higher level of support by suctioning blood from the ventricle (the chamber which pumps blood out of the heart) and pumping it directly into the aorta (the main artery which carries blood away from your heart to the rest of your body). This takes more stress off the heart during the procedure and also provides better blood flow back to heart.

“This technology gives us better blood pressure support for very sick hearts while performing complex interventions,” Dr Menon said.

“It allows us to perform these procedures more safely with better clinical outcomes for the patient and less stress for our team.”

Coronary artery disease patients previously required a lot of hospital time and resources because of the risky nature of their surgery. It is estimated around 15 to 20 patients a year will benefit by being able to undergo this procedure. Improved clinical outcomes can also reduce the required hospital time and resource for this treatment.

“Though previously used in Europe, the Pulse Cath iVAC2L is new to New Zealand. Its introduction to this country last month, and the successful Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) procedure a few days earlier, further builds Waikato Hospital’s reputation as a cardiology centre of excellence,” Dr Menon said.

Image caption: The successful CHIP team following successful completion.

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Recognition for Te Kūiti nurse making a difference in her community 

Source: Waikato District Health Board

A natural nurse, popular with her peers, easily able to establish a good rapport with patients and whānau is how a Te Kūiti nurse was described at an award ceremony recently.

Enrolled nurse Roberta ‘Bobby-Anna’ Wirepa was awarded the prestigious New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s National Leadership Award at Hamilton’s Te Pukenga Wintec campus in July.

The award came two days after the 49-year-old’s graduation, a culmination of two years study that required a lot of travel and dedication, achieved despite the impact of COVID-19.

Born and raised in Te Kūiti and described as a hearty Maniapoto- King Country person, ‘Bobby-Anna’ built her reputation as a hard and reliable worker on the back of experience in the shearing and hospitality industries including running her own businesses.

A 10-year stint working in Australia led to Bobby-Anna’s first entry into the health sector when she completed a Phlebotomy course in Cairns, leading to full-time employment with Queensland Medical Laboratories as a blood collector.

Among other duties, this role included flying around Queensland to various mine sites and conducting compulsory drug screening of fly-in and fly-out workers.

Returning home to Te Kūiti in 2018, Bobby-Anna found her Australian Pathology certificates weren’t recognised, cutting short her Phlebotomy career. Undeterred, she worked in a casual Health Care Assistant role at Waikato Hospital while undertaking Health Studies and qualifying to undertake nurse training, choosing a Diploma of Enrolled Nursing.

Her skills in pathology allowed Bobby-Anna an opportunity to be seconded to various COVID-19 testing teams around the King Country leading to an offer of post-graduate employment at Te Kūiti Hospital.

Throughout her training at Te Pukenga Wintec, Bobby-Anna was recognised as being a supportive and dedicated student, leading to her receiving the leadership award.

“I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to continue my career at my local hospital and can only thank ‘Whaea Tarn’ (CNM Tania Te Wano) for having faith in me,” said Bobby-Anna.
“It was a real surprise when I was told about the award and initially, I didn’t understand the significance of it all. I now understand I have a real opportunity to offer something to my community.”