Overview
It’s hard to believe that we are at the end of the year. This one has
certainly been a very busy and eventful one.
It’s a good time to reflect on the successes we’ve had, and start
contemplating what we want to achieve in the year ahead.
Our successes are all due to passionate, compassionate,
professional and dedicated teams. This issue of Checkup is a
real celebration of our wonderful teams, your hard work, and
commitment to making our services the best they can be.
Some of the highlights this year include:
• The numerous teams engaged in many projects across our
DHB designed to improve the quality and timeliness of our
care, giving patients back their time, for example, Home to
Assess in Tauranga and E 3 Flow in Whakatāne.
• The ongoing work on Creating our Culture and the launch of
our Speak up Safely tool. So very important, as we all have a
part to play in making our health service a great place to work.
• BOPDHB officially became a Clinical Campus in recognition
of our success as a teaching and research facility for the
University of Auckland's Faculty of Medical and Health
Sciences.
• Improving our Health Target results. By the end of 2017/18 five
out of six health targets had been achieved
• A dramatic improvement in tamariki enrolled for free pre-school
dental care. The percentage of Bay of Plenty Māori pre-schoolers
receiving this care has gone from 59% to 96%, exceeding the
national target. The Good to Great team in Māori Health Gains
and Development, working closely with the Community Health 4
Kids team, is largely credited for the success.
As we look to the year ahead, we will be focusing on progressing
our Strategic Health Services Plan, with a particular emphasis on
helping our communities to Stay Well and to Live Well. As you
know, Pete has been working on a special 4-month project, BOP
Health System Evolution.
We need to make some significant changes in the way we work, to
meet the demands of healthcare today and into the future. In the
last two months Pete’s been meeting with a range of people across
out local healthcare system. He’s asked them: how are we doing;
what do we need to do next; and what’s getting in the way of doing
what we need to do next?
He’ll be reporting his findings to the Strategic Health Committee in
the New Year and I look forward to updating you on this.
Healthcare is much more than a job; the work you do day-in-day-
out, whether in an administrative or clinical role, has a direct and
profound impact on so many lives. Not only those of the patients
we treat but of their extended friends and whānau too.
As the year draws to a close, we’d like to thank all of you for
your hard work, and passion for improving the care and services
we provide to our communities. In what has been a demanding
12 months, you can be proud of the part you’ve played in the
healthcare that’s been delivered to our communities.
Most of you will be working over the holiday period. Thank you for
your dedication to ensuring that our services are available. This
means that some may miss out on some family celebrations. Your
hard work and commitment is acknowledged and deeply much
appreciated.
We hope all of you have the opportunity to spend time with family
and friends, and that you have time to relax and have some fun.
We look forward to seeing you in 2019!
All the best, and manaakitanga.
Meri kirihimete
Helen and Sally
2
Our front cover: Our Elves hard at work – Jacqui Jones, Erin
Locke and Andy Davies.
News in brief
Emoji face trial underway
A two month "emoji face" style,
trial is underway in Outpatients,
APU and EDs at both hospitals.
The gadgets are designed to allow
patients to give us their feedback
in virtually real time (daily reports)
by clicking on one of the emoji
faces. The trial is in its infancy
stage but through the smart device
there is potential to link it to our
operational hospital systems, giving a bigger picture about how
our hospitals are working in real time.
A hospital tour with a twist
Western Bay GPs gathered at Tauranga Hospital recently for
a tour with a twist. Not unlike an amazing race, the GPs visited
the Cardiac unit, APU, Medical Day Stay and Maternity. A Senior
Medical Officer was in each area to show them around and coax
them into answering a few questions about the service before
sending them on to another area. The odd fun question was also in
the mix. The tour is the first in a series of events, designed to bring
doctors together across the health sector. Feedback was positive.
Fond farewells and new beginnings
As the year ends, we say farewell to three staff starting the next
chapter in their lives.
Colin Horn has been with our DHB for
almost 25 years and has now taken
the opportunity to retire to spend time
with his grandchildren and enjoy his
pursuits outside of work. Colin has
worked in a variety of roles, ranging
from Information Services and Costing
to his current role as Accounting
Manager with the Finance team.
Colin has been a great colleague to
everyone in his team and his wit and professionalism will be
sorely missed. We wish him all the best!!
After eleven years Education Centre
Administrator Colleen Lambourne,
is moving on to new adventures
and spend more time with her
beautiful grandchildren. Described
as ‘the friendly face of reception’
at the Education Centre, Colleen
was instrumental in the creation of
the Clinical School and has worked
with a number of people in different
roles during her time at Tauranga Hospital. Described as loyal,
dedicated, hard-working, honest, friendly, organised, and always
glammed up, Colleen will be sorely missed by the team.
In Whakatāne, Stores Co-ordinator
Joe Peterson has earnt himself a well
deserved retirement after working at
the hospital for 33 years. He plans to
be getting into all those jobs at home
that have been on the back burner
for a while now. He will be missed
for his quick humour, friendly nature
and readiness to help anyone and
everyone. All the best Joe, have an
awesome retirement and enjoy your family adventures.