Free dental packs
for Rheumatic
fever patients
By Leanne Ruck, Rheumatic Fever Coordinator.
Rheumatic fever patients in the Bay of Plenty
are being provided with free dental packs to
reduce the risk of further heart damage.
Each month 84 patients in the Bay have monthly injections
of Benzathine Penicillin to safeguard them from Group A
Streptococcus (GAS) bacteria doing further damage to her heart.
Maintaining good oral health is really important for these patients
as bacterial complications from dental diseases can also cause
damage to their hearts, hence the need for the dental packs.
Pictured: Mere Pomana is the first patient to be handed the free dental pack from
Rheumatic Fever Coordinator Leanne Ruck.
District Health Nurses will hand out the packs to their patients
(many of whom are children or young adults), when they see
them for their monthly injections. The packs contain a toothbrush,
toothpaste, floss and key health messages.
It’s really important for people who’ve had rheumatic fever to look
after their oral health, we encourage them to:
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Have a dental check- up every 6 months.
Brush your teeth twice each day with fluoride toothpaste.
Use dental floss daily to clean between your teeth.
Choose water or milk to drink.
Make sure your dentist knows that you have had rheumatic
fever as you may need extra antibiotics before some types of
dental treatment.
Sore throat swabbing services to detect strep throat which if
untreated can lead to Rheumatic Fever, are available at many
pharmacies and schools across the Bay of Plenty.
For more information visit
https://www.bopdhb.govt.nz/health-advice/a-z-of-health-
advice/rheumatic-fever/
BOPDHB awarded for Annual Report
The BOPDHB has been recognised at the
Australasian Reporting Awards (ARA), for its
2018 Annual Report.
Rosie and Kelly (pictured below) flew to Melbourne to receive the
awards on behalf of the team.
The annual reporting awards provide all organisations that produce
an annual report an opportunity to benchmark their reports against
the ARA criteria which are based on world best practice.
The DHB was awarded a gold standard for its annual report and
was also named as a finalist in the Best First Time Entry category.
ARA criteria required reports to be clear and concise, with material
in a logical order. Graphs, tables and photographs should enhance
key messages. Performance should be both financial and non-
financial and compared to the objectives for the reporting period.
ARA looks for three informal components:
• Overview, highlights, objectives for the year and how the entity
is seeking to achieve them
• Review of the entity’s operations or activities with a focus on
progress in achieving objectives
• Details and analyses of the entity’s output (in financial or
service terms as appropriate), its strategic position and its
relationships with stakeholders.
The 2018 Annual Report was produced by BOPDHB Graphic
Designer Tracey McDonald, project managed by Rosie Entwistle
with the annual reporting process led by then acting CFO Kelly
Orrell. Congratulations to all.
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