Health Matters EBOP January 2016

Eastern Bay Edition January 2016 Twelve days of Christmas sees over 1,000 patients attend Whakatāne Hospital ED If you think your Christmas was busy, spare a thought for the staff at Whakatāne Hospital Emergency Department who have seen over 1,000 patients in 12 days. by an alternative source including GPs, pharmacies and dentists, then the advice is to utilise them.” Whakatāne ED’s 12 days of Christmas (Christmas Day to 5 January) saw a daily average of 88 patients and a total of 1,052. The busiest days were 27 December and 2 January, both of which saw 114 patients attend. Numbers topped 100 on five of the 12 days. The figures are bolstered by tourists at this time of year but Whakatāne Hospital Medical Lead Dr Matt Valentine said a high number of people were still coming to the wrong place for treatment. “If it’s not an obvious emergency people should always ring their GP or Healthline first. The message is that the Emergency Department is for ‘emergencies’,” he said. “If a medical problem can wait until a regular working day, or be attended He said those attending for minor ailments could expect to wait a long time. “If people feel they need to attend the ED they will be confronted with significant waits to be seen with those who are sickest being seen first. However, whilst the ED’s triage process ensures the sickest are seen first, those left in the queue are still monitored.” Dr Valentine said two accidents over the holiday period had highlighted other issues. “There was a very bad road accident near Opotiki which showed the importance of remaining vigilant whilst driving and always having safety in mind. Then we had an incident involving a quad bike as well which highlighted the importance of wearing proper safety gear and not transporting children on those machines.” Whakatāne Hospital staff have done a superb job under high pressure said Dr Valentine. “The community can be very proud of the way the ED and wider hospital staff has pulled together to deliver such a consistently high standard of care during such a busy period.” EastErn Bay of plEnty MEdical clinics Church Street Surgery Opotiki 07 315 6307 Kawerau Medical Centre Kawerau 07 323 6249 Kopeopeo Health Centre Whakatane 07 308 5771 Ohope Beach Medical Centre Ohope 07 312 5340 Phoenix Health Centre Whakatane 07 307 0586 Total Health Doctors Whakatane 07 308 8267 Riverslea Medical Centre Edgecumbe 07 304 9106 Tarawera Medical Centre Kawerau 07 323 8499 Toi Ora Health Centre Opotiki 07 315 7900 Med Central, Kopeopeo 07 308 5409 Whakatohea Health Centre Opotiki 07 315 6126 First Bay of Plenty Kai Hui Taking the barb out of the barbeque this summer United by food, more than 80 locals recently came together in Tauranga to participate in the inaugural Bay of Plenty Kai Hui and celebrate World Food Day. The landmark event brought together passionate individuals from all walks of life to discuss innovative solutions and issues of importance in regards to all things ‘food’. The hui built enthusiasm for a collective approach to addressing current food challenges such as food security, access to locally produced food and access to healthier foods. The hui included presentations, community panel discussions, networking and brainstorming sessions, with many potential solutions to local food concerns being shared. Most importantly, attendees reported feeling empowered to help address food issues that mattered to them. As a result, attendees gave their support for an ongoing Bay of Plenty food movement. This will start with a local ‘Food Policy Council’ being piloted in the Western Bay of Plenty region, the first of its kind in New Zealand. A Food Policy Council is an organised group of people which includes stakeholders from across the food system such as local businesses, local government and health. The aim is to develop a healthier local food system. “The Food Policy Council is about bringing together influencers of the local food system to help understand how it all works and test new approaches together - multiple sectors working together for positive outcomes for our community,” says Dana Thomson, Senior Health Improvement Advisor for Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service. At a local level, an active Food Policy Council can also help contribute to solutions to New Zealand’s increasing rate of obesity. For example, one focus could be on reducing sugary drink consumption as these are associated with the increased risk of diabetes, obesity and tooth decay. What better way to enjoy summer than to eat outdoors? Before you fire up the barbeque and whip up a salad – take a minute to ensure you, your friends and family will be safe from the misery of food poisoning. Every year lots of New Zealanders get foodborne illnesses and many are caused by unsafe food handling practices in the home. “Whether you go on a picnic, barbeque or camping trip – you’ll be taking your food out of the fridge or freezer. As soon as the temperature of the food begins to rise, bacteria in the food can multiply and this could be a risk,” says Medical Officer of Health, Dr Phil Shoemack. “Unless perishable food is handled properly, it can cause problems so keep hot food HOT and cold food COLD – or don’t keep it at all.” Local food stakeholders at the Bay of Plenty Kai Hui brainstorm ideas on growing more food locally and on public land Cleaned the barbeque since last summer? A dirty barbeque is a haven for pests which love to spread bacteria so make sure it has been cleaned before you use it. Your hands and any utensils also need to be cleaned thoroughly (wash for 20 seconds, dry for 20 seconds) before and after preparing food. “Cross contamination from raw to