A Bay of Plenty mum is using her son as motivation to quit as a free stop smoking service is launched regionally .

Drue Harawira , who has been smoking for over 10 years , says she wants to be a role model to her seven-year-old son Daz .

“ I really want to try to quit smoking for my health and to be a better role model for my son ,” says Drue . “ I am worried that he sees me smoking and looks at it like it ’ s a cool thing , and it ’ s not .”

The new Bay of Plenty Stop Smoking Service , which is launched on Friday 1st July 2016 , will be run by the Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance ( EBPHA ) and Ngā Mataapuna Oranga Primary Healthcare Organisation ( NMOPHO ).

This service is free and patients will be visited in the community at times and locations convenient to them .

“ Stop Smoking Practitioners can visit patients at a place and time that suits them ,” said EBPHA Smokefree Lead Lizzie Spence . “ They will work with individuals or groups to meet their needs and develop a quit smoking plan that works for them . Settings could include their home , marae , work or drop-in clinics .”

Once referred via a health provider or selfreferral , patients will be offered an initial assessment . A quit date will then be agreed and a quit plan developed . Information will be provided on Nicotine Replacement Therapy and other cessation medications and the follow-up plan mutually agreed .

Drue Harawira says the convenience of the service coming to her could make all the difference .

“ To be honest , someone can tell me all day about the bad things to do with smoking , and I know them all , but it has to be my decision . But because the service is coming to me , where and when I want help , of course it will make a difference with quitting smoking .”

The Bay of Plenty Stop Smoking Service is working to the overarching national goal of reducing the proportion of people using tobacco by 2025 to less than 5 %.

With the long , cold nights , keeping your home warm and dry this winter is important to keep your family healthy .

Homes that are cold and damp can cause health problems . “ Cold , damp , and mouldy homes are associated with illnesses such as asthma and respiratory infections . Cold indoor temperatures also increase the risk of worsening heart problems ,” says Dr Jim Miller , Medical Officer of Health .

There are a few simple things you can do to help make your home more comfortable to live in and cheaper to heat .

• Open your curtains during the day and close them at night .

• Dry your washing outside or in the garage or carport .

• Let steam out in the kitchen and bathroom .

Open your curtains during the day and close them at night

Drue Harawira is trying to quit smoking for her health and her son .

• Open your windows for at least a few minutes each day .

• Stop cold air getting into your home by stopping draughts around doors , windows and fireplaces .

• Wipe away any water that has collected on walls and on the inside of windows

• Use white vinegar to remove mould from ceilings and walls .

“ By following even some of these tips , you can help your family stay healthy over the winter months ,” says Dr Miller .

It ’ s also helpful to find out if your home is insulated and that you have the best heating option . You may qualify to have insulation installed for free . For more information visit www . energywise . govt . nz

A group of 13 nurses from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions visited Tauranga Hospital recently to see how the Care Capacity Demand Management ( CCDM ) programme works on the wards .

CCDM aims to match the right number and skills of staff to the particular health needs of the patients on the ward at the time .

This is achieved by drawing on information provided by TrendCare - an electronic patient acuity tool as well as Hospital at-a Glance – an on screen tool measuring patient flows across the hospital .

Bay of Plenty DHB was one of three early adopters of the system ; it ’ s since been rolled out to other District Health Boards .

The Canadian nurses first learnt about the system when BOPDHB Director of Nursing , Julie Robinson along with the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Professional Advisor Hilary Graham-Smith , were asked to present on the system at the International Council of Nurses conference last year .

The nurses were able to see the system working in the Orthopaedic and Kaupapa wards at Tauranga Hospital .

BOPDHB CEO Helen Mason left , with Hillary Graham-Smith project manager New Zealand Nurses ’ Organisation , Linda Silas president , Canadian Federation of Nurses ’ Unions , Debbie Forward president Registered Nurses ’ Union – Newfoundland and Labrador , and Julie Robinson BOPDHB Director of Nursing .

Families are being urged to ensure that they are up-to-date with their MMR immunisations to protect them from measles . Since the end of March there have been more than 90 cases of measles in New Zealand with the majority of these being in the Waikato region .

“ For the best protection from measles , check that you and your children are up to date with the MMR ( measles , mumps and rubella ) immunisations ,” says Dr Neil de Wet , Medical Officer of Health for Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service . “ Particularly those aged 10 to 29 who are at greatest risk of catching measles , as this age group is less likely to have been fully immunised as children ,” says Dr de Wet .

MMR immunisation provides effective protection against measles . It is usually given at 15 months and again at 4 years of age as part of the routine childhood immunisations but it ’ s never too late to catch up if any of these immunisations have been missed . Those unsure of their vaccination status can check their Well Child Tamariki Ora or Plunket books , or contact their General Practice . “ Contact your family doctor or practice nurse if you or your child needs to be immunised ,” says Dr de Wet . “ Measles immunisation is free for anyone born after 1 January 1969 who has not yet had the two required doses of MMR vaccine .”

Measles usually begins with a runny nose , fever and sore watery red eyes . This is followed by a red , blotchy rash that usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body . Around 30 percent of people with measles will develop complications such as diarrhoea , ear infections and pneumonia . “ About 1 in 10 people who get measles will need hospital treatment ,” says Dr de Wet .

Further information is available by phoning 0800 IMMUNE ( 0800 466 863 ) or Healthline ( 0800 611 116 ), and on the Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service website – www . ttophs . govt . nz / measles