Have your Say https :// www . mentalhealth . inquiry . govt . nz /
Sore throats matter
A project is underway designed to improve the way treatment is provided for people with Rheumatic Fever .
The Bay of Plenty region has high rates of Rheumatic Fever . Research shows it ’ s a disease that almost exclusively affects Māori and Pacific peoples . Currently more than 80 people require monthly Penicillin injections to reduce the risk of strep infections doing further damage to their hearts . That risk is magnified if the injections aren ’ t done on time .
The project due to be completed next month has been seeking feedback from patients , whānau as well as clinicians on the reasons why people don ’ t get their injections on time and what
can be done to change that .
Sore throats damage hearts
Every month Mere Pomana ( 22 ) has a prophylactic injection of Benzathine Penicillin to safeguard her from Group A Streptococcus ( GAS ) bacteria doing further damage to her heart .
At the age of 12 , Mere was diagnosed with Rheumatic Fever ( RF ). She spent
18-year-old Claudia * is one of the Bay ’ s young people benefiting from a new respite house for those experiencing mental distress .
Claudia has been struggling with an eating disorder in recent years and having been referred to Real youth services , which runs the respite house in Tauranga , has stayed twice in the last few months .
“ It ’ s like a home and there are always people around who understand and care ,” says Claudia . “ Plus , it ’ s so much better than having to go to hospital when you ’ re having a tough time , and not too far for my mum to visit me .”
The house is designed as a homely and welcoming environment and , on the day we visited , Claudia was engrossed in designing and painting inspirational rocks for the garden and had spent the morning with her youth worker at the Historic Village .
“ Going out with the youth workers is awesome ,” says Claudia . “ It ’ s nice to get fresh air and do something different to what I ’ d do at home , with new friends . And it ’ s a good distraction from my eating disorder .”
The service , which has been operating since September 2017 , offers a positive and relaxed environment where 12 to 18-year olds can go to focus on their wellness , with 24 / 7 support from clinical staff and youth workers .
“ Early intervention is key for young three months in Whakatāne Hospital and a further stay in Starship hospital for heart valve surgery .
It ’ s this experience that drives her to spread the message about RF and getting those sore throats checked .
“ I had been a sickly child and was
BOPDHB Rheumatic Fever Liaison Nurse Leanne Ruck shows how a buzzy bee with an ice pack attached is used as a distraction to dull the pain at Mere ’ s 4 weekly injections .
constantly at the doctors with sore throats . My mum researched what could be wrong with me and put her foot down one day with the doctor .”
That ’ s when her life changed , she was diagnosed with RF and so too was her much older cousin .
Mere says the long-lasting effects of RF were not widely known and she wants people to be more aware of how a sore
Respite house giving youth hope of a brighter future
people in our community ” says Real team coach and registered nurse , Danica Thompson .
The respite service is available both in crisis situations and for planned stays . How long people stay is based on their individual needs .
Another 17-year-old female stayed with Real recently who had stopped taking her medication for bipolar and needed some extra support to help get her back on track .
The Real team supported her to improve her sleeping , develop healthy eating patterns and reestablish good routines around her medication . Within a week she was able to return home to her family in a much more positive headspace .
“ The respite house is regularly occupied and is a service that has been well received by clinicians and families alike ,” says Registered Social Worker and Youth AOD ( Alcohol and Other Drugs ) Coordinator Caleb Putt . “ We ’ re grateful for this option in our continuum of care for young people with often complex needs .
“ A lot of learning has occurred during the last nine months and throat can lead to long-term damage to the heart .
“ I have been given four weekly injections for ten years and will have to continue until I am 30 or 40 years old .” In addition , when she goes to the dentist she has to take antibiotics , and works hard to remain healthy and bacteria free .
The Rheumatic Fever prevention team at BOPDHB is currently looking at ways of improving the way treatment is provided , to increase the number of patients getting their injections on time .
Mere believes it is important for people diagnosed with RF to learn as much about the disease as they can . Learn how to keep themselves well , prepare healthy food and find an exercise they like and can manage .
She says often when people are diagnosed with RF they keep it to themselves . There is a sense of shame within themselves and the wider family and that leads to them delaying treatment , which runs the risk of further heart damage .
Mere , who is training to be a social worker , has given several talks to students at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa about getting sore throats checked and
the life-long repercussions of RF .
Young people are supported in a homely environment at the Tauranga based Real respite facility .
we anticipate a continued close and effective working relationship now and into the future , with better outcomes for young people and families hopefully the result .”
Young people must be clients of MICAMHS ( Maternal Infant Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services ) and Voyagers ( Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service ) to be placed at the respite house .
For Mental health support call :
• The Mental Health Crisis line on 0800 774 545 .
• For Eastern Bay youth ( 0-18 years ) call Voyagers on 0800 486 947 .
• For Tauranga and Western Bay youth ( 0-18 years ) call 0800 333 061 .
• For Youth Alcohol & Drug issues call Sorted on 0800 BAYSORT ( 0800 229 7678 ).
* Name has been changed for privacy .
“ With winter approaching , the incidence of coughs , colds and strep throat infections rise . Strep throat can easily be identified by a simple throat swab available through the school programmes , family general practice and many pharmacies across the Bay of Plenty . Correctly treating a strep sore throat with ten days of antibiotics stops the risk of Acute Rheumatic Fever ,” says Rheumatic Fever Clinical Leader Sandra Innes-Smith .
Throat swabbing services are available at many schools and pharmacies across the Bay of Plenty .
For more information contact :
RF Clinical Lead Sandra Innes-Smith on 027 663 1649 or Sandra . Innes-Smith @ ebpha . org . nz ; or RF Co-ordinator Leanne Ruck on 07 579 8456 or Leanne . Ruck @ bopdhb . govt . nz
Or read the full list online at www . bopdhb . govt . nz / health-advice / a-z-of-health-advice / rheumaticfever /
Government Inquiry panel to visit Whakatāne
The Government ’ s Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction will be in Whakatāne on Tuesday 12 June , 2018 to meet mental health and addiction service providers to listen to their views about mental health and addiction services .
The Inquiry panel was set-up by the New Zealand Government in response to widespread concern about mental health and addiction services , and appointed a six members panel , all with extensive backgrounds in the mental health and addiction sector . They are Professor Paterson ( chair ), Dr Barbara Disley , Sir Mason Durie , Dean Rangihuna , Dr Jemaima Tiatia-Seath and Josiah Tualamali ’ i .
For people who will not meet the Inquiry panel while it ’ s in Whakatāne , there are other ways you can have your voice heard by the Inquiry panel .
“ We want to build on the good work that is already being done , while looking to system-level change that will improve both promotion of good mental health and support for people with mental health challenges and / or addictions .”
“ In short , we want to generate hope and set a clear direction for the next five to ten years that Government , the mental health and addiction sectors , and the broader community can pick up and implement – to make real , positive change ,” Professor Paterson said .
Have your Say https :// www . mentalhealth . inquiry . govt . nz /
• Online on the Inquiry panel ’ s website
• By phone ( 0800 644 678 ) between 9:30am and 5:30pm Mon to Fri
• By email mentalhealth @ inquiry . govt . nz
• By attending a public meeting .
Submissions close on 5pm , 5 June 2018 .
You can also keep up-to-date with the panels ’ journey around Aotearoa on the Mental Health Inquiry Facebook page .