Cycling the length of New Zealand
Starting late February Dr Phil
Shoemack, Medical Officer of
Health for Toi Te Ora – Public
Health Service, will be riding
in ‘Tour Aotearoa 2016’. This
cycle ride covers the length of
New Zealand, starting at Cape
Reinga and finishing in Bluff,
around 3,000 kilometres in
total. The ride has 300 people
participating, no entry fees or
prizes, and is not a race.
Tour Aotearoa will test every rider. The
designated route must be completed
within 30 days and no outside support is
allowed (riders must carry all their own
gear including camping equipment and
clothes) apart from buying food along the
way. There will be designated checkpoints and every rider must carry a spot
tracker which indicates where they are on
the route every ten minutes.
Phil says the first important decision is
what sort of bike to use, as the ride covers
many different types of terrain including
sealed and gravel roads, four-wheel drive
tracks, Ninety Mile Beach, and several
of the recently completed Nga Haerenga
National Cycleway off-road trails.
Phil was motivated to do the ride
because of the challenge involved. “I’ve
decided to take my regular touring bike
hoping that it’s a good compromise,”
says Phil. “I’ve ridden much of the route
over the years but the opportunity to
do it all in one go in a semi-organised
fashion was just too good to pass up. I’m
expecting that the weather, especially the
unpredictability of New Zealand’s wind,
and the cumulative fatigue associated
with riding six or more hours every day for
up to four weeks are likely to be the main
issues to deal with. I can’t wait to get
started!”
Dr Phil Shoemack, Medical Officer of Health for
Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service prepares to
participate in Tour Aotearoa.
Daughter in school year 8?
Protect her from cervical cancer by getting her free HPV immunisations
Girls in year 8 are being offered free HPV immunisations at school.
A consent form will be coming home with them for parents and caregivers.
Please read, sign and return the form to school.
If you would like to find out more you can speak to your public health
nurse on (07) 577 3383 or contact your family doctor or practice nurse.
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For further information visit www.health.govt.nz/hpv
Appeal launched for return of crutches and walking
frames at Tauranga Hospital
Mobility aids are going walking never
to return at a Tauranga Hospital
department and a call is going out
for patients to bring them back.
“Some people simply forget they have
equipment from the hospital,” said
Physiotherapy Team Leader Martin Kidd. “So the
message is, if you have it and no longer need it
please return it.”
Crutches and walking frames are the most
common items to go walkabout but over-toilet
frames and wheelchairs are also high on the
list. The loss of the equipment, loaned out to
people to aid their recovery, is having health
implications for other patients.
“If we don’t have the equipment, people in
need don’t get the support they require when
they require it, which delays their recovery or
being able to return home.
“In the last eight months we have issued 741
walking frames, which is about three a day,”
said Martin. “So you can see how that can soon
become a problem if they are not returned.
“For the last two weeks we have run very low
on crutches for inpatients. And Rehabilitation
Equipment Services has run out of walking
frames to issue in the community.”
Martin said return of equipment requests were
being met with varying degrees of success and
was now appealing to the public more broadly.
“It’s not a good use of our health resources
to be buying new equipment, when there is so
much equipment in the community which is
not being used. If you have any equipment that
you no longer need, please return it. If you’re
unsure whether you still require your walking aid,
contact the Physiotherapy Department.”
Tauranga Hospital’s Physiotherapy Department
can be contacted on (07) 579 8441 or text 027
886 0985 and someone will get back to you.
Equipment can also be left in the ‘return area’
at Tauranga Hospital’s front reception. Be sure
to give your name at reception so it is clear who
has returned what.
Physiotherapy Team Leader Martin Kidd is appealing for
mobility aids to be returned