On Sunday, June 29, the fi rst patients were moved into Middlemore Hospital’s new $6.38 million intensive care unit.

The unit was offi cially opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark on Thursday, June 25. The occasion was particularly special for many of CMDHB staff, as it marks a new era in caring for critically ill patients.

In the foyer of KidzFirst the Kaumatua opened the ceremony with a prayer and welcome. TVNZ’s Mark Sainsbury introduced the guest speakers which included Geraint Martin (CMDHB CEO), Gregor Coster (CMDHB Chairman), Catherine Simpson (Clinical Leader ICU), Gary Troupe (acting Mayor of Counties) and Hon. Helen Clark. There was also a very special talk given by a past Middlemore ICU patient, Diane McEntee. Diane gave a fi rst-hand insight into what it was like being cared for in Middlemore’s ICU. She talked about the devotion of the staff and how much their support meant to her.

The new ICU unit offers many improvements for patients, visitors and staff which will ultimately lead to better health outcomes and a signifi cant drop in psychological trauma.

The old unit, built in 1991, was cramped, lacked modern equipment, offered too little privacy for grieving families and did not allow child patients to be separated from adults. Children have their own

wing in the new ICU, saving them from the traumatic sounds and sights of critically ill adults and their families. Extra space and reclining chairs in the child-focused bed spaces will allow family members to stay at their children’s bedsides.

A new shower room will allow long-stay ICU patients to be gently showered while still in their beds with their ventilators. Before, they were turned over and wiped down with a warm cloth.

The two pressure rooms - critically important for patients with, or vulnerable to, infections offer huge improvements. Storage space has dramatically increased, allowing clutter-free corridors and rooms.

The new equipment is the most advanced in the country and the new unit’s location - next to theatre, the burns unit and directly above the emergency department is far better for staff and patients.

Due to the unstable and critical status of patients admitted to the ICU approximately 10% of patients each year die in the ICU. For this reason there is a strong commitment by the ICU team to communicate appropriately with families and provide a culturally competent service to reduce patient and family anxiety. This has been a signifi cant consideration in the planned development of the spaces. Clinical and non-clinical support and staff areas include teaching and research areas, individual and open offi ces, seminar room, staff room and toilet/shower facilities.

JULY 2008

On Sunday, June 29, the fi rst patients were moved into

wing in the new ICU, saving them from the traumatic sounds and sights of critically ill adults and their families Extra space and reclining chairs in the

Our New ICU

Hon. Helen Clark cuts the ribbon with Prof. Gregor Coster and Dr Catherine Simpson looking on.

Piripono Kapa Haka Group.

Dr Richard Wong She (Clinical Leader, National Burns Centre) and ICU Intensivist Dr Dave Galler.

ICU staff and Hon. Helen Clark.

CONNECT | PAGE 2

Anyone who works in the front-line of healthcare both

within the hospital and in our community knows how winter stretches our resources. In years past, there has been a predictable increase in acute medicine (both children and older adults), and of course respiratory-related illness.

This winter will be the last before we bring on board the new ward block currently under construction at Middlemore. So for winter 08 we have to fi nd better ways to cope with the winter demand.

Increasing CapacityAn extra 20 surgical beds will be available on

A fl oor of the previous Women’s Health building. Acute surgical volumes remain high and result in an unacceptable number of surgical patients dispersed throughout the hospital. This will be a permanent ward and will eventually transfer to the new ward block once it opens.

B Floor (20 beds). This will become the “fl exi” ward which will be opened according to demand and will remain open while the need is there.

Improving Patient Flow• A patient waiting area will be evaluated near

Ward One intended for patients ready for discharge but waiting to be collected.

• A campaign to discharge before 11am is underway. This is designed to free up beds for admissions waiting in Emergency Care to go to a ward.

• We are going to strengthen the discharging of patients who can be supported in their homes.

• We have a new capacity planning tool

which has proved accurate at predicting the “busyness” of the hospital. We will use CapPlan to allocate resource where and when it is needed.

• An escalation plan has been developed which is available on SouthNet. This will be initiated dependant of the level of activity within the hospital and particularly when the hospital gets to a point when we need “all hands to the pump”.

I appreciate that winter does challenge our resources. We are dependant on staff staying healthy and not suffering from winter ailments themselves. If you haven’t had the opportunity to get your fl u vaccination I would encourage you to do so. Thank you for your support if you have any ideas that we haven’t considered I would welcome your comments.

Geraint Martin, Chief Executive

This is a free education package for all nurses and other health professionals employed in Elder Care within the CMDHB area.

This self-directed learning package, developed by Auckland University and Counties Manukau District Health Board, offers free, in-depth, education to registered nurses and other registered health professionals working with older people. If you hold an annual practicing certifi cate and work within the Counties Manukau District Health Board area, no matter who your employer is, you will be able to

access this self directed learning package. It will support and provide evidence of your professional development.

Register at www.atract.org.nz or contact Lorraine Hall, Clinical Nurse Specialist atract@middlemore.co.nz

This is a free ed cation This self directed learning package developed access this self directed learning package It will

Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation Advanced Core Training (ATRACT)

Bob WichmanBob has been on the

CMDHB board for the last 6 years. He believes that CMDHB provides the best medical health care in New Zealand and is proud to be part of that achievement.

He will continue to work to make our level of health care even better. As a Manukau resident, father and grandfather, it is his ambition to ensure that the residents of Counties Manukau will always have the best healthcare available in NZ.

Being a non-healthcare professional, he believes that he is able to add an essential outside perspective, something that is extremely important to the balance of any board of directors. He has been a Manukau City Councillor for 14 years, in the past being the Chairman, Economic Development and the Chairman of Corporate Governance.

Arthur AnaeArthur is proud to represent New Zealand’s most

multicultural City, Manukau. His determination as a District Health Board member is to ensure that Health Services provided for the People of Counties Manukau are second to none and to use all his business knowledge and political experience to ensure that health services are provided equally to all people, based on their immediate needs.

“We have the most diversely populated city in New Zealand and need representation to refl ect that. We all need to understand and respect our cultural differences and work together to provide the best services for all our people equally. To do this we need to fi nd ways to keep our most talented people in NZ to provide the services for the People of Counties Manukau.”

His focus has been on the young and elderly who depend on the political process to be there for them when they need it. The working community should be protecting themselves with tax deductible Medical Insurance, leaving Public Hospital beds for the young and elderly in the fi rst instance.

CONNECT | PAGE 3

Helps Older People in CMDHB to Maintain their Independence.

A recent pilot project run out of the Adult Rehab and Health of Older Peoples’ Service has shown that intensive nutrition support can improve the nutritional status of community-dwelling older people.

Previous New Zealand studies have shown that Meals on Wheels alone may not provide suffi cient nutrients to support older people to maintain their independence. In particular, those who are already underweight or are at high risk of malnutrition due to chronic disease.

The six week “Meals for Independence and Rehabilitation Programme” piloted in the CMDHB urban area in 2007 provided home delivered meals and intensive nutrition education. Twelve older people completed (thirteen participants commenced and one lost to follow up) the goal focused programme which proved to be easy to deliver and well received by older people.

The aim of pilot was to see if it was practical to deliver the 6 week programme, which included Meals on Wheels and additional chilled and frozen

meals. Changes in the participant’s functional ability, nutritional status and quality of life were also measured at the end of the programme.

Home Service and Needs Assessors at Middlemore Hospital identifi ed the majority of participants who could most benefi t from the programme. Participants had to be at risk of or suffering from malnutrition, be living independently in the community, have the ability to set and achieve their own goals and be over the age of 65 yrs (over 55 years if Maori or Pacifi c People).

The meals included standard Meals on Wheels along with a chilled snack meal delivered by the Red Cross Volunteer Drivers. Frozen meals were also provided for the fi rst 2 weekends of the programme. Participants were prescribed nutritional supplements if additional nutrients were required.

A Dietitian specializing in gerontology nutrition provided intensive nutrition education and monitored participant’s weights over the 6 week programme.

Participants ages ranged from 67 to 98 years with an average age of 79 yrs, the majority of participants were women (69%) and the

most common diagnosis was COPD (45% of participants)

Results from the programme saw an increase in the participants’ functional ability and quality of life, and a signifi cant improvement in their nutritional status. Over half of the participants (58%) who were on Meals on Wheels at the start of the programme returned to being independent with their meals after 6 weeks. The programme ran from June to October and it was exciting to see that of the original 13 participants only one was admitted to hospital.

Feedback from participants indicated that at the completion of the programme they had a much better understanding of the nutrition required to maintain their health and indicated they were able to follow through with suggestions for easily prepared meals.

Based on the success of this programme it will now be piloted in the Pukekohe Community over the next 6 months.

If you would like more information on this programme please contact:

Kaye Dennison, Clinical Specialist Dietitian, AT&R Unit. Email: DennisK@middlemore.co.nz

The opening celebrated the end of a 19 month project to improve pedestrian fl ow and access around Middlemore Hospital.

CEO Geraint Martin hosted the event with guest speakers Hon David Cunliffe, Minister of Health and Prof. Gregor Coster, Chairman CMDHB. Also in attendance was MP Ross Robertson, CMDHB Board Members and special guest Esme Green - the fi rst registered nurse to practice at Middlemore Hospital when it opened its doors in 1947.

The ribbon was cut by David Cunliffe and Esme Green. Among those acknowledged in speeches were:• Staff, patients and visitors directly or indirectly

affected by the building works. • RCP - Project Managers,

• Towards 20/20 Project Team. • CMDHB Engineers.• Hawkins Construction, • Architects - Peddle Thorp, • Beca - managers, engineers and planners. • Holmes Consulting - Structural Engineers.

Special thanks to Otara Kapa Haka Group ‘Piripono’ who performed at the ceremony.

New Lobby OpenedWe were proud to formally open Middlemore’s new Adult Medical Centre lobby and courtyard on Friday 16 May 2008.

Helps Older People in meals. Changes in the participant’s functional most common diagnosis was COPD (45% of

Intensive Community Nutrition Programme - Pilot Study

This campaign was run to get employees to update their current details and ethnicity information. “We wanted to increase the completeness and accuracy of the data we have about our employees,” says Karl Snowden, who does project support work in Workforce Development. This information helps us cater to the needs of our employees, identify human resource gaps and make attempts to fi ll them. At

the start of the campaign around 20 per cent of employees were of unknown ethnicity. As a result of the campaign this fi gure has dropped to around 17 percent.

If you haven’t already done so, you can change your details on the kiosk site even though the campaign has ended. You will fi nd Employee Kiosk in SouthNET under Applications Directory.

Winners of the competition during the campaign are Terri Naylor, Joanne Douglas, Freda Zhu, Usha Sud (Westfi eld Voucher Winners), Erin Kemeys and Lip Ng (Gold Class Movie Ticket Winners) and Kalala Futi (Ipod Winner).

This campaign was run to get employees to the start oof the campaign around 20 pe

Employee Kiosk Campaign Counties Manukau DHB ran an Employee Kiosk campaign from May 5 to 30.

Esme Green cuts the ribbon with the help of David Cunliffe (left) and Gregor Coster Piripono Kapa Haka Group

CONNECT | PAGE 4

Best Practice Guidelines for Establishing Breakfast Clubs in Schools We all know that a lot of kids in South Auckland may not be getting the best start to their day.

This has prompted the publication of a new publication for Counties Manukau schools, which was launched on June 11th by Sam Cliffe, Acting Chief Planning and Funding Offi cer, Counties Manukau District Health Board and Cr Gary Troup, Acting Mayor of Manukau city.

The Best Practice Guidelines for Establishing Breakfast Clubs in Schools resource has been written for teachers, school volunteers, including parents and those from the wider school community and students. They will help to encourage community engagement with the schools and provide many ideas of how to involve school students in breakfast clubs.

This schools’ resource has been compiled by the Let’s Beat Diabetes schools’ leadership hub, the Schools’ Accord. The guidelines provide a clear structure to setting up a breakfast club. The guidelines provide help to people, friends and family of the school community, who may be new to management within a formal school or business

environment. “It is wonderful to have these Guidelines tailored to

our own Counties Manukau population and showing our own students’ faces and case studies from local schools. We are thrilled to be able to deliver this resource freely to any schools which are interested in establishing their own breakfast clubs,” says Schools’ Accord Manager, Karlynne Earp.

The Let’s Beat Diabetes Programme and national health initiatives strongly support children eating together as a family and see best scenario is for children to eat breakfast at home in a family environment.

Let’s Beat Diabetes Programme Director, Chad Paraone, says “Breakfast at home is of course

our preferred position, but we cannot ignore the reality that some children in our community do not always get to eat breakfast at home or in a family environment, for many different reasons. And the Let’s Beat Diabetes Programme supports schools to assist children to be active, healthy and ready to learn through a variety of initiatives, including breakfast clubs.”

“Community engagement is a strong ethos of the Let’s Beat Diabetes Programme” says Chad Paraone. “The guidelines provide an opportunity to structure that engagement and also provide a setting to improve nutrition and understanding of its importance for our children.”

Initiatives included:• “Adopt a Manager”. This is where dietitians

spent time with a manager to highlight clinical work and discuss challenges. The team also enjoyed presenting recent achievements to the Chair of the DHB, Professor Gregor Coster.

• A Display along the Rainbow Corridor including the competition “Guess the dietitians’ weight” which was won by Stuart Caldwell.

• The launch of the new, improved Nutrition & Dietetics intranet site check it out at http://southnet/Nutrition-Dietetics

Did you know?• Dietitians are the only legally recognised

professionals with an undergraduate degree plus post graduate qualifi cations in dietetics.

• Dietitians translate nutrition science and apply evidence-based practice.

• At least 5 of the 13 NZ Health Strategy goals are directly related

to nutrition • CMDHB currently employs about 30 dietitians and one dietetic assistant.

Azion Challenge “Sprint”Around 300 CMDHB staff recently completed the

fi ve week Azion Challenge sprint. It was a great way of focusing on getting active over a shorter period of time than the usual annual event. Lots of people who hadn’t done a challenge before got involved and were energised and motivated by the experience! We’ve got a lucky entrant prize of a bike to the value of $500.00 to draw and give away, so if you’ve just fi nished the challenge, watch this space to see if you’re the winner!

Look out for the all new Kiwi Workplace Challenge in September. If you’d like a snapshot of the event, go to www.kiwichallenge.co.nz and click the EVENT OVERVIEW button on the Home Page.

Wellbeing TipsWe know you guys have developed some terrifi c

survival tricks for when life is busy and challenging. So we are collecting as many of them as we can to share with your colleagues, so they too can benefi t!

There are a few ways you can take part in this:

• Become a “poster-person” OR provide us with a quick tip to publish on the wellness portal

Email lisa.reardon@azion.co.nz to fi nd out more.

Do you want a FREE Nutrition Consult?Some of you have expressed interest in receiving

assistance with nutrition, so we’ve organised FREE 1-on-1 consults for 30 minutes with a registered nutritionist.

If you’d like some help with any of the following;• weight loss,• improving your daily wellbeing,• eating well on a budget,• making sense of food labels,• using nutrition to improve your health.

Email lisa.reardon@azion.co.nz and let her know where you are located and what you would like to know more about. We’ll then let you know when and where you can book an appointment in a location closest to you.

We need approx 12 appointments to come to your location. So get your colleagues together and we’ll arrange a half day for your worksite.

Azion Challenge “Sprint” • Become a “poster-person” OR provide us with ai k ti t bli h th ll t l

Let’s Do It Even in Winter!

Students from Papakura High School and Mangere College participating in Jump Jam activity at the function.

AccoTh

healttogetfor c

Dietitians’ WeekThe inaugural CMDHB Dietitians’ week was launched on 5th May. The aim was to increase the profi le of dietitians working at CMDHB.

CONNECT | PAGE 5

World Hepatitis Day was marked around New Zealand on 19 May.

The day was aimed at raising awareness and promoting the need for people who are at-risk, or who may have been at risk in the past to get themselves tested.

It is estimated that between 45,000 and 50,000 people in New Zealand have the hepatitis C virus (HCV), yet three-quarters of those remain undiagnosed. It is vital those who might be at risk are tested, so they can receive treatment and reduce the risk of transmission.

Many people may have contracted hepatitis C in their youth through experimenting with drugs or other high-risk behaviours. Most have no symptoms at all until they develop advanced liver disease. Without treatment almost 20% of New Zealanders will develop cirrhosis and more than 5% will die from either liver cancer or liver failure. Over the last decade, hepatitis C has become the leading indication for liver transplantation and now accounts for more than 40% of all adults referred to the New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit at Auckland Hospital.

Those most at risk of contracting hepatitis C include: • people who inject drugs using unsterilised or

shared equipment or who have ever injected drugs using unsterilised or shared equipment

• people who have spent time in prisons• people who have tattoos or piercings in unsterile

conditions• some migrant groups from countries with high

prevalence of HCV• people receiving unscreened blood, blood

products, or organ transplants prior to universal screening for HCV in blood and organ donors. This was introduced in New Zealand in July 1992 but New Zealanders who received either blood transfusions or organ transplants overseas after this date may still be at risk.

Cirrhosis, liver cancer and death can be prevented by early diagnosis and management of chronic hepatitis C. Lifestyle interventions such as healthy diet, reduction in both alcohol and cannabis use may help prevent disease progression. PHARMAC-funded antiviral therapy is freely available and will cure most New Zealanders with chronic hepatitis C infection. Current treatment will cure approximately two-thirds of patients. Newer therapies currently under clinical trials here in Auckland may increase this to more than 90% over the next fi ve years.

Counties Manukau DHB and the Ministry of Health co-host 2 stimulating days of challenges and discussion between delegates and speakers on rethinking health for the future.

Building Tomorrow’s Health Services is a two day think-tank about the strategic future of New Zealand’s health system. How do we reduce inequalities in health or decide which new technologies to invest in? How do we manage Baby Boomer expectations for health services over the next 20 Years? How does the workforce need to change and where do we fi nd it?

Opening presentation by Minister for Health, Hon David Cunliffe.

Join Prof. Martin McKee from the UK, Dr Scott Young from the US, Dr Lester Levy, Judith Smith, CEO Geraint Martin, Assoc Prof Papaarangi Reid, Dr David Panter, Pat Snedden, DG Stephen McKernan, CEO David Meates, Chris Mules, CEO Karen Roach, Dr Mary Seddon, Dr Sue Hallwright, Allan Cumming and more.

Take a look at the programme. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to the great debate on health. 12 Workshops to choose from.

Register now - Conference website www.cmdhb.org.nz or for enquires please contact us at CMDHBconference@p10.co.nz

Building Tomorrow’s Health ServicesThursday 21 & Friday 22 August 2008at TelstraClear Pacifi c, Manukau City, Auckland

World Hepatitis Day “Hepatitis Is Serious- Get Tested.”

Min thotheat aWithwill fromlastindifor Zea

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CMDHB Tikanga Best Practice TrainingOffered to CMDHB StaffThe Maaori Responsiveness Programme has been created to support CMDHB’s goal to reduce health inequalities for Maaori.

The CMDHB Tikanga Best Practice training will enable staff to explore how Te Ao Maaori

(Maaori world view) can work alongside CMDHB values in our work place. The course which is facilitated by caring people in a supportive and sensitive environment increase staff confi dence and awareness in Maaori Responsiveness and enables staff to consider its application in clinical practice.

Staff are encouraged to take part in the training and if you would like more information please contact:

Petra Ria | AdministratorPhone: (09) 276 0044 ext: 8926Mobile: (021) 223 8028Email: RiaP@middlemore.co.nzorGabrielle Sexton | ManagerPhone: (09) 276 0044 ext: 2655Mobile: (021) 223 8028Email: GSexton@middlemore.co.nz

The Maaori Responsiveness Team CMDHBBack Left to right- Ian Kaihe, Te Aroha Teriaki, Arapeta HamiltonFront Row left to the right - Petra Ria, Rose Ikimau, Gabrielle Sexton

Registrar Dr Nick Tindle and Jacqui Stone

CONNECT | PAGE 6

Four MIT Communication students recently appeared at Kidz First Children’s Hospital, laden with goodies.

As part of a community project the students had to raise money for a local project.

The class members sold soft toys, donated by Touson in Onehunga, on campus and raised over $300.00. They then used the money to purchase wool to support the Wool Programme run by the South Auckland Health Foundation, based at Middlemore Hospital.

They also had hundreds of dollars worth of children’s books donated by Scholastic NZ Limited.

Public Relations Offi cer, Michelle Kidd, was on

hand to accept the goodies. “It was so exciting to receive the call from the students”, she said. “This is the 2nd year running we have been supported by this class project, and it terrifi c to see local students wanting to support their local hospital”.

“When the call came through we discussed various projects the money could support. When we told the students about the Wool Programme, and with winter just around the corner we thought this was a good fi t.

Many of our volunteer knitters are on limited incomes so to be able to give them some wool will really help them out”.

Pictured L to R: Michelle Kidd, Public Relations Offi cer, South Auckland Health Foundation and MIT Communication Students, Heather Matthews of Papakura, Daniella Jones of Panmure, Monshana Roberts of Otara, and Lauree Shepherd of Papakura.

Four MIT Communication students recently appeared at

hand to accept the goodies. “It wasso exciting to receive the call from the students”, she said. “This is the 2nd

MIT Students Giving Back

DHL Staff Give to Kidz First

Auckland, 5 June 2008 – Staff from DHL Express NZ have donated over $14,000 to the Kidz First Children’s Hospital at Middlemore today.

The money was raised through personal donations from DHL staff and will be used to purchase several syringe pumps for a new Intensive Care Unit at the hospital. Syringe pumps are used for administering medicine to critically ill children.

After a staff member’s family was tragically affected by meningitis, DHL staff chose to donate the money to Kidz First due to its commitment to treating children with serious illnesses including meningitis.

“I am incredibly grateful that children in need will be receiving these funds,” says Tui Kennar, DHL Priority Support Executive. “When DHL staff learned that I lost my wife to meningitis they were very supportive of me and the charity. The thought that their donations will contribute to saving or extending someone’s life, or give them a better quality of life is without a doubt a blessing”.

Derek Anderson, General Manager, DHL Express NZ says, “DHL is proud that it can be of help in any small part to assist

in the treatment of children, particularly in the Counties Manukau region where we are based. We are all very passionate about our Charity of Choice programme whereby staff nominate an organisation and raise funds annually. This donation to Kidz First Children’s Hospital resonates particularly with the staff”.

Michelle Kidd, Public Relations Offi cer from the South Auckland Health Foundation was thrilled to receive the call from DHL, “It was especially meaningful to hear that staff at DHL had chosen Kidz First Children’s Hospital as the recipient charity for the proceeds they had raised,” she said. “The DHL staff have obviously worked very hard to raise these funds which we will use to purchase several syringe pumps. The South Auckland Health Foundation are very grateful that a local business has chosen to support Kidz First Children’s Hospital, here at Middlemore”.

Renown international advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi is doing their bit to help us out here at Middlemore.

The Auckland offi ce are saving and delivering unwanted magazines, so our patients and families will have more current reading material.

They are also saving all cardboard cut-offs for a regular delivery to Kidz First Children’s Hospital for art projects.

Saatchis also support the South Auckland Health Foundation by sponsoring the on site billboard creatives – like the current ICU billboard we have up.

A BIG thank you to the staff and management at Saatchi’s for their ongoing support.

Renown international

Saatchi & Saatchi Supporting South

Tui Kennar, Derek Anderson, Vann Powhiro (16 months) and Michelle Kidd (SAHF)

CONNECT | PAGE 7

Our charity: The South Auckland Health Foundation is a registered charitable trust that supports and raises funds for the health services of Counties Manukau District Health Board.

This year there were 3 scholarships of $600 each available with the applicants being nurses & midwives from Surgical Services, Women’s Health or Medicine who “consistently show and maintain the tradition of good nursing & midwifery practice at the bedside – holistic practice with quality outcomes for their patients.” These practices

will encompass quality time at the bedside, using good communication skills, being respectful and maintaining patient’s dignity, empathy of patient needs, treating people with compassion whilst demonstrating excellent nursing & midwifery practice and shows professionalism in patient approach and presentation.

The Scholarships may be used by the successful applicants to support their own professional development. For example by:• obtain further education and training• gain experience, skills or knowledge• undertake research

The Scholarships were presented by Esme Green as part of the Nursing & Midwifery Awards held on 12th May. Winners pictured with Esme are Shakuntla Prasad RN Ward 7, Sue Beaumont-Orr Charge Nurse Manager Ward 7, and Wendy Postles RN Ward 8. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to Esme Green for providing a generous donation to the sponsorship of these scholarships and for making herself available for the awards ceremony.

The Scholarships may be used by the successful

Esmé Green Nursing & Midwifery Scholarships for Professional Development

The South Auckland Health Foundation was recently involved with the organisation and promotion of the Inaugural Mayoress’ Charity Gala Ball.

The glitzy and glamorous Ball, held at the TelstraClear Pacifi c Events Centre was a complete sell out – with over 850 guests.

Guests were hosted by the delightful Wendy Petrie and Mark Sainsbury and were entertained by the Tongan Brass Band, fi re eaters, The Tuxedo Swing Orchestra, Shane Cortese and more!

All proceeds raised at the Ball will be used to equip a paediatric bed space at Middlemore Hospital’s new Intensive Care Unit.

Mayoress Shan Inglis, was overwhelmed by the positive response and support of Manukau residents, “This is the realisation of a dream”, she said, “Len and I have always wanted to make a signifi cant contribution to children’s health, and it is so exciting to see the dream become a reality”.

Manukau City Mayor Len Brown agrees, “We have had such a positive and supportive response from people and businesses throughout wider Auckland,

and particularly in Counties Manukau. This has been such a fantastic opportunity to showcase Manukau City in a glamorous and memorable way”.

The goal was to raise $225,000.00, and with amazing donations of $100,000.00 from the Lion Foundation and $56,000.00 from Rotary International the grand total raised from the evening was

$290,000.00!The Ball received overwhelming support from many local businesses that purchased

tables and donated prizes for the auction. Our sincere thanks to Len and Shan Inglis for making their dream a reality, and therefore benefi ting the children of Counties Manukau.Many of you will have heard of Len’s unexpected illness following the Ball. We are delighted to hear that Len’s health is improving, and hope he is on the road

to a full recovery. Our thoughts have been with the family over this diffi cult time.

The South Auckland Health Foundation was recently

We Had a Ball

Esme Green, a retired Registered Nurse who was in the fi rst class to graduate from Middlemore Hospital, has recently established a scholarship fund. Managed by the South Auckland Health Foundation, the scholarship will be available for Registered Nurses and Midwives to continue their personal development.

CONNECT | PAGE 8

Is there anyone out there wanting to join the fun?

Kidz First Children’s Hospital were thrilled to learn it has once again been selected as a benefi ting charity from the eight week, 2008 Fresh Future Appeal, supported by the staff of Progressive Enterprises nationally.

The appeal will be launched on 1st August 2008.

One of the many fundraising activities is a cycle ride from Invercargill to Auckland – over 1839 kilometres – with the aim of raising $100,000.00.

If you are interested in participating in all or some of the cycle stages please contact, Michelle Kidd, SAHF, Ph 2708808 x2048.

It would be so great if the community are able to support a local business that is doing so much to support our Childrens’ Hospital.

Is there anyone out there One of the many fundraising activities is a cycleid f I ill t A kl d 1839

Calling All Cyclists

ITINERARY:

Day Date Route Kms

1 8 Sept - Mon Invercargill (Velodrome start with Hospital staff)- Gore 762 9 Sept - Tues Gore - Balclutha- Dunedin 1513 10 Sept - Wed Dunedin - Oamaru 1154 11 Sept - Thurs Oamaru - Timaru- Ashburton 1605 12 Sept - Fri Ashburton - Christchurch 876 13 Sept - Sat Christchurch - Cheviot 1217 14 Sept - Sun Cheviot - Kaikoura 758 15 Sept - Mon Kaikoura - Blenheim 1299 16 Sept - Tues Blenheim - Nelson 11610 17 Sept - Wed Drive Nelson to Blenheim rd to Havelock. Cycle Havelock to Picton. 24 Catch Ferry to Wellington 11 18 Sept - Thurs Wellington Hospital to Porirua 3112 19 Sept - Fri Porirua to Palmerston North 13013 20 Sept - Sat Palmerston North to Waipukurau 11114 21 Sept - Sun Waipukurau to Napier 7415 22 Sept - Mon Napier to Taupo 14416 23 Sept - Tues Taupo - Cambridge 13317 24 Sept - Wed Cambridge - Hamilton - Pukekohe 11418 25 Sept –Thurs Pukekohe – Support Offi ce / Middlemore Hospital 48

Average 102 kms p/day Total Journey 1839

Many thanks to the TelstraClear Pacifi c Events Centre, who once again selected the South Auckland Health Foundation as the benefi ting charity for the Original Art Sale Gala Charity night.

The Gala night was very successful, with a very high standard of art on display. This was refl ected in the fact that over 85 pieces of art sold within 2 hours of the Sale opening.

We were fortunate to have the support of Offi ceMax. Their generous donation of bubblewrap and tape allowed us to offer the extra service of

wrapping the paintings sold. Many thanks also to the Kings College students

who assisted on the night.The proceeds of the evening have been used to

purchase a procedure light for the new Intensive Care Unit.

Thanks also to the many CMDHB staff that came along and supported this event.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the winner of the Matariki award, Auckland artist, Claudine Muru. Her glass sculpture piece was then auctioned, and the successful bidder, Noel Robinson generously donated the piece back to the South Auckland Health Foundation – thank you so much for your support Noel.

(We will let you know once we have a permanent home for the artwork).

Many thanks to the TelstraClear wrapping the paintings sold.

Original Art Sale Success

When Vicki Smith arrived in NZ late last year, (because of her husband’s job transfer), she wasn’t one to sit about and get homesick.

Vicki contacted us here at the South Auckland Health Foundation to see if there was any volunteer work that needed to be done.

The call was timely as the Foundation had just had confi rmation from SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust that they would assist with funding of an Oral Health Campaign in the Counties Manukau area to help improve the oral health statistics of our children.

So we put Vicki to work.Over 64,000 tubes of toothpaste had to be

inserted in individual toilet bags, together with a toothbrush and dental health messages to be distributed to South Auckland preschoolers.

Vicki tirelessly made up thousands and thousands of these kits for us. Her home was amass with brown boxes full of the components of the toilet bag.

Ever cheerful Vicki then drove the completed packs back out to South Auckland every few days, only to reload her vehicle ready to complete another batch.

We cannot even imagine how such a mammoth task could have been completed without Vicki’s assistance.

Hours and hours and hours of time was selfl essly donated by Vicki - and the results will be shown in the oral health of our children in the years to come.

Now that this project is almost complete Vicki has put her hand up to volunteer for the next Foundation project and will be assisting with our Wool Programme and Knitter Natter events.

THANK YOU VICKI.

When Vicki Smith arrived in

SAHF Unsung Hero - Aussie Girl Helps Out

CONNECT | PAGE 9

A new ultrasound machine, donated by Freemasons Roskill Foundation, will increase diagnostic accuracy for patients having thyroid biopsies at the Endocrinology clinic at Manukau Superclinic.

We were thrilled to be able to host members of the Freemasons Roskill Foundation at the Superclinic to demonstrate the new piece of equipment.

Multi-nodular goitre, a swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck, is very common and is found in about 10% of the population. These multi-nodular thyroid glands have many lumps and bumps which are usually benign and harmless. However, a small proportion of patients will develop a cancerous growth in the thyroid which is highly malignant. If the thyroid cancer is diagnosed early, there is a good prospect of a cure.

The usual way of testing malignant from benign lumps in the thyroid gland is to pass a needle into the lump and extract cells for examination under a microscope. This procedure is called ‘fi ne needle aspirate biopsy”. The ultrasound machine will dramatically improve the diagnostic accuracy of fi ne needle thyroid biopsies in the clinic room by up to 35%.

Endocrinologist, John Baker, was thrilled with the news of the new ultrasound machine. “It means we will be able to diagnose thyroid cancer more quickly, and improve patients’ chances of a cure,” said Dr Baker. “Having this ultrasound equipment in the clinic room, dramatically improves the service we can provide to the people of Counties Manukau, and we are so grateful to the Freemasons Roskill Foundation for funding this”.

David Mace, Chairman of the Freemasons Roskill Foundation said, “We are so pleased to support the Counties Manukau area with this ultrasound system and trust that it will greatly assist in the evaluation of thyroid nodules enabling thyroid cancers to be detected more frequently and at earlier stages”.

A new ultrasound machine, The usual way of testing malignant from benign lumps in the thyroid gland is to pass a needle into

New Ultrasound Improves Diagnostic Accuracy

Pictured is endocrinologist Brandon Orr-Walker giving a demonstration of the new ultrasound machine.

Twenty one mums from Otara put on their walking shoes and dusted off their bikes in order to compete in the REAL Women’s Duathlon at Ambury Park in May.

The women were targeted through the Parenting Network and encouraged by REAL ambassador and ex-Silver Fern Linda Vagana to take part. Linda joined one of their walking groups and encouraged the women to participate in the hugely popular event. The Parenting Network was developed with the Otara Board’s Forum and brings together parents, members of

the community and schools.Otara Board’s Forum CEO, Linda Biggs said

the women were buzzing from the experience and planning to do it again next year. “For all of us, me included, it was the fi rst time we had ever participated in anything like this. We all felt a huge sense of achievement.”

Established in 1996, the Otara Board’s Forum represents 13 schools. Its purpose is to improve governance practices and raise student achievement in Otara through the Ministry of Education’s schooling improvement work. It has extended its work to involving family and community in supporting student achievement, which is how the Parenting Network was developed.

Since beginning the Let’s Beat Diabetes-funded programme in March, the Otara Board’s Forum achieved many group and individual successes, including setting up walking groups, holding healthy lunch-making classes and encouraging families to swap fi zzy drink for water.

the community and schools.

Otara Board’s Forum targets parents in successful healthy lifestyle initiative

CONNECT | PAGE 10

GRADUATE NURSE/MIDWIFE award Left to RightMidwifery, Bridgit Watts, Graduate Midwife, Delivery Suite Nursing, Adele Sheriff, Graduate Nurse, Emergency Care Mental Health, Charity Sharu, Graduate Nurse, Tui Ward Tiaho Mai Presenter, Kate Wrightson, Midwifery Coordinator of New Grad Programme Best PRECEPTOR AWARD Left to Right Presenter, Beverley McClelland, Nurse Leader Education & Professional Development Mental Health, Rose Norton, Staff Nurse, Tui Ward Tiaho Mai Primary Healthcare, Margaret Atkins, District Nurse, Home Health Care Primary Healthcare, Tazmin Ismail, RN, East Tamaki Health Care Nursing, Sangita Hindeshwar, RN, Ward 24 AT & R Midwifery, Cate Johns, Midwife, Assesement Labour & Birthing Unit Absent from pic

Excellence in practice award Left to Right Midwifery, Shenaaz Desai, Midwife, Womens Health Primary Healthcare, Dianna Verrall, School Nurse, CMDBH School Nursing Team Mental Health, Bessie Gaffney, Senior Nurse, Te Rawhiti Community Mental Health Nursing, Fakoala Otuafi , RN, Ward 1 Presenter, Penny Impey, Clinical Nurse Director, Quality Improvement

BEST SUPPORT PERSON Left to Right Nursing, Beverley Saward, Whanau Support Worker, Maori Health Unit Primary Healthcare, Tupuna Davis, Community Health Worker, Total Healthcare Otara Mental Health, Rawiri Wilson, Support Worker, Maaori Mental Health Midwifery, Joanne McNamara, Health Care Assistant, Maternity Nursing, Pat Osborne, Health Care Assistant, Kidz First Emergency Presenter, Maria West, Clinical Nurse Director, Mental Health LEADERSHIP Left to Right Midwifery, Marie Purcell, Unit Manager, MidwiferyNursing, Charmaine Munro, Charge Nurse Manager, Ward 6Primary Healthcare, Gillian Davies, Nurse Leader, East Tamaki Health CareMental Health, Janice Lemon, Charge Nurse, Huia Ward Tiaho MaiPresenter, Jessie Crawford, Nurse Practitioner, Primary Heath Care

Nursing and Midwifery AwardsNursing and Midwifery Awards 2008 were held on International Nurses Day - 12th May, in conjunction with International Midwives’ Day on 5th May.

This year the awards had over 200 nominations for the main award categories which crossed the nursing spectrum - Midwifery, Primary Healthcare, Nursing and Mental Health.

The selection process was a challenge again this year. The nominations showed the huge variety of projects that nurses and midwifes are involved with, in both a local, national and international level. Many of the nominations also spoke of the commitment nurses and midwifes have to good nursing and

midwifery care at the bedside and providing support for their colleagues in our organisation.

The awards ceremony had a fantastic turn-out, with the academic lecture theatre being at bursting point. The ceremony was well supported by CMDHB’s management and staff.

MIT again awarded ‘Best Preceptor’, chosen by the under-graduates themselves and presented by Willem Fourie, Deputy Head of Nursing from MIT. The winner was Sharon Blair from Ward 5. The University of Auckland presented an award titled ‘Leadership and Innovation. Judy Kilpatrick, Head of the Nursing Department at Auckland University presented this award with much humour to the winner, Janene Lawrence, Charge Nurse Manager of Ward 2.

Te Kupenga O Hoturoa PHO continues to give an award and this year it was titled ‘Outstanding Nurse.’ It was presented by Nurse Leader Dolly Rewha to Michele Carsons, Clinical Nurse Director of

Medicine. The Age-Related Residential Care award was presented by Clinical Nurse Director Noeline Whitehead to winner Barbara Bass from Hillcrest Hospital.

Midwifery guest speaker, Sue Bree, President of the NZ College of Midwives, spoke of the issues faced by midwifery today – namely the workforce shortages – and some of the strategies being worked on to resolve some of this. Mark Jones, Chief Nurse of New Zealand, Ministry of Health who after fl ight delays, fi nally arrived to give us all a little reminder of where nursing began, (with Florence Nightingale) while highlighting some of our most noted pioneering nurses.

As it was a day of celebrations, it was most fi tting that the Director of Nursing, Denise Kivell, and the Director of Midwifery, Thelma Thompson, were presented with fl owers in acknowledgement of their hard work and commitment to their profession.

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CONNECT | PAGE 11

A big thank you to the operators of the Middlemore Hospital phone exchange.

Many of you may not realise that the phone operators work around-the-clock to ensure that not only staff calls are connected, but that families are able reach their loved ones in the hospital. Well done to the team and keep up the good work!

Stephen Russ, Pamela McLaughlan, Jill Enevoldsen, Helene Winchester and Carol Cullen. Absent staff, Wyn Routley, Bridgette Kawiti, Doreen Evans, Sharon Ryan and Moehau Mataio.

On May 28, Manukau young people launched a new, youth-friendly, Health and Disabilities Youth Code of Rights at the Fresh Gallery, Otara. Youthline, in partnership with Counties Manukau District Health Board, designed posters to be displayed throughout Auckland.

The new ‘Youth Code of Rights’ will inform young people about their rights and what they can expect when using health services.

The youth-focused code comes out of a number of Youth Advisory Group workshops, where, with the help of Youthline youth workers, young people re-wrote the code of rights in a way was attractive and easy to understand.

“The original document was diffi cult even for us as youth workers to understand, so it was broken down and put back together into something that was meaningful for young people,” says Youthline youth worker Renee Haitoua-Haiu.

Renee says many young people may not know their rights when accessing health services and the new code will give them important information in a manner they will understand.

On May 28, Manukau young The youth-focused code comes out of a number of Youth Advisory Group workshops

Youth Code of Rights

A big thank you to the

Un-SungHeroes

CONNECT | PAGE 12

We are especially interested in contributions from our community partners.If you have a story you would like to contribute for Connect please email it to the Editor at: lryoung@middlemore.co.nz

Why Being “Smokefree” is ImportantWe all know that there is plenty of evidence to show that smoking harms both you and your family.

We also know that in particular when you are in hospital, it is even more important to be Smokefree. You will have a greater capacity to carry healing oxygen through your body, you manage anaesthetics better, you heal quicker and you respond better to many of the pharmaceuticals. So it is easy to argue for having our patients Smokefree, but what about

our staff? We need your support in making our health service sites ‘Smokefree’.• We know that the patients fi nd it easier to be

Smokefree when the environment is Smokefree.• We know that encouraging patients and offering

nicotine patches will result in more patients becoming Smokefree.

• We know that smoking is an extra stress on the body that is only relieved by the very substance that causes it, nicotine.

• We know that being in hospital can provide motivation for people to stop smoking for their own health or the health of their children or other family members.

Lastly we are role models for our community. They watch us and despite some resistance to our Smokefree site, there is also a tremendous amount of support. We are giving a clear message that heath centres are smokefree and it does get through. For that reason staff in uniform are not permitted to smoke. I need your support to achieve this.

I appreciate this issue has the potential to divide us within CMDHB. There are good reasons for staying Smokefree and if you need help stopping or staying smokefree our Smokefree team can help you.

Ron DunhamChief Operating Offi cer

The Smokefree Team at Middlemore hospital celebrated world smokefree day on Friday the 30th of May.

The day was about refl ecting on the benefi ts of a smokefree life. Staff who smoke were offered the opportunity to participate in having a smokefree day with the support of Karyn and Michelle, our cessation specialists plus free nicotine patches. All those who participated were put in a draw to win a $100 Westfi eld voucher. Twenty seven staff members pledged a smokefree day and nine people asked for either patches or gum to take the edge off of the cravings. Everyone was very positive and a number of the people decided that they would use this opportunity to make changes for good.

Becoming smokefree is a wonderful gift that you give to yourself and to your family. For people who are smokefree already, the best gift to others is your positive encouragement and support to help free them of the control of nicotine.

The Smokefree Team asked for smokefree stories to be sent in. Everyone who sent in a story went in the draw with two lucky people winning two gold seat tickets to the movies.

Stories of personal achievements:“When I was 12 years old my neighbour who I was

good friends with one day pulled out a cigarette and started to smoke it. I asked him “Bro what are you doing?” He replied “I’m smoking” as if it was cool. I said “Do you want to get stink breath?” He replied I’m smoking because I’m Maori. I took offence to this and said “I’m Maori, do you see me smoking or my Mum who is also Maori?

He then put out the cigarette. Throughout our youth and teenage years I never saw him smoke again.”

“Six years ago my husband and I decided to become smoke free. This momentous decision was made when we were sitting at the breakfast bar smoking and coughing and our 12 year old son walked into the room mimicking our coughing. It all of a sudden hit us that we were setting him up to become a smoker. The cigarettes we had that morning were to be the last ones we would ever have.“

“I used to smoke a packet a day….. I now have clean breath, I can smell things better, I can feel my lungs are cleaner and I have more puff. I do not feel as if I can not breathe when I do something physical, like climb the staircase four fl oors at work. On the whole I feel healthier. I also know that stopping smoking means added years to my life.”

“Pregnancy made it easy for me to give up - cigarette smoke made me nauseous and feel really yuck. I had no idea about the effects of smoking on my babies - I only knew I had to stop”.

And this story is the personal favourite of the smokefree team…..

“I was looking after a lady in labour one day and she kept wanting to disappear downstairs to have a

cigarette. I asked her just exactly where it was she intended to smoke as we were a smoke free hospital. She pointed down towards the bus shelter in front of the rail way line on the opposite side of the road. I looked down and saw a line up of people who were not waiting for a bus but smoking. Among them was one of our cleaners....so when she came back up to the ward I talked to her and suggested she try and become smoke free and all the reasons why. I told her about the support available and patches she could use and thought not much more about it as usually people listen to you but continue to smoke.

“To my amazement she found me the next day and said I have not smoked today...the next day she said I have not smoked today...three weeks later she told me she had not smoked one cigarette in three weeks but would very much like to! I asked her if she felt better for not smoking. She looked fantastic. She has lost weight, as she now feels fi t enough to exercise and she often looks out the window with me at the shelter full of smokers and the smile on her face is priceless. She has inspired me to continue encouraging smokers to try and give up and I often use her as an example. She has saved hundreds of dollars and is planning a trip back to the islands to see her aging parents. I thought it was worth sharing with you”.

This story shows the power of brief intervention. You never know what difference it might make or how it can change a person’s life!

Some tips from employees who have become smokefree:

“You need to fi nd the key motivator that will with stand the test of time come Rain, Hail or Snow.”

“I changed my routine. I stayed away from other smokers and avoided social events for a while. I put my energy into getting fi t. I’ve been smokefree over 2 years now! I smell better, I feel better and everything tastes better... I even ran a half marathon!”

“I took up knitting in the evening to occupy my hands”.

“Don’t say, “I’m giving up smoking”, say “I don’t smoke any more!”

The Smokefree Team at Becoming smokefree is a wonderful gift that yougive to yourself and to your family For people who

cigarette. I asked her just exactly where it was she intended to smoke as we were a smoke free hospital

World Smokefree Day Celebrations

Justina Corbett is with Karyn Wiles, Cessation Specialist.

Falesalafai Vaa is with Michelle Lee, Cessation Specialist for Mental Health.