Taonga gifted recognising
staff cultural care in ICU
From
the Chair
Sally Webb - Chair, Bay of Plenty District Health Board
Daylight savings is done and dusted, the
temperature’s dropped, it is getting darker
earlier. Now’s a good time to think about what
each of us can do to keep ourselves well with
winter on its way. Certainly at this time of the
year we encourage everyone to have a fl u shot.
Every year hospitals cope with an increased
number of sick people. The best way to protect
yourself, your whānau and people around you
is to have a fl u shot.
Pictured: Thomas Mitai with Tauranga Hospital ICU Clinical Nurse
Manager Chris Southerwood and Health Care Assistant Tracy Penwarden.
Thomas Mitai is lucky to be alive and
he’s grateful.
In February the prominent and talented
singer, kapa haka performer, fi lm maker,
member of Ringatū church and manager of
Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi Tech Pā
Studio was on his way to work when he had
a head on car crash.
The crash happened on a SH2 Wainui road
between Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne. Thomas
suff ered multiple injuries including eight
fractured ribs, punctured lungs, a lacerated
spleen, hematoma on his liver, a broken leg
and several cuts.
“I just came around the corner and the other
car was on the wrong side of the road. They
were tourists, they were lucky, they weren’t
badly injured.
“I managed to stay conscious, but I was in a
bad way. I couldn’t breathe and I lost a lot of
blood,” says Thomas.
He was taken to Whakatāne Hospital and
transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
at Tauranga Hospital. “I had a nasal oxygen
tube to help me breathe and at some stage I
had two blood transfusions.”
The crash happened just weeks out from Te
Matatini Kapa Haka Festival; New Zealand’s
bi-annual kapa haka showcase. When word
got round that Thomas, a key talent in the
Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti group and
well known in the wider kapa haka move-
ment had been in a major car crash, people
came from all over the country to see him.
“I have huge respect for those who treated
and cared for me in hospital. They accepted
and acknowledged my Māoritanga, Ringatū
faith and whanaungatanga. Having my
whānau and friends at my bedside gave me
strength. For me, that was everything and a
key part of my recovery.”
Every evening Thomas was in hospital, his
Dad, Richard, a Tohunga of Ringatū would
hold a karakia at his bedside. Staff and
patients would gather around as well.
There was waiata too. Blessed with a
baritone voice, Thomas is no stranger to
performing solo or as a duet at major sporting
and cultural events across
the country.
“I’d crumble if I couldn’t sing, it’s who I am.
Their presence and hearing them sing while I
rested really lifted my spirit.”
Recently Thomas returned to the hospital
bringing morning tea for staff and gifting a
carved waka hoe (paddle) to ICU as a symbol
of his gratitude for the care he’d received.
Thomas says the message inscribed on
the waka hoe is one for all.
“Kia mau ki tō hoe. E hoe tō waka. Hold on
to your paddle. Continue your journey.”
Thomas is having physiotherapy as
he continues his journey to recovery. The
crash has also made him think about other
things he can do to improve his health.
“I’m more mindful about exercise and
eating well. I’ve stopped drinking so many
fi zzy drinks and since the crash I’ve lost
about 30 kilos.”
Ehara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini.
My success should not be bestowed onto me
alone, as it was not individual success but
success of a collective.
I hear a lot people saying, “I’m not having the
fl u shot it makes me sick.” You know that’s
not actually true. You cannot get the fl u from
the vaccine, because quite simply it does not
contain any live viruses. However, when I had
my injection I did have a sore arm for a couple
of hours and I know of others who have had
muscle aches or headaches for a short time after
and this is quite normal. It certainly beats getting
the fl u and perhaps ending up in hospital.
Even if you don’t end up in hospital, fl u can
keep you in bed for a week or more, meaning
you have to take time off work, miss your
sports and just about everything else outside the
home. And don’t forget, even if you don’t feel
sick, you can still be infected and pass it onto
your tamariki and whānau without knowing.
Flu shots are FREE for:
• pregnant women,
• people aged 65 years old or older,
• people aged under 65 years with
diabetes, most heart or lung conditions
and some other illnesses and
• children aged 4 years or under who have
had a stay in hospital for asthma or other
breathing problems.
Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about
having a fl u shot today.
I’m sure you’ve all heard about the outbreak
of Measles in Canterbury and Auckland and
cases reported in the Bay of Plenty. Last
count (1 January – 17 May) there had been
142 confi rmed cases in New Zealand this
year, 21 of those in the BOPDHB region. 55
people who’ve caught the disease in New
Zealand have ended up in hospital. Of the 142
confi rmed cases 123 had not been immunised
and eight had been partially immunised. Please
take the time to read on the next page all the
information about measles and what you can
do to protect yourself and loved ones from this
highly contagious disease.
With winter on its way, some of us can start
to feel the ‘winter blues’ taking hold, being
cooped up inside. Having a few things to look
forward to, can work wonders and it’s been
shown that keeping your mind active and
socialising is good for your mental health.
Make an eff ort to keep in touch with the people
you care about and make some plans together –
this can make all the diff erence to overcoming
the winter blues.
Stay well
Sally Webb
Eastern Bay teens considering careers in health pictured with Whakatāne Hospital Duty Manager Dave
Henderson (left front) Hospital Co-ordinators Dave van Dijk (left standing) and Julie Chapman (standing
centre), Medical Leader Dr Matt Valentine (right) and Student Placement Coordinator Matt Sinton.
Eastern Bay teens experience working at the hospital
Eastern Bay teenagers thinking of pursuing
careers in health are being given a ‘close up’
experience of what their future may hold at
Whakatāne Hospital.
Eleven Year 12 and 13 students from Whakatāne,
Trident and Tarawera high schools as well as
Edgecumbe and Ōpōtiki colleges are doing ‘work
experience’ at the hospital for a few hours a week
for a four week period.
Whakatāne Hospital Medical Leader Dr Matt
Valentine says, “The experience gives the students
a real sense of what it’s like to treat and care
for patients in a hospital. Three of the students
considering careers in medicine will accompany
doctors on their morning ward round as well as
observe in ED. One student is assigned to pharmacy
while the others will shadow nurses working
throughout the hospital.
“It’s a really valuable experience. Choosing a career
path is a big decision for teenagers. The experience
helps them to decide whether a career in health is
for them.”
Many secondary students who’ve taken up this
opportunity in the past have gone on to study toward
careers in health.
The students sign confi dentiality agreements and are
given a privacy briefi ng before steping in the hospital
and they are also educated about hand hygiene.