‘ Stop wasting our patients ’ time ’ is a mantra which has been adopted with award-winning commitment by staff at Tauranga Hospital .

It is well-known that elderly patients are at risk of deconditioning if they spend too long in hospital . The PARIS ( Patients At Risk of Increased Stay ) project was introduced to Tauranga Hospital last year to address this , focussing on patients over 75 and looking at ways their hospital journeys could be improved .

As a result , over the past 12 months , Allied Health staff and Medical Floor and APU ( Admissions Planning Unit ) nurses have signifi cantly changed the way they work ; promoting a collaborative , task-sharing model between the different professions . It has meant less duplication of routine tasks , fewer new faces at the bedside , and shorter waiting times for patients . In short , the same quality care delivered in less time , which is better for the patient .

The project was recognised with an Outstanding Innovation Award at the recent Allied Health Improvement Group

It ’ s hard to believe we are already in December and heading towards the end of another year . As you ’ re no doubt aware , we have a new Health Minister , Dr David Clark and we look forward to welcoming him to the Bay of Plenty in the near future .

In this issue of Health Matters there are some great stories , including those about initiatives focused on keeping people out of hospital . While hospitals provide crucial services for our communities , there are things we all can do at home to stay well or improve our health . Personally , I think there are three areas we can each focus on to stay well .

1 . Be active …

Find a physical activity that you enjoy and suits your level of mobility and fi tness . Get outside , go for a walk , or bike ride , or play a game , just do it .

2 . Be present …

Look around you and enjoy the moment . Whether you are at work or home , eating lunch or talking to friends , be aware of the world around you and the people who are in it . Take notice and enjoy the little things .

3 . Give a little …

Do something nice for a friend , or a stranger . Volunteer your time . Thank someone . Smile as often as you can and to as many people as you can . It costs nothing and has incredible benefi ts for your own wellbeing and others .

Sally Webb , Chair Bay of Plenty District Health Board

As this is the last issue of Health Matters for 2017 , I would like to take this opportunity to thank my Board members for their commitment and support throughout the year : Ron Scott Deputy Chair , Anna Rolleston , Beverley Edlin , Geoff Esterman , Judy Turner , Mark Arundel , Marion Guy , Matua Parkinson , Peter Nicholl , Yvonne Boyes and Punohu McCausland Chair of the Runanga Board .

I also want to acknowledge the management and staff of Bay of Plenty District Health Board plus all the other health providers across our communities . Their dedication and commitment is at the heart of our health services .

We are heading into the Christmas and holiday season and many of us will be taking time off for holidays with family . I want to wish you all a peaceful Christmas and holiday period , safe travels wherever you are and please remember when you are out in the superb Bay of Plenty summer , SLIP SLOP SLAP and WRAP .

Arohanui Sally Webb

Conference , held in Adelaide and attended by delegates from across Australia and NZ .

“ It is exciting for us to be recognised by other health organisations for the work that we have undertaken to improve the experience for our elderly patients ,” says Bay of Plenty District Health Board ( BOPDHB ) Occupational Therapy Team Leader Emma Green , who presented at the conference on behalf of the BOPDHB .

“ More importantly it inspires us all to continue to look at the way we deliver person centred care to ensure all our patients receive the most timely intervention by the right

Otumoetai students have access to specialist mental health support at school as part of a health funded pilot focused on building children ’ s resilience and general wellbeing .

Nine schools in Otumoetai have formed a Community of Learning / Kāhui Ako ; an initiative established by the Ministry of Education to raise student achievement from early childhood through to tertiary education by encouraging a more joined-up approach to learning .

There are 210 Communities of Learning ( COL ) across the country , including 14 in the Bay of Plenty . Each COL sets its own priorities , in Otumoetai , the top priority is student wellbeing .

Otumoetai COL Lead Principal Henk Popping says , “ Collectively our schools had noticed a trend with students coming through the schooling system lacking resilience . This initiative , focused on student wellbeing , is about building the resilience of children at an earlier age , in those early childhood years .

“ We want our children to believe in themselves . Backing themselves or having that ‘ grit ’ has a person , in the right place , at the right time . We are just at the start of what will be an exciting journey for the teams at BOPDHB .

“ We ’ re aiming to improve the inpatient journey for those over 75 , who may be frail and at risk of deconditioning whilst in hospital . The team has taken on the mandate to

‘ stop wasting our patients ’ time ’, putting them at the centre of everything they do .”

positive impact on their learning .”

Throughout the project patients have seen shorter stays in hospital , and have experienced more timely access to Allied Health staff such as Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy .

Occupational Therapy Team Leader Emma Green with the Certifi cate of Achievement presented to the BOPDHB for ‘ Outstanding Innovation ’ at the recent Allied Health Improvement Group Conference , held in Adelaide .

Otumoetai Intermediate Performing Arts students express through dance what it feels like to be left out and how to cope . Students left to right : Freya Schulz , Maya Stone , Hannah Jaxon , Astrid Parlane and Dianne Galorio .

As part of the three year pilot , two staff from the BOPDHB ’ s Child & Adolescent Mental Health service will be based at one of the schools .

Evidence shows that easy to access mental health services , available on-site , leads to students having improved mental wellbeing , increased engagement in learning and higher educational achievement .

BOPDHB Child & Adolescent Mental Health Clinical Co-ordinator Nicola Chadwick says , “ By having mental health practitioners based within the school , they are in a better position to recognise issues students may be struggling with and connect them to the right support early on , before their wellbeing deteriorates further .”

She says the mental health practitioners will also be able to support and empower teachers and the wider school community to have the confi dence to manage the mental health and wellbeing of students .

“ Although the pilot has only just begun , I would envisage group therapy sessions for students focused on teaching them coping skills would also be offered at school .”