Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has received a further strike notice from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO). This means that nurses, healthcare assistants (HCAs) and some midwives who are union members and employed by Health NZ Waitaha Canterbury and Te Tai o Poutini West Coast will be undertaking a full withdrawal of labour, from 1-5pm on Thursday 19 December.
Members of the NZNO have valued roles in our health system and we respect their right to protest or strike. It is estimated that around 5000 staff in Canterbury and 400 or so on the West Coast belong to the NZNO and we expect a significant proportion will take part in strike action.
We have a National Contingency Plan in place and are continuing to develop and implement local operational plans to ensure safe care and minimum disruption during the strike period.
We apologise in advance for the inconvenience and distress this industrial action may cause some patients and their whānau who may be impacted by having their care deferred. At all times, the safety of patients in our care remains our priority and we will be focused on ensuring people continue to have access to and receive appropriate care during the strike.
Over the coming days, Health NZ Waitaha Canterbury and Te Tai o Poutini West Coast will be calling people who have an outpatient appointment or planned surgery that will potentially be impacted by the strike – this could be on the day of the strike itself, or in the days on either side.
Urgent procedures, such as cancer surgery and dialysis, will be prioritised to go ahead during the planned strike period on a case-by-case basis.
We are reducing the number of outpatient appointments and elective surgeries leading up to and during the strike period. Where we have made an appointment, we will reschedule it when we contact the patient. During that phone call, we will also ask whether we can reinstate the original appointment at short notice if the industrial action does not go ahead.
If you are in Canterbury and have an outpatient appointment on 19 December, or surgery planned in the days leading up to or on the day of the strike and haven’t heard from us by midday on Wednesday 18 December, please call the specific service detailed on your appointment letter. If you can’t find the letter, call the switchboard on 03 7967-400 between 8am and 5pm and ask to be connected to the appropriate service.
If you are on the West Coast and have an outpatient appointment on 19 December, or surgery planned in the days leading up to or on the day of the strike and haven’t heard from us by midday Wednesday 18 December, please call the specific service detailed on your appointment letter. If you can’t find the letter, call 03 7967 400
During the strike, we invite family, whānau and support people to stay longer to support their loved one in the hospital. Your assistance around meal times and helping keep your loved one comfortable and supported will be appreciated. You might want to organise for different whānau members to take turns supporting your family member throughout the day and evening of the strike.
Update: 3 December 2024 – 7:00pm
Strike action by nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants who belong to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) union is now complete.
We'd like to thank our patients, whānau and community for your patience and understanding during the strike, and to all our people who worked as a team to provide safe care throughout the strike.
Our nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants are a highly valued part of our workforce and are committed to caring for our patients. We respect their right to take industrial action and know the decision to strike is a very difficult one.
Which services will continue to operate during the strike?
Our hospitals and healthcare services will remain open throughout the strike with the help of other clinical staff. Anyone staying in hospital during this time will still receive the care and support they need.
We will continue to provide all our emergency services. If you have a medical emergency, or sudden decline of your health, do not delay seeking help. Call 111 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately.
If you have an appointment booked for Tuesday 3 December and you have not heard from us directly to have it rescheduled, please come to your appointment as normal.
Which services will be reduced during the strike?
On Tuesday 3 December we will reduce some inpatient and outpatient appointments, surgery, and treatments that can be safely deferred.
We have directly contacted any patients whose appointments may need to be rescheduled. We thank you for your understanding and patience if your appointment has been rescheduled.
If we have not contacted you directly to reschedule your appointment, please come to your appointment as normal.
Who will provide care during the strike?
Our hospital and healthcare services will continue to operate with the help of other clinical staff.
All hospitals have contingency plans in place to ensure that patients will receive safe and appropriate care during the strike. This includes maternity care, intensive care, emergency department care, and ambulance services.
How can I help support a friend or whānau during the strike?
Friends and family members can play an important role during the strike. Consider staggering visits to your loved one so they have companionship throughout the day. If you have a friend or family member in hospital on the day of the strike, talk to the charge nurse about what to expect and how you can help.
What should I do if I have an appointment on the day of the strike?
You should still come to your scheduled appointment unless you have been contacted directly by one of our hospital team to reschedule your appointment.
What if I need medical attention during the strike?
How will the strike affect maternity services?
We will continue to provide maternity care during the strike. Talk to your Lead Maternity Carer if you have questions or concerns.
Does the strike affect Aged Residential Care facilities, ambulances, or GPs?
Aged Residential Care facilities, Hato Hone St John and privately owned West Coast general practices are not affected by the strike and will operate as normal.
How do I find out more about the strike in my area?
To find out more on how the strike might affect your local healthcare services and for contact information, see your local Health NZ website.
–ENDS–
Update: 3 December 2024 – 8:30am
Nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants who belong to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) union are taking part in strike action today, from 11am to 7pm.
Our hospitals and healthcare services will continue to provide acute and emergency care throughout the strike with the help of other clinical staff.
Anyone staying in hospital during this time will still receive the care and support they need.
Please help by keeping our emergency departments for emergencies only.
Do not delay seeking help if you or someone else is in a serious or life-threatening condition.
Our emergency departments are open and we are continuing to provide all our emergency services. If you have a medical emergency, or a sudden decline of your health, do not delay seeking help. Call 111 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately.
Unfortunately, some appointments have needed to be rescheduled. If you have an appointment booked for today and have not heard from us directly to have it rescheduled, please come to your appointment as normal.
Our nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants are a highly valued part of our workforce and are committed to caring for our patients. We respect their right to take industrial action and know the decision to strike is a very difficult one.
Which services will continue to operate during the strike?
Our hospitals and healthcare services will remain open throughout the strike with the help of other clinical staff. Anyone staying in hospital during this time will still receive the care and support they need.
We will continue to provide all our emergency services. If you have a medical emergency, or sudden decline of your health, do not delay seeking help. Call 111 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately.
If you have an appointment booked for Tuesday 3 December and you have not heard from us directly to have it rescheduled, please come to your appointment as normal.
Which services will be reduced during the strike?
On Tuesday 3 December we will reduce some inpatient and outpatient appointments, surgery, and treatments that can be safely deferred.
We have directly contacted any patients whose appointments may need to be rescheduled. We thank you for your understanding and patience if your appointment has been rescheduled.
If we have not contacted you directly to reschedule your appointment, please come to your appointment as normal.
Who will provide care during the strike?
Our hospital and healthcare services will continue to operate with the help of other clinical staff.
All hospitals have contingency plans in place to ensure that patients will receive safe and appropriate care during the strike. This includes maternity care, intensive care, emergency department care, and ambulance services.
How can I help support a friend or whānau during the strike?
Friends and family members can play an important role during the strike. Consider staggering visits to your loved one so they have companionship throughout the day. If you have a friend or family member in hospital on the day of the strike, talk to the charge nurse about what to expect and how you can help.
What should I do if I have an appointment on the day of the strike?
You should still come to your scheduled appointment unless you have been contacted directly by one of our hospital team to reschedule your appointment.
What if I need medical attention during the strike?
How will the strike affect maternity services?
We will continue to provide maternity care during the strike. Talk to your Lead Maternity Carer if you have questions or concerns.
Does the strike affect Aged Residential Care facilities, ambulances, or GPs?
Aged Residential Care facilities, Hato Hone St John and privately owned West Coast general practices are not affected by the strike and will operate as normal.
How do I find out more about the strike in my area?
To find out more on how the strike might affect your local healthcare services and for contact information, see your local Health NZ website.
–ENDS–
Nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants (HCAs) who belong to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) union are planning to strike on Tuesday 3 December, from 11am to 7pm.
Our hospitals and healthcare services will continue to provide acute and emergency care throughout the strike with the help of other clinical staff.
Anyone staying in hospital during this time will still receive the care and support they need.
Please help by keeping our emergency departments for emergencies only.
Do not delay seeking help if you or someone else is in a serious or life-threatening condition.
We will continue to provide all our emergency services. If you have a medical emergency, or a sudden decline of your health, do not delay seeking help. Call 111 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately.
Unfortunately, some appointments will need to be rescheduled. If you have an appointment booked for Tuesday 3 December and have not been contacted directly to have your appointment rescheduled, please come to your appointment as normal.
Our nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants (HCAs) are a highly valued part of our workforce and are committed to caring for our patients. We respect their right to take industrial action and know the decision to strike is a very difficult one.
Which services will continue to operate during the strike?
Our hospitals and healthcare services will remain open throughout the strike with the help of other clinical staff. Anyone staying in hospital during this time will still receive the care and support they need.
We will continue to provide all our emergency services. If you have a medical emergency, or sudden decline of your health, do not delay seeking help. Call 111 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately.
If you have an appointment booked for Tuesday 3 December and you have not heard from us directly to have it rescheduled, please come to your appointment as normal.
Which services will be reduced during the strike?
On Tuesday 3 December we will reduce some inpatient and outpatient appointments, surgery, and treatments that can be safely deferred.
We have directly contacted any patients whose appointments may need to be rescheduled. We thank you for your understanding and patience if your appointment has been rescheduled.
If we have not contacted you directly to reschedule your appointment, please come to your appointment as normal.
Who will provide care during the strike?
Our hospital and healthcare services will continue to operate with the help of other clinical staff.
All hospitals have contingency plans in place to ensure that patients will receive safe and appropriate care during the strike. This includes maternity care, intensive care, emergency department care, and ambulance services.
How can I help support a friend or whānau during the strike?
Friends and family members can play an important role during the strike. Consider staggering visits to your loved one so they have companionship throughout the day. If you have a friend or family member in hospital on the day of the strike, talk to the charge nurse about what to expect and how you can help.
What should I do if I have an appointment on the day of the strike?
You should still come to your scheduled appointment unless you have been contacted directly by one of our hospital team to reschedule your appointment.
What if I need medical attention during the strike?
How will the strike affect maternity services?
We will continue to provide maternity care during the strike. Talk to your Lead Maternity Carer if you have questions or concerns.
Does the strike affect Aged Residential Care facilities, ambulances, or GPs?
Aged Residential Care facilities, Hato Hone St John and privately owned West Coast general practices are not affected by the strike and will operate as normal.
How do I find out more about the strike in my area?
To find out more on how the strike might affect your local healthcare services and for contact information, see your local Health NZ website.
–ENDS–
From Monday 29 July 2024, maintenance work to reseal the top carpark will begin. This work is essential to ensure the safety and usability of our facilities.
The resealing will be carried out in three stages:
Area 1:
Area 2:
Area 3:
To ensure everyone's safety and convenience, the contractor will provide clear signage directing pedestrian traffic around the work areas, including accessible routes.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience and cooperation during this necessary maintenance. Please plan accordingly for potential disruptions to parking and access routes.
Please note that this work is weather dependent.
Thank you for your understanding.
ENDS
Note: To download the article, simply select the Download option offered on the ISSUU website
Newly registered Social Worker Kelly Shaw was absolutely delighted to finally receive her Social Work registration papers having completed the application process over a two-year period.
Note: To download the article, simply select the Download option offered on the ISSUU website
A pathway into work in Canterbury and the West Coast's health systems for Māori and Pasifika has been so successful, whānau and friends of participants are signing up to new intakes.
Note: To download the article, simply select the Download option offered on the ISSUU website
Acute Zone Nurse Manjula Edathil-Veedu was recently selected as an outstanding student and nominated for the annual Kristy Morton Award for achieving high standards while undertaking the College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand (CENNZ) triage course.
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has advised that the industrial action planned for Wednesday 9 August has been withdrawn.
Our priority now is to ensure that Te Tai o Poutini West Coast can deliver care as normal.
Please note some services may still be affected for a time while we revise rosters and where possible, schedule outpatient appointments and planned surgeries for that day.
We are contacting people whose planned (elective) surgeries or outpatient appointments may have been deferred as part of planning for the strike. Where possible these will be reinstated or rebooked at the earliest opportunity.
If your surgery or outpatient appointment was deferred and you haven’t been contacted, please call the specific service detailed on your appointment letter. If you can’t find the letter, call the switchboard on 03 769 7400 between 8am and 5pm and ask to be connected to the appropriate service.
Patients can access urgent and emergency services as usual.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while the team works on revising all the schedules.
To find out more about this process, please visit: Te Whatu Ora welcomes the vote from nurses’ and midwives today to accept the latest collective agreement offer.
ENDS
Buller Health’s health care services will be temporarily operating at reduced capacity with changes to some of our evening operating hours from tonight (Thursday 22 June) due to staff illness, with alternate plans in place for patients needing care during these times.
No current patients are impacted by the temporary closures.
During this time, the following temporary changes to services will be in place:
“Unfortunately, due to staff illness, we find ourselves in a situation where we are unable to safely manage patients with our available staffing this evening and tomorrow night,” says Dr Murray Wiggins, Clinical Director Buller Health.
“After exploring all possible solutions, our team have been unable to resolve this situation. While we know that our decision to implement these temporary changes is not ideal, our focus is on ensuring patient and staff safety.
“We want to reassure everyone if you or a member of your whānau needs emergency or acute care these services are still available 24/7. We value the Buller community’s on-going understanding and support of this situation,” says Dr Wiggins.
Remember, if you are injured or experiencing severe symptoms, it’s critical that you call 111.
ENDS
Read the Te Tai o Poutini | West Coast Pānui via ISSUU or PDF – both available on our website. You can also navigate straight to the article you want to read via the individual page links below.
In this edition, read about Te Pae Tata (our opportunity) – the interim New Zealand Health Plan and the transfer of roles to Te Aka Whai Ora. There’s information about the code of expectations for health entities as well as a timely reminder to take care of yourself.
Also, in this edition, we shine the spotlight on the roll-out of the National Bowel Screening Programme on the Coast, celebrate the achievements of our Whānau Ora kaimahi and acknowledge Dr Alan Furniss’ recent award for excellence in rural practice.
There's a quiz that tests your knowledge of human anatomy and information about MPX (monkeypox).
Kupu Arataki – Introduction
Ā mātou tāngata – Our people
Ā mātou kōrero – Our stories
Pānui – Notices
Read this West Coast Pānui (PDF version)
Click on the image of the magazine just below to view it full screen and page through the document. Or click here to view the document on the ISSUU website.
Media statement by Hon Andrew Little and Hon Peeni Henare | Pānui pāpāho na te Honore Andrew Little me te Honore Peeni Henare
Health Minister Andrew Little welcomes Te Pae Tata | the Interim New Zealand Health Plan jointly developed by Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora – Māori Health Authority.
“We have consolidated the public health system and now we have a plan to achieve national service coverage and nationally consistent operating policies,” Health Minister Andrew Little said.
“This plan puts into action the Government’s record investment in health from Budget 2022. This Government has increased health spending by more than 40-percent, to $24-billion, since coming to office 2017.
“The plan has been put together by clinicians and health experts and sets out the range of tasks that will be taken over two years to strengthen hospitals, primary care, and tackle the longstanding challenges including workforce shortages,” Andrew Little said.
“Te Pae Tata will lay the foundation for a properly co-ordinated system to better support patients whether they are at the GP, in hospital, or in some other form of care.”
As well as prioritising workforce and workplace issues, Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora have made specific commitments to improve outcomes in:
“The plan will be financially sustainable and any efficiencies will be ploughed back into more services for patients,” Andrew Little said.
“Having a joint plan for Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora, working as equal partners, is a game changer for Māori and whānau,” Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare said.
“It will grow kaupapa Māori services and give Māori a strong voice in a new system focused on improving the disproportionate health outcomes that have long affected our whānau.
“I am proud that Māori voices and hauora expertise will be reflected at every level of our new health system, improving outcomes for Māori and non-Māori across Aotearoa.”
E whakanui ana a Andrew Little te Minita mo ngā take Hauora i Te Pae Tata, te rautaki hauora taupua i waihanga ngātahitia e Te Whatu Ora me Te Aka Whai Ora.
“Kua whakakotahi e mātou te pūnaha hauora, ā, kua whai rautaki ano hoki mātou kia horapa whānui ki te motu ngā ratonga kia ōrite ano hoki ngā whakahaere kaupapa here”, hei tā te Minita take Hauora tā Andrew Little.
“Ko tā tēnei rautaki he whakatinana i te nui o tā te Kāwanatanga whakangao pūtea ki roto i ngā kaupapa hauora i waitohua ai i te Tāhua Pūtea 2022. Mai i te tau 2017 kua rahi kē atu te whakangao pūtea ā tēnei Kāwanatanga ki ngā kaupapa hauora, kua piki ake mā te 40-paehenti tūhene atu ki te $24-piriona.”
“Nā ngā tohunga hauora me ngā mātanga hauora tēnei rautaki i waihanga, ko tā tēnei rautaki he whakariterite i ngā mahi i roto i ngā tau e rua e tū māi nei hei whakapakari ake i ngā ratonga hohipera, ngā ratonga mātanga mē ngā raruraru kaimahi kua roa e noho nei i roto i tēnei rāngai,” hei tā Andrew Little.
“Mā Te Pae Tata e whakatakoto i te tūāpapa e tika ai te mahi tahi a te pūnaha ki te tautoko i ngā tūroro, he ahakoa rā haere ai ki te Tākuta, ki te hohipera, ki tētahi atu ratonga hauora rānei.”
Apā noa atu ki te whakaarotau i ngā raruraru kaimahi, wāhi mahi hoki, e ōati ana a Te Whatu Ora me Te Aka Whai Ora ki te hiki i te taumata o te hauora i roto i:
“Toitū nei ngā whakahaere pūtea o tēnei rautaki, āpiti atu ki tēnei, ko ngā painga katoa ka kōwhitia mai ki roto ki ngā ratonga tautoko i ngā tūroro,” hei tā Andrew Little.
Hei tā te Minita Takirua mo ngā kaupapa Hauora tā Peeni Henare “mā te whai a Te Whatu Ora mē Te Aka Whaiora i te rautaki kotahi, i runga i te mana ōrite, ka tino kitea ngā hua ka puta ki te Māori, ki ngā whanau ano hoki.
“Ka tipu ngā ratonga kaupapa Māori, ka pakari kē atu te reo a te Māori i roto i tēnei pūnaha hou, ko te aronga nui o tēnei pūnaha hou he whakatika i ngā hē o te pūnaha hauora kua roa e pēhi nei i ngā whanau.
“Ka nui taku koa, ka rāngona ngā reo a te Māori, ka kitea ano hoki ngā pukenga hauora a te Māori ki ia taumata o tā tātou pūnaha hauora hou, e hiki nei i te toi-oranga mo te katoa o Aotearoa, ahakoa Māori mai, aha ake rānei.”
ENDS
Read the Te Tai o Poutini | West Coast Pānui via ISSUU or PDF – both available on our website. You can also navigate straight to the article you want to read via the individual page links below.
In this edition, read about the Te Whatu Ora Change Hub, which includes information about the working groups, work streams and the design process of the new health system operating model. There's an update on our visitor restrictions as well as some helpful information about supporting healthcare workers through the pandemic.
Also, in this edition, we welcome Dr Calvin Davis to the South Westland Area Practice team, shine the spotlight on Medical Laboratory Technician Harriet Hoeve as well as Immunisation Coordinator Jessie Chapman.
There's a quiz that tests your knowledge of medical-themed TV shows and movies and a delicious Curried Kumara Soup recipe.
We welcome your feedback on the new Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini | West Coast Pānui. Reply to this email or contact global@wcdhb.health.nz
Kupu Arataki – Introduction
Ā mātou tāngata – Our people
Ā mātou kōrero – Our stories
Pānui – Notices
You can read the CE Update in 2 different formats:
You can read our CE Update from cover to cover or download the full copy via ISSUU or PDF on our website. You can also navigate straight to this edition via the link below.
A word from Chief Executive Peter Bramley
In the last CE Update (as we know it) before the change to Health New Zealand, Peter reflects on West Coast DHB and shares the goals of the new health system. These include more equitable and accessible healthcare that is cohesive and responsive to people of all communities.
Also, in this edition, we get tips and reminders about how to protect ourselves from colds, flu and viruses and stay well this winter.
Our stories – Ā tātou kōrero
Regulars – Kōrero ai
Notices – Pānui
You can read the CE Update in 2 different formats:
The name Te Rau Kawakawa has been gifted to the new Buller facility by mana whenua Ngati Waewae, and the West Coast DHB formally endorsed the name at today’s final board meeting.
DHB Board Chair Rick Barker, thanked Ngati Waewae for gifting the name. At the meeting DHB board member and Ngati Waewae Chair Francois Tumahai explained the new name, saying it was consistent with the name of the Greymouth hospital facility Te Nikau (also a plant).
A report prepared by the Hauora Māori team outlined that the kawakawa is a traditional Māori therapeutic/healing plant used for centuries either as a drink, inhaled, or as a balm for rashes, allergies or other ailments. It is considered to be one of the most potent medicinal herbs in rongoā (traditional Māori healing).
Kawakawa is also a type of Pounamu known for healing purposes and found in the Arahura awa (river), sacred to the Ngati Waewae.
Progress on the new facility has been steady. Roofing is complete, brickwork cladding is continuing, gib has been procured and installation is underway. The facility is due for completion mid-2023 and is progressing faster than expected.
Aerial image of the new Buller facility, taken last week.
ENDS
Please attribute to Philip Wheble, EOC Incident Controller, West Coast DHB.
Now we are in phase three of the Omicron response, rapid antigen testing (RAT) has become the primary form of testing. You only need to get tested if you have symptoms, you are a household contact, a critical worker, or you have been directed to by a health official. Close contacts should only get tested if they develop symptoms. We are asking people to help us make the best use of our resources and not to turn up for a COVID-19 test unless they meet the criteria.
Demand for testing has started to increase in recent days as the number of community cases has risen.
“We know some people are anxious about getting hold of a RAT test. Please be as patient as you can when phoning or talking to our health system staff. We’re working hard to help meet the increase in public demand for testing, and increasing the number of community collection sites across the Coast.”
RAT collection is currently available at these sites today.
Weekend RAT collection sites:
(Historical info that was shown in this space has now been removed, as this is no longer current, and it could confuse health consumers should they find this page now. Please use the links on this page to find up-to-date information.)
Vaccinations are still available on the West Coast and health officials urge people to get vaccinated, particularly the five to 11-year-olds. Please visit this HealthPoint site for times/days and locations. Bookings are encouraged.
ENDS
Please attribute to Lee Harris, Duty Public Information Manager, West Coast DHB
All normal Buller Health services are available at the usual Cobden St Buller Health site.
The DHB will be working with families / whanau of aged residential care residents of the O’Conor Home about when their relatives will return.
The Ngakawau Clinic is closed today.
Business as usual resumes today with other health services around the West Coast.
After hours: Call your General Practice team. Your call will be answered 24/7 by a nurse who can advise you what to do and where to go, if you need urgent care. More…
As you return home, please treat all flood water as contaminated. Sewage may be mixed with flood waters and can cause serious illness. Please see our flyer here, with further information. That means you need to wash your hands thoroughly or use hand gel after coming into contact with flood water.
Wherever you are, please remember the usual public health precautions such as good cough and sneeze etiquette, hand hygiene and physical distancing (wherever possible stay one metre away from people you don’t know).
For COVID-19 advice, visit https://covid19.govt.nz/prepare-and-stay-safe/
As a general rule, you should wear a face mask whenever you are indoors. The exceptions are at your home or your place of work, if it is not public-facing. Your employer may encourage you to wear a face mask even if your job is not public-facing.
When it is hard to physically distance from people you do not know, please wear a face mask. You do not need to wear a mask when exercising.
Scan in everywhere you go. Keeping a good record of where you have been makes the job of contact tracers so much easier.
If you develop any COVID-19 symptoms, please arrange to get tested immediately and if safe to do so remain isolated at home or in the accommodation you are staying in. This advice extends to anyone even if they haven’t visited any of the locations of interest. If you’re not sure what you should do, please call the COVID-19 line on 0800 358 5453 for advice.
If you require health care, please contact your general practice team by calling the usual practice number – Find a GP, medical practice, clinic or health centre | West Coast DHB (wcdhb.health.nz).
If you are registered with Coast Medical, please contact the team on 03 789 5000 to arrange an appointment, and after-hours call the usual practice number for free health advice. After hours you’ll be put through to a nurse who can tell you what to do and where to go if you need to be seen.
If it’s an emergency, call 111 as per usual.
The Westport vaccination clinic remains closed. We anticipate that it will reopen on Tuesday, 8 February however, we will provide an update once details have been confirmed.
On Saturday 5 February our Greymouth vaccination drive-through clinic at the Greymouth Aerodrome will be open from 10am to 6pm.
While we are vaccinating 5-11-year olds as well as people 12 years and over, we recommend that bookings are made so that people are not kept waiting. Drop-ins are limited due to the additional time it takes to vaccinate children as fewer people can be vaccinated at each clinic.
You can book online for vaccination clinics at www.BookMyVaccine.nz or call 0800 28 29 26 (8am – 8pm, 7 days a week).
Vaccination clinic details are available on our vaccination website – Home – Vaccinate Canterbury and West Coast (vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz)
For the latest updates, ‘like’ your local District Council’s Facebook page, or check the latest news on their website:
To get the most up to date information on severe weather around the country, or any other forecasts, see metservice.com or download the MetService mobile app.
If you need to travel for any reason, please ensure that you check the road conditions prior to departing.
Please attribute to Lee Harris, Duty Public Information Manager, West Coast DHB
The Buller Medical Clinic will be open at the Holcim site (901 Cape Foulwind Road, Cape Foulwind) today until 2pm, including the Foote / ED service. Urgent medications are available at the clinic.
The Buller Pharmacy is closed.
After 2pm, Foote/ED will be available at the usual Cobden St Buller Health site.
As of 5pm today, all normal services provided will be available at the usual Cobden St Buller Health site.
The DHB will be working with families / whanau of aged residential care residents of the O’Conor Home about when their relatives will return.
The Ngakawau Clinic is closed today.
Business as usual resumes today with other health services around the West Coast.
After hours: Call your General Practice team. Your call will be answered 24/7 by a nurse who can advise you what to do and where to go, if you need urgent care. More…
As you return home, please treat all flood water as contaminated. Sewage may be mixed with flood waters and can cause serious illness. Please see our flyer here, with further information. That means you need to wash your hands thoroughly or use hand gel after coming into contact with flood water.
Wherever you are, please remember the usual public health precautions such as good cough and sneeze etiquette, hand hygiene and physical distancing (wherever possible stay one metre away from people you don’t know).
For COVID-19 advice, visit https://covid19.govt.nz/prepare-and-stay-safe/
As a general rule, you should wear a face mask whenever you are indoors. The exceptions are at your home or your place of work, if it is not public-facing. Your employer may encourage you to wear a face mask even if your job is not public-facing.
When it is hard to physically distance from people you do not know, please wear a face mask. You do not need to wear a mask when exercising.
Scan in everywhere you go. Keeping a good record of where you have been makes the job of contact tracers so much easier.
If you develop any COVID-19 symptoms, please arrange to get tested immediately and if safe to do so remain isolated at home or in the accommodation you are staying in. This advice extends to anyone even if they haven’t visited any of the locations of interest. If you’re not sure what you should do, please call the COVID-19 line on 0800 358 5453 for advice.
If you require health care, please contact your general practice team by calling the usual practice number – Find a GP, medical practice, clinic or health centre | West Coast DHB (wcdhb.health.nz).
If you are registered with Coast Medical, please contact the team on 03 789 5000 to arrange an appointment, and after-hours call the usual practice number for free health advice. After hours you’ll be put through to a nurse who can tell you what to do and where to go if you need to be seen.
If it’s an emergency, call 111 as per usual.
The Westport vaccination clinic remains closed. We anticipate that it will reopen on Tuesday, 8 February however, we will provide an update once details have been confirmed.
On Saturday 5 February our Greymouth vaccination drive-through clinic at the Greymouth Aerodrome will be open from 10am to 6pm.
While we are vaccinating 5-11-year olds as well as people 12 years and over, we recommend that bookings are made so that people are not kept waiting. Drop-ins are limited due to the additional time it takes to vaccinate children as fewer people can be vaccinated at each clinic.
You can book online for vaccination clinics at www.BookMyVaccine.nz or call 0800 28 29 26 (8am – 8pm, 7 days a week).
Vaccination clinic details are available on our vaccination website – Home – Vaccinate Canterbury and West Coast (vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz)
For the latest updates, ‘like’ your local District Council’s Facebook page, or check the latest news on their website:
To get the most up to date information on severe weather around the country, or any other forecasts, see metservice.com or download the MetService mobile app.
If you need to travel for any reason, please ensure that you check the road conditions prior to departing.
Canterbury and West Coast DHBs are implementing contingency plans for a planned eight-hour strike by midwife members of the MERAS union.
The dates and times of the planned strikes are as follows:
MERAS members include many of the midwives employed by DHBs. Lead Maternity Carers (LMCs) or midwife members of other unions will not take part in the strike action.
Dr Peter Bramley, Chief Executive for both DHBs says the DHBs’ number one priority is the continued safety of women and babies.
“Our contingency plans will reduce the demand on the staff who will be working on those days, while ensuring we can continue to provide safe care and support to women giving birth or recovering during the strike period.”
No elective caesareans have been scheduled for during the strike. Emergency caesareans and other birthing-related procedures that are clinically indicated will still go ahead.
“We encourage women expecting to give birth or be in Christchurch Women’s Hospital or Greymouth's Te Nikau Hospital during the strikes to talk to their LMC for reassurance and unless advised otherwise, they should stick to their birth plan. We are in the process of contacting all women likely to be affected by the strike action to let them know that they will still receive the best and safest care we can offer, and to reschedule any clinic appointments that need to be postponed.
The DHBs have an agreement in place with the union to ensure patients receive safe and appropriate care during the strike period. Both DHBs acknowledge the work MERAS and their members do to support patient safety by providing Life-Preserving Services (LPS) during the strike.
“We apologise in advance for the disruption and for any distress this industrial action will cause, while respecting people’s right to strike and the valued role these key staff play as part of our health system,” Dr Bramley says.
People should access urgent and emergency care as they normally would, and other non-maternity acute care services will remain available throughout the period of the planned strikes.
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Additional info
Further enquiries, please email communications@cdhb.health.nz in the first instance.
Please attribute to Philip Wheble, Incident Controller – West Coast DHB.
Zero fees for GP and Nurse Practitioner appointments will remain in place for the remainder of this week for all people enrolled at both Buller Medical Centre and Coast Medical in Westport.
From Monday 9 August, both GP practices will continue to provide this service to enrolled patients who have been directly affected by the recent flood event for the next three months.
This service is being provided to support members of the Westport community who have been most affected by recent events to ensure they have access to health care services as they rebuild their lives.
All enrolled patients can also still access free health advice after hours by calling their GP practice and following the instructions on the answerphone – for Buller Medical Centre ring 03 788-9277 and for Coast Medical ring 03 789-5000.
Remember, if it’s an emergency, please call 111.
For health advice at any time
You can also call the Buller Support line 0800 768-348 to access help and advice. Call to be connected to welfare advice and support or answers to any questions you may have about the recovery efforts.
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Please attribute comment to Phil Wheble, Incident Controller, West Coast DHB Flood event.
From 4pm this afternoon all health services usually based in the Buller Health Centre will be relocated and up and running in the facility.
This comes after an outstanding effort from our DHB staff and a number of skilled contractors who have worked tirelessly to get the building back in a safe state for reoccupation.
When the Health Centre was evacuated due to flooding on 17 July, Club Buller in Westport became a temporary base for clinical services including an inpatient ward and acute assessment area. It also became headquarters for West Coast DHB’s Emergency Operations Centre. The Club, which enabled us to continue to provide health care will be deep cleaned, blessed and returned for its original use as a social gathering place for locals.
Special thanks to the operators of Club Buller, and to the owners of the Masonic Lodge building who have allowed us to use it as a vaccination centre, and for the past couple of weeks it became a pop-up General Practice. Our local West Coast PHO, Te Tai o Poutini also assisted with providing rooms for some consultations – thanks to everyone for being so accommodating.
Members of West Coast DHB’s WellFood team were the first to move back into the Buller Health Centre on Monday. The majority of other services moved back into the facility on Tuesday, with only clinical services and the DHB’s Emergency Operations Centre remaining at Club Buller.
The full list of services available at Buller Health from 4pm today is:
We currently have visitor restrictions in place to help prevent the spread of illness at all DHB facilities. We are requesting that only one person at a time comes in to visit, and that no children come in to visit our facilities. Exceptions will be made on compassionate grounds and should be discussed with the nurse in charge of the area you want to visit.
We’re recommending people wear a mask or other face covering (it can be a fabric mask or scarf but must cover your nose and mouth) when visiting family, whānau or friends at our facilities. We also ask that people visit our facilities for essential purposes only and stay home if they are unwell.
For non-urgent health care, you should call your own general practice team (Coast Medical on 03 789 5000 or Buller Medical Centre on 03 788 9277. After-hours follow the instructions to be transferred to a nurse who can provide free health advice).
If you don’t have a GP you can call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
For COVID-19 tests over the weekend please call your own GP or Healthline for advice on where to go.
COVID-19 vaccinations will resume from Tuesday 3 August at the Masonic Lodge, 51 Russell Street. This is by appointment only.
Finally, here are some useful numbers for organisations who continue to be available to provide assistance to our community:
If it’s an emergency, please call 111 – emergency services are operating
For health advice at any time
You can also call the Buller Support line 0800 768 348 to access help and advice. Call to be connected to welfare advice and support or answers to any questions you may have about the recovery efforts.
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For further information, contact:
communications@cdhb.health.nz
Monday 26 July 2021 – 2.00pm
Please attribute comment to Philip Wheble, Incident Controller, West Coast DHB Flood event
Thank you
Members of West Coast DHB’s WellFood team were the first to move back into the facility today. Buller Health was evacuated early evening on Saturday 17th July as flood waters rose rapidly and were starting to limit access to the facility.
Following a deep clean of the kitchen facility and installation of a replacement fridge and freezer, the team are enjoying being back in their usual workplace and prepping food for patients and Meals on Wheels deliveries. The New Zealand Defence Force helped out by doing the cooking last week, with Red Cross volunteers doing the deliveries.
Gemma Parsons from the WellFood team, back in business in the Buller Health kitchen where they’ve turned out 55 meals today.
Most services will move back in tomorrow. This includes:
Initially they will continue to operate as a drop-in centre with no appointments necessary this week
Radiology will be back in business from Wednesday.
The following services will continue to operate from the temporary facility at Club Buller:
Pictured above, Steve Gale, Facilities Maintenance Team Lead with Boiler No.1 up and running. No. 2 Boiler will be fired up for testing this afternoon.
It’s hoped that they will be able to relocate later this week. Foote ward will need to be clinically cleaned and re-stocked and once we ensure suction and gases have been tested and validated, it will be prepared for patients to move back. In the meantime staff are continuing to care for three inpatients in the temporary ward at Club Buller.
One boiler is running and the second should be up and running this afternoon and currently being tested – importantly there is hot water and heating in Buller Health. The newly-installed pumps in the tunnel are working well. The next job to be completed before other services can move back in tomorrow is replacing and testing data cables to ensure reliable connectivity.
I would like to thank our own team on the ground in Buller, along with a number of skilled contractors who have worked tirelessly to get the building in a safe state for reoccupation, with heating and hot water.
Our largest workforce in Buller is the team of people who provide care in people’s homes. I’m pleased to report that all our client and patients in the community have been contacted and are continuing to receive care. Despite 16 DHB cars being off the road due to flood damage, we’ve sourced replacement rental vehicles to ensure continuous care.
Importantly, emergency services are still working so for any emergency people should still call 111.
For non-urgent health care, you should call your own general practice team (Coast Medical on 03 789 5000 or Buller Medical Centre on 03 788 9277. After-hours follow the instructions to be transferred to a nurse who can provide free health advice.)
I’d also like to give a shout out to the team at Whakarongorau Aotearoa who operate the Healthline 0800 611 116 number and behind the scenes have provided a seamless service to Buller residents needing free health advice. Whakarongorau also provide the nurse triage service after hours and have helped us keep the community informed of all the temporary clinics we’ve been running. Thanks team!
We know that supporting wellbeing, and managing anxiety will be ongoing for a community facing recovery after such a significant event. We are exploring new ways of working to boost access to mental health and wellbeing support services in Westport.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, not sleeping, and feeling anxious all the time please seek help from your own General Practice team or drop into our drop in GP clinic. You can also talk to the team at the Hub, currently located at the NBS Theatre.
Finally, here are some useful numbers for organisations who can help:
If it’s an emergency, please call 111 – emergency services are operating
For health advice at any time
You can also call the Buller Support line 0800 768 348 to access help and advice. Call to be connected to welfare advice and support or answers to any questions you may have about the recovery efforts.
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West Coast DHB set to send COVID-19 appointment invitations to Group 3 Coasters
Please attribute the following to Ralph La Salle, Senior Responsible Officer for the COVID-19 response, West Coast DHB:
West Coast DHB in partnership with the West Coast Primary Health Organisation (PHO) is getting ready to send invitations to approximately 9,500 Group 3 Coasters.
When it is your turn to book an appointment, we’ll contact you directly with instructions about how to book. This will be by text, email, letter or phone call.
West Coast people in Group 3 will be able to book their vaccination prior to the end of July. Vaccine invitations for Group 3 will start being sent out from Monday 5 July.
If you’re in Group 3 and haven’t yet been contacted to book your vaccination, you don’t need to do anything right now. There is enough vaccine for everyone, please be patient, we’ll contact you when it’s your turn.
Group 3 includes people aged 65 and over; people with some underlying health conditions; pregnant people; people with disabilities and their carers, plus older Māori and Pacific people, the people they live with and their carers. We are also continuing to vaccinate people in Group 2 which includes frontline healthcare and disability workers as well as emergency services personnel, education personnel and essential workers such as supermarket and council employees.
The DHB is working with the PHO and other West Coast Health System partners to ensure the successful implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. This includes working with GP practices to identify areas for collaboration including the delivery of COVID-19 vaccination clinics where suitable.
To date, there has been no vaccination wastage on the Coast, which can be attributed to the planning and implementation of the vaccination programme which factors in the number of appointments scheduled across the Coast alongside the ordering of vaccine supplies.
As of June 23, around 5,384 Coasters have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and around 3,342 Coasters have received their second dose. We are unable to provide the specific number of vaccinations delivered to Group 2 people across the region.
Please note that the COVID-19 vaccine data is available via the Ministry of Health’s website where it is updated weekly – https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-vaccine-data#location
More information about getting the COVID-19 vaccine is available online:
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West Coast DHB's own newsletter. CE Update – 16 March 2021
In this November edition of the CE Update, a word from Chief Executive Peter Bramley. Peter thanks everyone for his warm welcome to the West Coast DHB. He acknowledges the need to close the equity gaps along with ensuring that we continue to work in an integrated way with primary and community care and all the health care providers who make up the West Coast Health System.
Our stories – Ā tātou kōrero
Regulars – Kōrero ai
Notices – Pānui
Read this CE Update (PDF version)
Click on the image of the magazine just below to view it full screen and page through the document. Or click here to view the document on the ISSUU website.
Please attribute to Andrew Brant, Acting Chief Executive, West Coast District Health Board
The planned demolition that’s needed to make way for the new Buller Health Centre is well underway with construction of the new Buller Health Centre expected to start early in 2021.
The removal of asbestos containing material (ACM) and demolition work commenced at the end of July 2020 with an anticipated completion date of February 2021. This work has involved the removal of all internal furniture and fittings, floor coverings and internal linings; disconnection and removal of all services including electrical, central heating, fire alarms, sprinklers; set up of decontamination units for asbestos removal and the removal of various types of asbestos containing materials throughout the buildings. This month will see the removal of roofing material along with some demolition work.
Site clearance and earthworks are also underway, to ensure that the site is ready for the main contractor to start work. The request for proposal (RFP) was released to the shortlisted contractors for the main contract work on Thursday, 12 November 2020 with a closing date of Wednesday, 16 December 2020.
The 12-bed 2,360m2 facility has been designed to support an integrated model of care and will house a range of services including general practice, inpatients, primary birthing and postnatal care, palliative care, urgent care and dental services. The DHB’s community services, Hauora Māori service and mental health service will also be located within the Buller Health Centre.
Clinical services will be supported by radiology and laboratory support services on the same site. The co-location of services will facilitate a collaborative approach to providing health care services, with a focus on improving the patient experience.
The current floor plans are available on our website – Buller Health floorplan and you can also view the 3D video of the new Buller Health facility online – 3D video (This video was removed from this website: 7 April 2025).
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With the influx of visitors expected on the Coast this weekend, the West Coast DHB is setting up a COVID-19 testing centre on the Te Nīkau Hospital & Health Centre campus in Greymouth.
The pop up COVID-19 testing centre will be open from Friday 13 November for three days, between 11.00am until 1.00pm each day,” says David Smith, Manager of Integrated Services – Southern.
“We will be here for anyone with symptoms to pop in and get tested over those three days. While we believe the risk of community transmission is still low, we are expecting an influx of people visiting the Coast from all around New Zealand,” Mr Smith says.
Come off High Street, over the bridge and you will see the pop-up testing centre immediately to your left alongside our stores building. Follow the instructions at the site.
“Anyone who develops symptoms over the weekend can attend our pop-up testing centre, but it is advisable that they self-isolate during this time. The average turn around for COVID-19 test results is within 48 hours with results provided by general practice teams.”Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
If you or someone in your whānau have any of these symptoms, please call your own general practice team or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice (a free, 24/7 service with interpreters available) – they will explain what to do. You can also visit www.covid19.govt.nz.
“If you are out and about this weekend, remember the usual public health precautions such as good cough and sneeze etiquette, hand hygiene and physical distancing (wherever possible stay two metres away from people you don’t know, and one metre away from people you do know) practices apply,” Mr Smith says.
If you have the COVID-19 Tracer app installed on your phone or device, please scan the QR code each time you visit somewhere new. This helps make contact tracing easier. As always, if you are unwell please stay at home.
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West Coast DHB's own newsletter.
In this November edition of the CE Update, Acting Chief Executive Andrew Brant thanks everyone for the warm welcome and introduction to the West Coast Health System. He talks about the implementation of a rural generalist model and touches on the official opening of Te Nīkau Hospital & Health Centre and future of Buller Health.
Our stories
Regulars
Read this CE Update (PDF version)
Click on the image of the magazine just below to view it full screen and page through the document. Or click here to view the document on the ISSUU website.
Spring is the perfect time to be out in the garden. It’s also the perfect time for enthusiastic gardeners to risk unwittingly releasing Legionnaires’ disease from the depths of their potting mix and compost.
West Coast Medical Officer of Health Dr Cheryl Brunton says that up to four West Coast gardeners are diagnosed with Legionnaires’ each year. She is warning gardeners to take care with bagged potting mix and compost to avoid the life-threatening disease.
“Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia. It’s caused by the Legionella bacteria that live in moist organic material and people can catch the disease by inhaling airborne droplets or particles containing the bacteria.”
“Gardeners are at particularly high risk of catching Legionnaires' disease as the bacteria thrives in bags of potting mix and compost,” says Dr Brunton.
Dr Brunton says there are five simple actions gardeners should do to avoid getting legionnaires’:
“Legionnaires’ is a very serious illness and these simple actions can be lifesaving. It has an incubation period of up to two weeks and the majority of cases on the Coast occur during the peak gardening season from October to April,” says Dr Brunton.
The illness may be mild but can sometimes be fatal. It is more common in older people, particularly if they smoke, have poor immunity or a chronic illness. However, sometimes even healthy young people have died from legionella pneumonia.
Symptoms can include dry coughing, high fever, chills, shortness of breath, muscle aches, headaches and diarrhoea. If you have these symptoms, you should contact your general practice team right away for advice and let them know you if have been handling potting mix or compost.
For more information on Legionnaires’, visit: https://www.healthinfo.org.nz/index.htm?Legionnaires-disease-legionellosis.htm
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If you’re between 15 and 30 years old and haven’t had your MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, or you’re not sure, get your free immunisation now.
Last year more than 2,000 Kiwis got sick from measles and more than 700 needed hospital treatment, while 80 people in Samoa, mostly children, died from the disease.
West Coast Medical Officer of Health Dr Cheryl Brunton says last year’s measles outbreak and this year’s COVID-19 pandemic have shown the impact infectious diseases can have when we are not immune.
“Now is the time to catch up on the vaccinations we have easy access to, such as MMR, to protect our community and whānau in the future,” Dr Brunton says.
People born between 1990 and 2005 have the lowest immunity against measles and are most at risk of catching it because a higher than usual proportion of this age group didn’t have their scheduled childhood MMR vaccinations. This group is not only more likely to catch measles but also spread it to others, which is why there is now a national catch-up programme focusing on improving the immunity of this group.
In most people, one dose of MMR vaccine ensures about 95 percent protection from measles, while two doses provide around 99 percent protection. The vaccine also protects against mumps and rubella. It is safe to have an MMR even if you are unsure if you have been fully immunised.
“We’re urging everyone aged 15 to 30 years old to get at least one MMR vaccination to help prevent future outbreaks of measles.
“Ask your doctor, parents or caregiver if you had two doses of MMR as a kid, and if you didn’t or aren’t sure, it’s a good idea to get one MMR dose now,” says Dr Brunton.
General Practice teams across the Coast have started inviting people in this age group to come in for their free measles catch up. You can also get an MMR catch up from some pharmacies if you are aged over 16.
“Measles is more than eight times more infectious than COVID-19. It can make you very sick and affect your health for the rest of your life.
“Getting a catch-up MMR vaccination now will make sure you and those around you are protected in the future,” says Dr Brunton.
MMR is also part of the childhood immunisation schedule (which moved to 12 and 15 months from 1 October). Anyone born after 1969 continues to be eligible for two free MMR doses.
For more information about measles and the MMR vaccination, visit the Ministry of Health’s website protectagainstmeasles.org.nz.
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Please attribute comment to Dr Graham Roper, Medical Director – West Coast District Health Board
Following New Zealand (apart from the greater Auckland region) moving to COVID-19 Alert Level 2, West Coast DHB has made changes to its visitor restrictions.
For all inpatient ward areas at Te Nīkau Hospital & Health Centre, there is now one visitor at a time but we are allowing more than one person to visit a patient each day during visiting hours. Each visitor can only visit once per day for a maximum of 15 minutes.
No visitors are allowed in to any of the Aged Residential Care facilities across the Coast, however visitors can visit our inpatient ward where our most vulnerable patients are or where patients are in isolation but this is confined to one visitor per patient per day. Exceptions may be made on compassionate grounds on a case-by-case basis for end of life care of patients who are not COVID-19 positive.
Visiting hours remain unchanged. For more information on the visitor guidance for each West Coast DHB health facility, please visit our website.
Our updated guidance is effective at all West Coast DHB facilities from today, Wednesday 12 August.
At Alert Level 2 the risk of COVID-19 being present in the community is higher. We are therefore asking all patients and visitors to wear their own masks if they have them when visiting our facilities.
Information on masks including how to wear them effectively is available on the Ministry of Health website – here.
From today, we will be recording the details of every visitor upon arrival. If you have the COVID-19 Contact Tracer App installed on your phone or device, please scan the QR code each time you enter one of our facilities. This helps make contact tracing easier.
As always, please don’t visit if you’re unwell and remember the usual public health precautions such as hand hygiene and physical distancing (wherever possible stay two metres away from people you don’t know, and one metre away from people you do know).
If you have COVID-19 symptoms (any acute respiratory infection with at least one of the following symptoms: new or worsening cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, stuffy or runny nose, lost sense of smell – with or without a fever) you should contact your General Practice team or call Healthline on 0800 358 5453. Most GP teams are offering testing if you have these symptoms.
If you are unwell and need to see a doctor you should call your usual GP team for advice 24/7. For general health information visit healthinfo.org.nz.
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You can click on the thumbnail image to open the update.
West Coast DHB's own newsletter.
In this July edition of the CE Update, Chief Executive David Meates gives a special thanks to everyone on the Coast for waiting patiently for our long-awaited new facility, Te Nīkau, Grey Hospital & Health Centre. He also acknowledges the huge efforts everyone across the West Coast Health System put into our response to the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Our stories
Regulars
Read this CE Update (PDF version)
Click on the image of the magazine just below to view it full screen and page through the document. Or click here to view the document on the ISSUU website.
The new Greymouth hospital and health centre, Te Nīkau, opens its doors to the public on Wednesday 29 July.
Until that time the doors will be locked, so please keep reporting to the current Grey Base Hospital until Wednesday.
As Te Nīkau will be a fully integrated facility, the team at Grey Medical Centre will be open from Monday 3 August. If you’re a patient at Grey Medi, from next Monday you’ll be coming to see the team in their new rooms within Te Nīkau. That’s also the day the blood testing team will start working from Te Nīkau along with outpatient and allied health services (which includes physio and occupational therapy) and the new café for staff and patients, Peaberry & Co, will have coffee on the go from 8am.
There are more than 100 new car parks plus 12 mobility parks for patients and visitors close to the main entrance. Staff have separate parking areas.
From Wednesday, to get to the new main entrance and parking area come into the current hospital site off High Street, drive up over the bridge and turn right to Te Nīkau. Until then it’s business as usual for all services in the current Grey Base Hospital.
ENDS
The first services start moving in from this Thursday 23 July, with the final services due to open in the new facility on Monday 3 August.
As well as the new home for all of the usual hospital-based services, what makes Te Nīkau special is the fact that it really is a one stop shop.
From a visit with your general practice team to a surgical procedure you can have it all at Te Nīkau. There’s even a café and retail pharmacy.
Grey Medical Centre is relocating from Tainui Street to brand new purpose-designed rooms in Te Nīkau. All phone numbers and email addresses will stay the same, so please phone to make an appointment or use the Health365 app. Grey Medical Centre opens in Te Nīkau on Monday 3 August.
If you need to be seen urgently, but aren’t sick enough to be seen in the Emergency Department, you may be able to be seen in the Urgent Care clinic, an extension of the primary care service.
Primary health care services will be open 8am – 8pm daily. The fees for using Urgent Care are the same as seeing a GP at Grey Medical with those in the greatest need being seen soonest.
Whether you’re coming in to visit someone in hospital, have an appointment in the Family Health Centre or need emergency care, entry is via the main entrance on the ground floor. Drive in off High Street, turn right and the main entrance to all services at Te Nīkau is under the black canopy.
There are more than 100 car public parks with 12 allocated for people with mobility passes close to the main entrance.
Available just below is information for the schedule of when services are opening in the new facility and a floor plan showing the location of services.
Move Schedule of Key Health Services
ENDS
“The final sign off for funding for the first stage of demolition which will see some of the existing buildings demolished and asbestos removed has been received today. Once this demolition and asbestos removal work is complete building will be able to start on the new Buller Health Centre,” Rick Barker, Chair of the West Coast District Health Board announced today.
The Government has approved up to $1m in additional funding on top the $20m approved in Budget 2018.
“Cake Commercial Services Ltd , will be the contractor undertaking the work, and we expect specialist staff to be on site during the last week of July.The demolition and asbestos removal work is expected to take about six months to complete.
The asbestos removal will see material removed from the ceilings, tunnels, walls and roof of the ‘Old Kitchen Caretakers Block’ and Morgue. This will be undertaken by licenced asbestos removal contractors who will wear full PPE at all times. Once removed it will be taken to the approved asbestos dumping facility.
The process of hiring the construction contractor will take place while the demolition and asbestos removal is taking place. This will happen in two stages.
The first stage will be a Registration of Interest (ROI), which will produce a shortlist of applicants who will then be invited to progress to the second stage – a Request for Proposal (RFP). A preferred contactor will then be selected.
Health Minister Chris Hipkins says the people of Buller and the staff that care for them deserve a modern, purpose-built health facility and it will be great to see work getting underway on-site.
“This 12-bed Health Centre will house a range of services including General Practice, patient rooms, primary birthing and postnatal care, palliative care and Urgent Care.
“The West Coast DHB’s community services, Māori health service and mental health service will also be located within the new Buller Health Centre.
“Clinical services will be supported by radiology and laboratory support services on the same site. The co-location of teams will facilitate a collaborative approach to providing health care, with a focus on improving the patient experience,” Chris Hipkins said.
Rick Barker says construction of the new facility is likely to begin two to four weeks after demolition has finished and all asbestos has been removed and should take around 24 months to complete.
“We expect the West Coast DHB will be able to begin relocating services to the new facility approximately three months after completion, to allow time for the installation of fixtures and fittings and a full clinical clean, followed by staff migration,” Rick Barker said.
“With funding already approved for the construction of the new Buller Health Facility I do not expect any more delays.
“This should be a continuous process, from demolishing the old and building the new, to the transfer into and the start of providing services for the people of Buller in a new, purpose built modern health facility.
“I’m looking forward to when the community will be able to see real progress on site from the end of the month onwards, when the first stage of the work commences,” Rick Barker said.
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West Coast DHB bringing its cleaning, orderly and grounds services in-house
West Coast DHB has announced that it is taking over management of its cleaning, orderly and grounds services for Greymouth, Hokitika, Westport and Reefton from 1 October 2020.
While the current service provider, ISS, will not be retained when its contract expires on 1 October, the DHB is offering ongoing employment to all affected staff in those areas.
The move follows West Coast DHB bringing its food services in-house in 2019. Similarly, last year Canterbury DHB brought its cleaning services in-house under the Environmental Services name and branding. West Coast and Canterbury DHB support services are jointly managed by one team and the West Coast will also adopt the Environmental Services name and logo on the cleaning, orderly and grounds services staff uniforms.
Staff contracts with West Coast DHB will contain the same terms and conditions as their current contracts, and they will enjoy additional benefits as West Coast DHB employees.
West Coast DHB General Manager Philip Wheble says the DHB is grateful for the great service ISS has provided over the last five years.
“We value their support over the coming months as we migrate to the new Te Nīkau, Grey Hospital and Health Centre facility, and as we work together to assist staff to transition to DHB management.
“We look forward to formally welcoming our cleaning, orderly and grounds staff as our West Coast DHB colleagues,” says Philip.
ENDS
Under Alert Level 1, the public can expect to see fewer restrictions in place in terms of physical distancing requirements as well as further changes to our visitor restrictions. We have stopped screening people at the entrances to our facilities from today.
The most important thing for the public to do from today on is to keep a record of where they go and when. This can be done by ‘checking in’ via the QR code outside many businesses, including many DHB facilities, or keeping a diary of where they go and when. This information is useful if we were to have a case and needed to advise the public.
For the time being, our visitor hours remain between 2pm to 6pm at Grey Base Hospital and between 10am to 2pm and from 3.30pm to 8pm at Buller Health. These hours will be reviewed in the next couple of weeks.
West Coast DHB Medical Director, Dr Graham Roper says patients who have appointments at any of our facilities are asked not to come in if they are unwell.
“Please phone the department to let them know and seek advice from your GP or Healthline – 0800 611 116, or for COVID-19 health advice – 0800 358 5453.
“Everyone should continue to keep up good hygiene practices such as washing and thoroughly drying hands, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home if they’re sick,” says Dr Roper.
Please do not enter our facilities if you have any of the following symptoms:
This updated guidance is effective at all West Coast DHB facilities from today, Thursday, 11 June 2020.
To keep up to date with current visitor restrictions, visit West Coast DHB’s COVID-19 visitor restrictions.To find out how you can support contact tracing and to download the app, visit Tracing COVID-19.
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West Coast DHB has created QR codes for use with the NZ COVID Tracer App and you will be able to find posters at the entrances of many West Coast DHB facilities.
If you have the app installed on your phone or device, please scan the QR code each time you enter one of our facilities. This helps make contact tracing easier.
Under Alert Level 2 we are still applying visitor restrictions at all our facilities as a precaution, to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
We also ask you to check in ‘manually' at the main entrance each time you come.
We apologise for the time this takes, but here’s why we need you to stop on your way in:
To keep up to date with current visitor restrictions, visit West Coast DHB’s COVID-19 visitor restrictions.
For the latest on New Zealand’s progress on keeping out COVID-19 visit Unite Against COVID-19.
Westport and Greymouth Community Based Assessment Centres (CBACs) will be closed from Monday, 8 June 2020.
David Smith, Manager of Integrated Services – Southern, says that the decision to close both Westport and Greymouth CBACs was based on a reduction in the COVID-19 testing volumes coming through the centres.
“People can still get tested for COVID-19 but from Monday testing of people with symptoms will only be available at general practices across the Coast.
“We will continue to review the number of people presenting to our general practices for testing and if necessary we can re-establish our fixed CBACs to accommodate any significant increase in demand,” says David.
Remember, it’s important that we remain focused on keeping ourselves, our family/whanau and friends safe. We can all continue to help reduce the spread of any infections by practicing good hand hygiene, appropriate coughing or sneezing etiquette and safe physical distancing.
Please call your general practice team or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 – high temperature (at least 38°C), cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, sneezing and runny nose, temporary loss of smell. These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have COVID-19. The symptoms are like other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu. Shortness of breath is a sign of possible pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention. Remember, if it is an emergency – phone 111.
West Coast DHB recently signalled it would be reviewing the operation of its COVID-19 testing facilities in line with ongoing demand.
As a result of this, the following changes have been made to Community Based Assessment Centres (CBAC) on the Coast:
·The Reefton and Hokitika CBACs have now closed.
·The Greymouth CBAC will remain open for now, with testing volumes to be reviewed throughout the week with a view to close the CBAC on Friday 5 June.
·The Buller Community Based Assessment Centre (CBAC) is expected to close in the near future when a new pathway for assessing people with COVID-19/Respiratory symptoms is finalised.
David Smith, Manager of Integrated Services – Southern, says that with the closure of CBACs, to ensure equitable access to testing it is anticipated that most symptomatic testing will now be undertaken within general practice.
“The West Coast Primary Health Organisation will be liaising with general practices to ensure that capacity for COVID-19 is available in the community.
“We will continue to review the required operation of our CBACs and provide updates to the community if things change in the future,” says David.
Please call your general practice team or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 – high temperature (at least 38°C), cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, sneezing and runny nose, temporary loss of smell. These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have COVID-19. The symptoms are like other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu. Shortness of breath is a sign of possible pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention. Remember, if it is an emergency – phone 111.
Remember, we all play an important role in keeping ourselves, our family/whanau and friends safe. You can help reduce the spread of any infections by practicing safe physical distancing, good hand hygiene and appropriate coughing or sneezing etiquette.
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West Coast DHB’s Manager Integrated Health Services – Northern, Deborah Wright today said that although there are still a number of restrictions in place under COVID-19 alert level two, Buller residents can continue to access their health care teams.
“We are focused on offering health care in settings that protect both our community and staff during what continues to be a challenging and changeable environment. Although, we have lifted a number of our restrictions including how people access Buller Health, we do ask that anyone needing to come in for a face-to-face appointment call us first to arrange a suitable time.”
A number of our services will continue to offer virtual consultations by phone, email, text or video instead of face-to-face appointments as these have proven to be really useful in helping us provide health care to our patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We will continue to record the details of every visitor upon arrival. This is to allow rapid contact tracing if anyone they have been in contact with is later confirmed as having COVID-19. I would like to thank people in advance for their cooperation and playing their part to keep our patients and staff safe.
It’s vital that we remain focused on reducing the opportunity for any infections to spread so when you do come to see us please practice safe physical distancing, good hand hygiene and appropriate coughing or sneezing etiquette,” Ms Wright says.
Please call your general practice team or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 – high temperature (at least 38°C), cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, sneezing and runny nose, temporary loss of smell. These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have COVID-19. The symptoms are like other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu. Shortness of breath is a sign of possible pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention. Remember, if it is an emergency – phone 111.
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Page last updated: 16 December 2022
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