Shellfish biotoxin alert between Hector and Greymouth extended

West Coast District Health Board’s Community & Public Health team have extended the health warning advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish harvested from the South Island’s West Coast between Hector and Greymouth.

Dr Cheryl Brunton, Medical Officer of Health, says routine tests on shellfish samples taken from this area has shown levels of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins are above the safe limit of 0.16 mg/kg set by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).  Anyone eating shellfish from this area is potentially at risk of illness.

“Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin) and all other bivalve shellfish should not be eaten.”

Dr Brunton warns that cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin. On-going testing will continue and any changes will be communicated accordingly.

“Symptoms of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning typically appear within half an hour and can last for 24 hours.”

Symptoms may include:

• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Abdominal cramps

Dr Brunton says pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.

“If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued phone your usual General Practice team 24/7 and they can advise what to do. If it’s an emergency, phone 111. You are also advised to contact Community and Public Health on (03) 768 1160 and keep any leftover shellfish in case it can be tested.”

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For more information

• A map of the specific area is available on the MPI website – here
• Shellfish biotoxin alert webpage
• Subscribe to shellfish biotoxins to receive email alerts

 

West Coast District Health Board (West Coast DHB) has started implementing Patientrack, a new digital patient observation and alert response system, aimed at helping clinicians identify deteriorating patients earlier. This system will enable clinicians to apply clinical judgement and to take appropriate, potentially life-saving action sooner.
Patientrack is being introduced from mid-February and has been designed to capture patient observations electronically and make them available to a patient’s care team anywhere they have access to the network.
Rosalie Waghorn, Quality and Patient Safety Manager for West Coast DHB, said Patientrack records a patient’s vital signs to calculate the early warning score (EWS) which is used to predict the risk of deterioration for the patient and acts as a prompt to clinicians to provide follow-up treatment if the results are abnormal.
“Patientrack will eventually record all patient observations that are currently handwritten on charts across the West Coast health care system. Replacing paper-based charts with a comprehensive suite of electronic automated assessment and communications tools will reduce errors and improve work flow, allowing clinicians to dedicate more quality time to our patients,” says Rosalie.
Patientrack, which originates from the UK, is already in use in a number of New Zealand hospitals including Christchurch, Hillmorton and Burwood hospitals.
It will initially be rolled out in Foote Ward (Buller) and in Grey Base Hospital’s Manaakitanga (Mental Health inpatient unit) and Medical Surgery services before being introduced to other services across the Coast.
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About Patientrack
Patientrack was developed in conjunction with health professionals to help hospitals deliver safer care – by ensuring observation and assessment protocols are carried out correctly and consistently, and by automatically calculating early warning scores and alerting clinicians when interventions are needed.
Through early identification of deteriorating patients, and promoting necessary assessments, Patientrack helps hospitals meet national and local targets for improvements in patient safety, improving patient outcomes and supporting clinical staff and reducing paper waste.
For further information please visit www.patientrack.com or follow @Patientrack on Twitter.

West Coast District Health Board’s Community & Public Health team have issued a health warning advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish harvested from Hector South to Greigs along the West Coast.

Dr Cheryl Brunton, Medical Officer of Health, says routine tests on shellfish samples taken from Hector South to Greigs has shown levels of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins are above the safe limit of 0.16 mg/kg set by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).  Anyone eating shellfish from this area is potentially at risk of illness.

“Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin) and all other bivalve shellfish should not be eaten.”

Dr Brunton warns that cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin. Ongoing testing will continue and any changes will be communicated accordingly.

“Symptoms of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning typically appear within half an hour and can last for 24 hours.”

Symptoms may include:

• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Abdominal cramps

Dr Brunton says pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.

“If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued phone your usual General Practice team 24/7 and they can advise what to do. If it’s an emergency, phone 111. You are also advised to contact Community and Public Health on (03) 768 1160 and keep any leftover shellfish in case it can be tested.”

ENDS

For more information

• A map of the specific area is available on the MPI website – here
• Shellfish biotoxin alert webpage
• Subscribe to shellfish biotoxins to receive email alerts

Please attribute to David Meates, Chief Executive

Following approval and confirmation of both the site and importantly, the funding of the new Buller Health Centre, responsibility for this project was transferred back to the West Coast DHB from the Ministry of Health in December.

Since the beginning of the year, we have been working to progress the transfer of legal documentation which will allow us to confirm project consultants, such as architects and engineers. The consultants will be responsible for the ongoing design and delivery of the Buller Health project and we expect to be able to confirm this detail by late March 2019.

Once the consultants are on board, user groups will be re-engaged as we move into the next design phases of preliminary, developed and detailed. The Buller District Mayor, as the council-appointed representative for the design phase will participate in this process. Our clinical teams will be consulted to help bring to life a more detailed plan of how the various clinical spaces will look and interact with each other.

The design phase will include the use of a ‘mock-up’ space with moveable walls, or tape on the floor to indicate the space available to perform certain tasks. There will be a number of opportunities for staff, patients/consumers and the wider community to ‘test’ the layout of the various rooms to ensure that they are functional and fit for purpose. We anticipate that the design will be completed by October 2019.

Construction registration of interest will be sought during September 2019 with the construction contract to be let in January 2020. Demolition and construction associated with the new facility is expected to take 550 days with planned occupation of the new facility expected by September 2021.

West Coast DHB has appointed Tom Cunningham as the Project Manager to lead the development. Tom will be supported by the Programme Director Construction and Property at Canterbury DHB with the West Coast Partnership Group continuing to provide oversight.

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The current floor plans have a floor size of 2213m² with an additional 68m² utility building. You can view the floor plan here. Note, as the design progresses through the various stages, these plans are likely to change.

Please attribute to Dr Cameron Lacey, Clinical Director Mental Health – West Coast District Health Board

In response to recent media coverage about our internal Mental Health services proposal, we would like to reassure our patients and their families/whanau that mental health services are not being ‘axed’.

It is important that from time to time we review our services to confirm that we are providing the best possible care to the West Coast community. The focus of the current proposal is to ensure that we have strong teams in place which support our goal of delivering robust community-based rural mental health services across the Coast including crisis response. This means that people presenting in crisis will be more likely to be seen closer to home and receive better continuity of care.

The proposed changes will improve the equity and access to our crisis response services, provide stronger more visible community and district-wide services, enable us to have greater capability and capacity to provide 24/7 mental health services and provide an opportunity for improved staff well-being and satisfaction.

In everything we do, our people receiving treatment and care and wellbeing support remain the focus of our care model. With these proposed changes we are confident that we will be better placed to maintain a sustainable workforce which will help improve service delivery as well as make the best use of our available resources.

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Focus on People is West Coast DHB’s special newsletter, published at the end of every year.

This special 2018 edition once again shares with our wider community special achievements and stories on the beautiful West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island.  We invite you to all celebrate with us!

Articles in this newsletter include:

1. Message from West Coast DHB Chief Executive David Meates and Medical Director, Patient Safety & Outcomes Vicki Roberson
2. Endoscopy coordinator receives award
3. Pregnancy support from rural midwife worth its weight in gold
4. West Coast DHB health targets
5. Working as a midwife on the West Coast
6. WCDHB Strategic Focus and Priorities
7. The value of community teamwork
8. Community falls prevention
9. Enhancing patient experience in theatre
10. Improvements to infusion and oncology services benefit patients
11. CT head perfusion scans available
12. Embedding Takarangi cultural competency framework into West Coast health services
13. West Coast health facilities update (Including Timelapse images)
14. A decade of Walking in Another’s Shoes
15. Empowering inpatient nursing staff
16. West Coast Alliance highlights key achievements
17. Palliative care team increases its public profile
18. Grey District Nursing ‘Meet and Greet’ discharge planning
19. Theatre team excels in surgical safety checklist auditing
20. West Coast General Practices achieve Cornerstone accreditation
21. Team recruited to reduce pressure injuries
22. National patient experience survey results
23. Raising healthy West Coast kids
24. Hand hygiene plays an important part in patient safety
25. West Coast DHB tests emergency readiness
26. Red tray introduced to assist patients at meal times
27. We want your feedback

 

You can read this newsletter in 2 different formats:

Read the PDF version

Read an interactive version on the ISSUU site

Facilities update – video

Update: This video (Still available on request) was removed from this website: 7 April 2025.

A look behind the scenes.

Mitchell Patrick (Fletchers Building Services Coordinator) takes us behind the scenes of the new hospital facility in Greymouth.  

We can see what's happening in the new boiler house, and up into the plant room above Level 1.  This is where emergency equipment will be stored ready for use in the event of a natural disaster.

 

Inpatient falls continue to be the major serious adverse event reported by West Coast DHB for the 2017/18 financial year.

The release of a Serious Adverse Events Report by each DHB is an initiative led by the Health Quality and Safety Commission. The reports highlight events which have resulted in significant additional treatment, major loss of function, are life threatening or have led to an unexpected death.

Of the 7 adverse events identified as serious by West Coast DHB, 3 were patients who had a fall while in hospital. The other 4 events were identified as readmission to ED 8 hours after discharge, delay in the detection of medical deterioration of an inpatient, inappropriate inter-hospital transfer and delay in 5-year colonoscopy surveillance.

West Coast DHB’s Medical Director Patient Safety and Outcomes Vicki Robertson says the West Coast Health System continues to make great progress in reducing the harm caused by falls but there is more preventative work to be done in this area.

“Falls can be very serious for patients whose health is fragile. We have a number of initiatives including thorough assessment of patient mobility needs in place as part of our Falls Prevention Service. We continue to be focused on reducing patient falls both in our health facilities and in the community,” Vicki says.

Nationwide, there was an increase in reported events, with the highest reported event category related to clinical management, including falls and pressure injuries.

As noted by Health Quality and Safety Commission Chair Professor Alan Merry, “several factors are likely to have influenced this increase, including changes in reporting requirements and the Commission’s quality improvement programmes placing a spotlight on specific areas. In addition, staff have reported more events because DHBs have worked diligently to increase their ability to recognise and report adverse events.”

“Preventing adverse events relies on our continued efforts to review and learn from mistakes when they happen so that we can improve our systems and processes to make them safer,” says Vicki.

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More information: West Coast DHB Serious Adverse Events Reports are available in our online Document Library.

 

 

 

 

 

Health Minister Dr David Clark today confirmed $20m in Crown funding and the site for the new Buller Health Centre in Westport.

During a visit to Westport today with West Coast Tasman MP Damien O’Connor, David Clark said the latest concept design for the new facility had been accepted, allowing detailed design work to proceed.

“The people of Buller have waited long enough for a modern, purpose-designed health facility,” David Clark said.

“The Government has listened to the public engagement process and the typically direct feedback from Coasters, including input from the clinicians who will work there.

“As a result, I can confirm that the Buller facility will be located on the current hospital site, and that we’ll be increasing the scope of the project to allow for the inclusion of the locally provided Adult Dental Service as well as two additional medical beds.”

Damien O’Connor said today’s announcement was great news for the Coast.

“Today we have reason to celebrate because a fit-for-purpose Buller health facility will be delivered as promised by the Coalition Government.

“I want to thank Dr Clark for listening to feedback and boosting the number of medical beds beyond the initial plan.  

“Many people should be proud of their efforts to get a better deal for Buller residents after the previous Government’s determination to penny pinch and entirely ignore the community’s wishes.

“The new facility will be one that the community can be proud of and I’ll be keen to see construction get under way as soon as possible,” Damien O’Connor said.

David Clark said project budget is being set at $20 million, to be funded by the Crown, and continues a series of significant Coalition Government investments in hospital infrastructures.

“In recent weeks, we’ve announced major investments in hospitals from Northland to Auckland to Wellington, and today the West Coast.  All New Zealanders deserve access to services which will lead to better health outcomes,’’ said David Clark.

The Government’s major investments in hospitals and health facilities so far this year:

• $275m for Auckland DHB to address significant infrastructure challenges at Auckland City Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre
• $8m for Individualised Service Units at Capital and Coast DHB for our most high needs intellectual disability and mental health patients
• $200m for a new elective surgery unit at Waitematā’s North Shore Hospital
• $24m for new endoscopy and cardiac care capacity at Northland’s Whangarei Hospital
• $45.6m funding for Wellington’s new children’s hospital
• $7.1m for a new outpatients and primary care facility for Bay of Islands Hospital.
• $20m in Crown funding and the site for the new Buller Health Centre in Westport.

 

 

 

 

 

At its Board meeting last week, West Coast DHB members agreed on a name for its new facilities, due for completion next year.

Board chair, Jenny Black said the new facility will be known as Te Nīkau, Grey Hospital & Health Centre.

Jenny said when deciding on the name the DHB sought advice from Tatau Pounamu, the West Coast’s manawhenua health group, in consultation with local iwi.

“Inspiration for the name came from Nikau the original name of the hill immediately behind the hospital, as well as the Nikau Palm,” she said.

Tatau Pounamu believe the name Te Nīkau will help bridge the geographical divide between Te Tai Poutini and Te Tai Tapu (Westcoast and Buller), as the Nikau palm is readily recognised in the Buller as the Coastwide symbol. The Nikau is New Zealand’s only native palm tree which is synonymous with the West Coast.

Jenny Black said she’s delighted that local iwi will also assist with supporting the cultural identity of the facility by donating a large touchstone pounamu to be located in the main entrance; a second pounamu stone on a plinth as a feature in the internal courtyard, a large carved entry Pou for the front of the new facility and carvings for other areas throughout the facility.

“In addition iwi have contributed to the design of etching on the glass throughout the facility, which will support the cultural narrative and unique West Coast location.

“West Coast DHB Board members agreed upon the name as it reflects the sense of place for Coasters who will be on the receiving end of health services in this wonderful new facility,” Jenny Black said.

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Background:

The 8,500 metre facility is due for completion in late March 2019 with staff expected to move in later in the year once the fit out is complete. The facility includes 56 in-patient beds, three operating theatres, radiology, laboratory services and integrated family health centre to provide primary care and outpatient services. Other clinical services include urgent care, 24/7 emergency department, critical care unit, paediatric and maternity services as well as planned and acute medical and surgical services and older persons’ health including assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services.

You can catch up with the latest progress on the site by watching this video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Articles in this update include:

1. West Coast DHB tests emergency readiness
2. South Island Rural Workforce Workshop
3. Read the latest E-Update by the Health Quality and Safety Commission
4. Working as a midwife on the West Coast: Director of Midwifery Norma Campbell says midwives offer a great example of a team already working in this way.
5. Read the latest eCALD newsletter: Enhancing CALD Cultural Competence
6. Young Māori having an Impact (Matt Sollis will be the first person from Arahura to graduate as a medical doctor)
7. Dedicated group of nurses recruited to reduce pressure injuries
8. WCDHB emergency management update
9. New graduate nurses celebrate success
10. Developing intentional inter-professional practice on the West Coast
11. HealthOne Newsletter published by the South Island Alliance
12. Bouquets
13. 1 minute with Ginny Brailsford
14. New resources inspiring careers in Māori health
15. West Coast Emergency Management newsletter
16. Health Quality & Safety Commission Patient Safety Week

 

You can read the CE Update in 2 different formats:

Read the PDF version

View on issuu.com

West Coast gardeners are being urged to take care with potting mix and compost to prevent a spike in Legionnaires’ cases this spring. 

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. 

“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’:

1. Open potting mix or compost carefully – use scissors instead of ripping the bag.
2. Wear a well-fitting disposable face mask and gloves, and remember not to touch your mask when gardening.
3. Reduce dust by dampening down potting mix or compost with a sprinkle of water.
4. Work with potting mix or compost in a well-ventilated outdoor area.
5. Thoroughly wash your hands after handling potting mix or compost. 

“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”.

With the average cost of treating someone with an infectious disease in ICU estimated at close to $5,000 per day, Dr Brunton says Legionnaires’ is costing our health system hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“With NIWA predicting another warm spring and summer, it’s extremely important to take care when using bagged potting mix and compost.”

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.  Symptoms include dry coughing, high fever, chills, diarrhoea, shortness of breath, chest pains, headaches, excessive sweating, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Anyone who gets these symptoms should see their general practice team right away and let them know if you have been handling potting mix or compost.

For more information on Legionnaires’, visit: https://www.healthinfo.org.nz/Legionnaires-disease-legionellosis.htm  

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Canterbury and West Coast District Health Board has recruited the first group of Pressure Injury Prevention Link Nurses, as part of a broader strategy funded by the Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) to reduce the incidence and severity of pressure injuries across Canterbury and the West Coast.

Pressure injuries are commonly known as bed sores, pressure ulcers, pressure sores and decubitus ulcers, and are mostly preventable.

“Pressure injuries have a devastating impact, not only on patients, residents and their families but also on staff and the healthcare system as a whole,” says Dr Nick Kendall, ACC’s Treatment Safety Manager. “For some patients, pressure injuries can take months or even years to heal, causing pain, distress and major disruption to their lives and livelihoods. ACC is pleased to be working with the Canterbury and West Coast communities to make the prevention of pressure injuries a priority.”

Each year it is estimated 55,000 New Zealanders sustain a pressure injury, with 3,000 people developing a pressure injury so serious that muscle, bone or tendon maybe exposed. Pressure injuries cause physical pain and discomfort, result in admission to hospital, longer hospital stays and in some cases, can even lead to death. In addition, treatment of pressure injuries is estimated to cost NZ $694 million each year.

“Data indicates that many more people are admitted to hospitals already experiencing pressure injuries than develop them while in hospital,” says Susan Wood, Director of Quality and Patient Safety, Canterbury and West Coast DHBs. “While we need to prevent pressure injuries in our hospitals, we are also focusing on community prevention and raising awareness of the risk factors and management strategies to prevent pressure injuries in the community and all health care facilities.”

The newly recruited Pressure Injury Prevention Link Nurses will be trained to teach, promote, monitor/undertake surveillance, and motivate their healthcare colleagues to deliver best practice in the prevention and management of pressure injuries.

The Accident Compensation Corporation funds and supports this pressure injury prevention initiative that will:

• empower patients and their families on how to prevent pressure injuries
• refocus attention on the basics of care, which includes skin assessments, making sure people keep moving when lying or sitting, are eating well and keeping their skin clean and dry
• refine and update pressure injury information across the community
• support Link Nurses to become pressure injury prevention clinical leaders
• establish an online forum for all health care professionals to come together to share ideas, resources, expertise and information to reduce the devastating impact of pressure injuries.

ENDS

Clinical staff who usually work in Foote Ward, Buller Health have been affected by MRSA – Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. MRSA can be spread from person to person by direct physical contact, through contact with a contaminated surface, and via infected droplets in a cough or sneeze.

As its name suggests, it is resistant to some antibiotics, however, it is still treatable. More information on MRSA is available – here and here.

West Coast DHB is following standard infection prevention and control measures to manage this situation. This includes undertaking a ‘deep clinical clean' and introducing barrier nursing, which means some staff will be wearing more personal protective equipment such as gowns, gloves, masks and aprons as a precaution.

We're asking the public to limit visits to the hospital as much as possible. Any visits should be discussed with the staff caring for your loved one.

Importantly, all visitors to the hospital should use the alcohol-based hand rub in the reception area before they enter clinical areas and when they leave.

People should still seek health advice as per usual. In an emergency call 111. After hours remember that free health advice is available 24/7 from the nurses at Healthline phone 0800 611 116.

Note: Buller Medical, the general practice is not affected and patients will continue to be seen as per usual.

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Articles in this update include:

1. There's still time to protect yourself against the flu (David Meates, CE)
2. Building a sustainable workforce on the Coast (David Meates, CE)
3. Dr Brendan Marshall: A New Zealand first for West Coast maternity services
4. B4 School Check ‘opened my eyes': mother
5. Endoscopy coordinator receives Open for Leadership award
6. Manager appointed to lead Integrated Health Services Northern Region
7. Workshop makes steps towards South Island Allied Health Career Framework
8. Employee expense claims and reimbursements
9. New Fracture Liaison Service coming to the West Coast
10. West Coast Emergency Management newsletter
11. Mental health staff invited to have their say in new national survey

Read this CE Update

New facilities update – video

Take a virtual tour of the new Grey Base Hospital and Integrated Family Health Centre Facilities and see how things are shaping up.

Update on the new Grey Base Hospital and Integrated Family Health Unit. from Canterbury District Health Board on Vimeo.

 

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants have voted to strike from 7am Thursday 12 July until 7am Friday 13 July. This will impact services at all West Coast DHB facilities including some General Practices and community care.

Our priority is to ensure we maintain safe patient care and minimise disruption for hospital inpatients and those receiving care in their own homes during the strike period.

As part of its contingency plans West Coast DHB has contacted patients whose outpatient appointment or surgery has had to be postponed. Patients whose appointments and procedures are being deferred will be contacted directly by phone.

Importantly, our hospital and health centres throughout the Coast will remain open and continue to provide essential and urgent services including emergency care and acute surgery and maternity care. Our wards will remain open but with reduced capacity. If you have a family member who will be in hospital on the day of the strike, you are welcome to spend more time with them than you usually would.

Remember if you need health care advice, make your general practice team your first port of call for care around the clock.

After-hours you can phone Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free health advice. A nurse will advise on what to do and where to go if it's urgent and you need to be seen by a doctor.

In an emergency, you should still phone 111. On the Coast our most rural areas have Rural Nurse Specialists on call to respond to emergencies. Chief executive David Meates says West Coast DHB regrets having to defer outpatient appointments and surgery. “We appreciate how disruptive this it to those affected. Please be assured our staff are trying to rebook patients as quickly as possible.

“I would also like to thank everyone who has been working on our contingency planning for their work to date preparing for this strike and to everyone involved in ensuring that essential health services will remain available during the strike.”

If patients need to check on their appointment, they can call the Central Booking Unit on (03) 769-7400, extension 2901. If possible, quote the NHI number which is usually in the upper right hand corner of the letter.

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Articles in this update include:

1. June is Men's Health Month (David Meates, CE)
2. Coast representative joins RGPN board
3. International Nurses Day
4. A message from Director of Nursing Karyn Bousfield
5. West Coast gets its second Nurse Practitioner (Jennie Bell)
6. Interdisciplinary education programmes kick off
7. A shoult-out to St John
8. Introducing our vaccinators
9. Introducing Jenny Roumieu
10. Barrytown School commits to water and milk only
11. Transalpine collaboration on maternity services
12. New Chair for Southern Cancer Network Steering Group

Read this CE Update

A tree expert has advised the West Coast DHB that the large pohutakawa on the north-eastern side of the Corporate block in Greymouth has been damaged and will need some serious pruning to make it safe.

“People will notice fencing around the tree, which sits adjacent to the Grey Hospital car park near the new buildings,” West Coast DHB Maintenance Manager Craig Shaw says.

“After receiving advice that the tree might pose a threat to human life, we're looking into what, when, how much pruning, and the permissions we might need to get before essential pruning takes place to make the tree safe. In the meantime, it has been fenced off. We are aware of the importance and significance of this tree and any remedial work will be done as carefully as possible, whist maintaining an ongoing safe environment,” he says.

ends

Pregnant women and babies under one need to be vaccinated against pertussis (whooping cough), Medical Officer of Health Dr Cheryl Brunton says.

“There is a national epidemic of pertussis and the number of cases on the Coast is beginning to rise.  Babies and children under the age of one are most at risk of serious illness and complications from pertussis,” she says.

“On time vaccination of babies and children against pertussis is their best protection against the disease.  The vaccine is safe and free for pregnant women and can protect their babies until they are old enough to be vaccinated”

In February, six cases of pertussis were notified to community and Public Health: Five cases in Buller and one in Grey district.  In the week ending 2 March, there were two cases in Buller, one in Grey and one in Westland.

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly infectious disease that is spread by coughing and sneezing. It's caused by bacteria which damage the breathing tubes.

The symptoms usually appear around a week after infection.  Pertussis tends to develop in 3 stages: 

Initial stage (catarrhal stage), symptoms include:

• a runny nose
• sneezing
• slight fever
• a mild irritating cough
• feeling generally unwell

This stage is when you're most infectious. It lasts 1 or 2 weeks.

Second stage (paroxysmal stage):

• Coughing fits (paroxysms) are the main symptom in this stage. A paroxysm is a spasm of coughing followed by a big breath in or high-pitched ‘whoop' in children. Babies and adults generally don't have the high-pitched ‘whoop'.
  • Intense bouts of coughing, which bring up thick phlegm
  • a ‘whoop' sound with each sharp intake of breath after coughing
  • vomiting after coughing, especially in infants and young children
  • tiredness and redness in the face from the effort of coughing
  • Babies and young children often appear very ill, and may turn blue and vomit from coughing so much.

This stage usually lasts 2 to 3 weeks but can persist for up to 10 weeks.

Third stage (recovery stage):

During this stage, the cough gradually gets better. After several weeks the cough disappears. However, for months you may still get coughing fits whenever you get a respiratory infection like a cold.

See your doctor if you think you or a family member may have pertussis (whooping cough), particularly if they:

• have prolonged coughing spasms
• turn blue while coughing
• cough with a whooping sound
• are un-vaccinated

You should seek immediate medical advice if:

• you have a baby of 6 months or younger who appears to be very ill
• you (or your child) appear to be experiencing significant breathing difficulties such as extended periods of breathlessness
• you (or your child) develop serious complications, such as seizures (fits) or pneumonia, an infection that causes inflammation of the tissues in your lungs

Babies under the age of one who get pertussis are more likely to become seriously ill and need hospital treatment.

ends

Feedback from people with experience of mental health or addictions is helping redesign local mental health services.

The West Coast Mental Health Review (2014) identified a number of ways that services could be made more accessible to the community, including having more help and support for people in their local communities and better alignment with other health services.

Late last year West Coast DHB Director Mental Health and Addiction Services Dr Cameron Lacey said the DHB was looking at ways to improve services for people who are not in hospital or under specialist care.

He welcomed input from people who had experience of West Coast mental health or addiction services: “It is also the right time to focus on how the needs of people with mental health and addiction challenges can best be responded to in the future. We have worked on what we want in terms of future direction and we now need to develop the detail of what this looks like in reality,” he said at the time.

The project team looking at future services said recent feedback from consumers had crystallised information received last year from consumer forums, other mental health providers and staff of the DHB services.

“We're hearing that we need more clarity about how people get access to mental health support or services; and an increasing range of ways of supporting people in the community while they are recovering. We have already been looking at how we might incorporate this feedback into our service design,” Dr Lacey says.

There would be another opportunity for consumer input at future forums, to be held when the project team were ready to present more ideas about improvements to services.

“We want to thank those who took the time to let us know their ideas. It is vitally important to hear from those who receive care – they can tell us what their experiences were like and what we might want to improve. It's been very helpful,” Dr Lacey says.

ends

Greymouth-based Community and Public Health Nutrition Health Promoter Jade Winter has just been selected to attend a prestigious Oceanic leadership development course in Queensland in July.

Ms Winter is one of only 30 selected to attend the seven day Oceanic Nutrition Leadership Platform.

The aim of the course is to develop, inspire and connect a new generation of innovative leaders with foresight and broad vision of the integrative role of nutrition. 

Among her recent accomplishments, Ms Winter wrote the sought after ‘Nourishing Futures for Better Kai' resource; presented at the Public Health Association Conference on the resource as well as doing radio interviews at the time; and was a guest speaker at the ‘She Moves, She Leads, We Win' national symposium in Wellington.

In her personal life, she recently completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Human Nutrition) with distinction; is working towards her masters' degree; and has been training for the Buller Half Marathon in preparation for the Breca Wanaka endurance swimming and running event.

Community and Public Health West Coast Team Leader Freedom Preston says Jade is “a real gem”. 

“She is clearly achieving positive change in community settings, and with her strong attributes of leadership, Jade will achieve a great deal more.   It's good to know we can attract and retain such talented young people on the Coast.”

Ms Winter is “stoked” to be selected for the Oceanic course.

“It will be great to be among future thinkers from all sorts of backgrounds – academia, research, government and industry.  I'm sure I'll pick up some ideas that I will be able to introduce on the West Coast, and there might be things happening here that are of great interest to other people operating in rural areas.”

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The West Coast District Health Board has today announced to staff that it intends to proceed with the closure of the Westport-based Dunsford Ward rest home and hospital level aged residential care facility by 1 March 2018. 

Since releasing a proposal to close the facility in December, the DHB has been talking to residents, their next of kin, staff, contractors and unions.   The closure was signalled two years ago following months of conversations and engagement with the Buller community on the direction of travel for older persons' health services for the region.

Many of the residents have already moved to O'Conor Home in Westport, or other facilities. There are plans in place for those who are still in Dunsford Ward to transition to their chosen new homes by the end of February.

A staff consultation period has finished and the DHB is now discussing possible redeployment or redundancy options with around 20 permanent staff.  These staff will continue to be employed through to Friday 9 March.

The DHB has increased resourcing of community-based services, including home-based support services, more options for respite care and expanding diversional therapy into the community. 

“Also, as an outcome of this proposal, we are now setting up a system where we will organise a caregiver to ‘sleepover' at someone's home where there is a short-term need for support.  And we are setting up Community Rehab and Flexible Integrated Rehabilitation Support Team (FIRST) initiatives to support people at home,” West Coast DHB General Manager Philip Wheble says.

About 30 vacant or new positions including roles for registered and enrolled nurses and support workers have been identified across the West Coast, with five roles vacant in Buller.  Dunsford Ward staff with the skills and experience required including any relevant qualifications will be automatically shortlisted for roles they express an interest in, and be considered along with any other candidates.

“We appreciate how professional the staff have been in continuing to make our Dunsford residents the focus of their time and care, while staff have been going through this consultation process,” Mr Wheble says. “We will be working with staff to assist them in efforts to find future employment – this includes CV and interview technique training and assistance, and we have alerted other Buller health providers about the availability of staff.

“We realise this will be a difficult time for some staff, and have organised counselling services to be on hand.”

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The following advice is issued by Canterbury and West Coast Community and Public Health and applies to areas of the West Coast and Canterbury that have been affected by Cyclone Fehi.

Contaminated flood waters 

• Three Waters (Buller District Council) advises that they have disinfected any areas where there have been known sewage overflows.
• Nevertheless, avoid contact with flood waters if you can and assume they will be contaminated by sewage.
  There is also is the danger of trauma from floating objects and hazards hidden below the surface. Until power lines have been fully restored there may be a heightened danger of electrocution.
• If you do come into contact with flood waters, change out of any wet clothes and shoes and put them aside to be washed later. Wash skin that has come into contact with flood waters, and your hands as soon as you reasonably can – or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

Further advice on managing safely post-flooding can be found here.

Drinking water

• Three Waters also advise that they are confident that mains water supplies are safe, with Punakaiki the only exception currently.
  They will advise if that situation changes.
• A boil water notice remains in place for Punakaiki and there is still the potential for new ones to be put in place. A boil water notice means you need to boil or treat all water from taps / tankers before drinking, brushing teeth or using in food preparation. 
• Bringing water to a rolling boil is sufficient to kill bugs.
• Water that is visibly clear can be made safe to drink by adding half a teaspoon of a standard (unscented) bleach such as Clorox or Janola to 2 litres of water.
• If you don't have mains water and you think it has been affected by surface run-off, don't use it for drinking purposes. If it appears clear but you are still unsure, it can be made safe by boiling or adding bleach as above.

Other relevant health advice follows.

Food

• If you have lost power at some stage, avoid opening your fridge and freezers unnecessarily. If frozen food has been defrosted but has been kept chilled, it should be used soon – as if it had been bought fresh.
• Do not refreeze high risk items such as meat, fish and poultry. If you think these high risk items may have been at room temperature for two or more hours, do not eat them – if it doubt, throw it out.
• Any food stuffs which were not stored in a waterproof container and anything in bottles and jars with crown caps that has been under flood water should be discarded.

More general health and wellbeing

• Continue to check on neighbours and vulnerable people near where you live as long as the disruption caused by the weather lasts. Check they have supplies including their medications and share with them the advice on food storage and use above.
• If you need to see a GP and have trouble getting there, phone them for advice. Even if they are closed your call will be answered by a trained registered nurse who can advise you on what to do. 
  In an emergency, always ring 111.
• If you require essential prescription medications and your supply is running low, call your normal GP number for advice.

Stay ready and informed

• Check and restock your emergency kit, ready for future events.
  To check what you may need, visit How To Get Ready > Emergency Items

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West Coast District Health Board is evacuating nine patients from its Buller Health Facility due to concerns with flooding following heavy rain and the impact of the king tide due at 12:45am tomorrow morning.

Buller District Council have declared a State of Emergency due to flooding.

General Manager, West Coast DHB, Phil Wheble, said the decision wasn't taken lightly, but on the advice of Civil Defence, the DHB decided it was prudent to transfer the most vulnerable patients during daylight hours.

“We are fortunate that the local rest home, O'Conor Home has capacity to take nine residents from Dunsford, our Aged Residential Care ward. We are in the process of contacting families and next of kin to let them know what's happening.

“The remaining three inpatients will continue to be cared for at Buller Health, and we are contacting their families to keep them updated.

We advise the public to continue to phone their GP for health advice, or Healthline, which operates 24/7 0800 611 116.  

Buller Medical, the GP practice in Westport has closed early today.

For all medical emergencies you should still call 111.

Please check in with vulnerable people in our community – friends, family, neighbours who may be alone

All West Coast DHB staff who can safely get to work should continue to turn up for their usual shifts.  Anyone who can't make it should let their manager know as soon as possible.

ends

Over the past week a number of Reefton people have experienced diarrhoea and vomiting.  Tests have confirmed viral gastroenteritis and health officials are now cautioning locals about the outbreak.

Please telephone Reefton Health (03) 769 7440 first if you require medical assistance.  People are asked to stay away from Reefton Health facilities, the GP, hospital and Ziman House aged residential care facility, if they are feeling unwell or are experiencing diarrhoea and vomiting.  Under no circumstance should anyone who has experienced diarrhoea or vomiting in the last 48 hours attend any public meetings.

Stay home, keep hydrated, and wash your hands frequently.

If you experience severe symptoms, please ring Reefton Health on (03) 769 7440 to discuss.  If it's an emergency, ring 111.  For general medical advice, you can contact Healthline on 0800 611 116.

Medical advice is that you should remain symptom-free for 48 hours before returning to work – this is to prevent cross infection between yourself and colleagues.

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An independent audit has not identified any significant issues at Westport's aged residential care facility O'Conor Home and in some categories the assessors felt the standard of care was ‘exemplary'.

In response to a range of concerns raised by members of the community about care provided at the O'Conor Home a special assessment was commissioned by the DHB to provide an independent audit of the management and quality of care provided at the facility, West Coast DHB Chief Executive David Meates says.

While regular auditing is undertaken of all rest home providers throughout the country, a special audit is requested when concerns have been raised that need to be looked into urgently and outside the routine audit process. 

The review of O'Conor Home was undertaken in December by a team of specialists from TAS [Technical Advisory Service], an independent audit provider based in the North Island. TAS staff are involved in the review of a large number of aged care facilities throughout the country. The final audit report was received today and the West Coast DHB is making this report publicly available.

West Coast and Canterbury DHB geriatrician Dr Jackie Broadbent and Nursing Director Older People Kate Lopez say they are comfortable with the outcome of the report. 

“The special and independent audit took a comprehensive approach, reviewing whether the care at O'Conor Home meets New Zealand requirements, as articulated in the ARRC contract and the HDSS standards. In general, O'Conor performed at or exceeded the stated requirements. A few areas of improvement, deemed low risk, were identified. This is usual for this type of audit, and will enable O'Conor to further refine the service they offer to the community. The report clearly demonstrates that the care of residents at O'Conor Home is in line with and at times exceeds expected standards, and reflects positively on both clinical care and organisational management.  It's a good report,” they said.

Mr Meates said this report means residents and families can continue to have confidence in the standard of care offered by O'Conor Home. 

“The minor matters which were raised are fairly standard for any spot audit.  O'Conor Home will be working through those now. 

“Anyone can bring any issues with aged residential care directly to the DHB so we can make sure our older Coasters are being cared for appropriately.  With regard to these particular concerns, this is the end of the matter now,” he says.

The report is available to view here.

Redevelopment Update Newsletter

This latest issue covers the topics of ‘Where we're at with our Grey facilities development', Parking, What benefits to expect, and how to keep in touch.

Redevelopment Update Newsletter

 

The overbridge connecting the main street of Greymouth with the Grey Base Hospital will be closed for 10 days from Monday 8 to Thursday 18 January so pipework can be laid.

The closure is necessary to connect pipes between the new Grey health facilities site and the new boilerhouse site.

The project team is keen that the work be undertaken during this quiet period when many people are away.  While the work is weather-dependent, contractors are confident it will be completed in 10 days.

“The closure of the road and pedestrian access will be an inconvenience for people, and we apologise for that,” Director Facilities Development Mark Newsome says. 

To access the hospital campus, people will need to use one of two Waterwalk Rd entrances.  There is a new entrance between the building site and Mitre 10.  That 10km/hour road will take patients and visitors to car parking outside the North-Eastern side of the current facility.

Access to the emergency department, main entrance and stores/supplies, plus further general car parking around the remainder of the site will be from the Waterwalk Rd entrance across the road from the helicopter, search and rescue and St John bases.  The speed restriction for this side of the hospital campus is 20km/hour.

“We appreciate people's patience with these changes.  The entrances will be well sign-posted with detour signage all along the road between the New World and the railway line.”

Mr Newsome has asked DHB staff not to park in the north-eastern side of the hospital campus, or outside the corporate offices, during this time.

ends

The West Coast District Health Board has published its annual “Quality Accounts” newspaper, “Focus on People”, to demonstrate the huge number of quality initiatives going on through the health system.

Quality and Patient Safety Manager Paul Norton says the annual publication draws together stories about quality initiatives focused on improving outcomes for West Coasters, planned and implemented by staff across the West Coast health system.

“We encourage staff to think about innovative and creative ways to improve health services. The Focus on People publication highlights wonderful stories from the perspective of our West Coast health system staff, departments or consumers – how we're working hard toward our goal of excellence in rural health,” Paul says.

West Coast DHB Chair Jenny Black has congratulated the staff for the publication.

“What a great read – it tells some really lovely stories – inspiring, reassuring that the DHB is innovative, listening to their community and working with other groups to bring about change,” Jenny says.

Focus on People also documents the DHB's performance against government health targets and fulfils the organisation's requirements to report from the Health Quality and Safety Commission. 

Focus on People is available for people to take home from their general practice, pharmacy, DHB clinics and hospital, and other health system offices.  People who want their own copy can contact the DHB on 03 769 7400 to request a copy.

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While tests showed two suspected cases of mumps reported in the past few weeks on the West Coast were not actually mumps, Medical Officer of Health Dr Cheryl Brunton advises caution.

The Ministry of Health has reported an increasing number of cases of mumps in Auckland and other parts of the country this year.

“These outbreaks occur particularly in young adults and teenagers and they seem to be happening because people are either unimmunised or have waning immunity, and in places like schools and universities where the disease can spread readily,” Dr Brunton says.

“The best protection available against mumps is vaccination. Anyone born after 1981 is entitled to two free doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine. The first dose of MMR vaccine is usually given at 15 months of age and the second at four years-old.

“If anyone has missed out, they should contact their general practice to arrange for a vaccination, to protect themselves and reduce the likelihood of an outbreak on the Coast,” Dr Brunton says.

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DHB staff tour new Grey health facilities

Youtube video

A bunch of staff who have been involved with designing the new facilities were taken around the building site recently…

 

A national shortage of DHB-based physiotherapists means the West Coast DHB has had to implement temporary changes to services for patients. 

Allied Health Associate Director Jane George says ongoing challenges with recruiting, combined with staff leaving or retiring has meant the West Coast DHB is very short-staffed.

“A decision has been made to discontinue Hokitika-based DHB physiotherapy services in the short term, until we are able to recruit to that position.  We realise this could provide difficulties for some patients, and we have sent letters to all current Hokitika patients with options for them.

“Referrals, if accepted under our usual triage processes, can be placed on the Greymouth outpatient waiting list.  Or patients can contact one of the two private physiotherapy services in Hokitika,” she says.

Work is underway to encourage more new graduates to consider working in DHB settings, but many DHBs, like ours, are struggling to recruit. 

“The West Coast DHB and our transalpine neighbours at the Canterbury DHB have been looking offshore for potential physiotherapy staff, with some success.  That work continues but we expect it may still take some months before we have new staff on board,” Ms George says.

It is likely that many patients referred for outpatient physiotherapy across the district will experience longer than usual wait times.

“We are mindful that delays can be extremely uncomfortable for our patients and we apologise that we cannot accommodate everyone's needs immediately.  We are re-doubling our efforts to recruit.  Where someone feels their health is being compromised by the delays, they should get back in touch with their general practice to discuss options.”

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A calendar of mental health and suicide prevention trainings, workshops and programmes is being published to mark this weekend's World Suicide Prevention Day (Sunday 10 September).

Suicide Prevention Action Group Chair Paula Mason says there are several upcoming opportunities for people to learn more about looking after themselves and their friends/whanau.

“We all need to do something about our mental health issues, and there are many ways people can get involved, including signing up for online free webinars,” she says.

The calendar will include this Sunday's Lost Souls event remembering people who have died by suicide, at the Greymouth council fountain at 5.30pm; understanding youth mental health workshops in Greymouth and Westport; local support group meetings; workshops for men; and Mental Health Education and Resource Centre webinars on suicide prevention.

“These calendars are available for download (Note: No longer available on this site), on the Community and Public Health website www.cph.co.nz, West Coast health social media sites, and printed copies will be available from health facilities and pharmacies on the West Coast.

“Together we can make a difference in looking out for our whanau, knowing what to look for and being able to make sure those who need it get professional help,” Ms Mason says.

To help those you love stay connected, here's a few tips:

• Make sure your mate turns up for footy, netball or band practice
• Invite them for tea, or a movie, or just for a cuppa, on a regular basis.
• Make sure they're not hitting the drink too hard, or taking drugs.

“When things go wrong, mental illness and its consequences can have a huge toll on individuals, family, friends, mates, colleagues, and those who have tried to help along the way whether in a personal or professional capacity.  If you can see a chance to provide some support, step up and do it.  And make sure they are connecting with health services.” 

If you or someone you know needs more help, here are some avenues:

In an emergency:  Call 111 if there is an immediate danger to life.

General practices (GPs) are a good first step for people needing help.  You can also contact the West Coast Primary Health Organisation (03) 768 6182 who offer counselling services.

Triage Assessment and Crisis Team (TACT):  Phone 0800 757 678.  The TACT team provides psychiatric assessment and treatment for people experiencing an acute episode of mental illness especially when their own or someone else's safety is at risk. The TACT team can advise in situations where there are concerns about intentional self-harm behaviours.

Community mental health: Phone (03) 768 0499:  Community mental health services are provided across the West Coast. They provide psychiatric assessment and treatment for people with serious mental illness.

iCAMHS (Child, Adolescent Mental Health Service):  Phone: (03) 769-7670. Community-based services for children (and their families/whanau) from birth to 18 years with serious mental illness, suspected psychiatric or psychological problems, including severe emotional or behavioural problems.

Lifeline – 0800 543 354
Depression Helpline (8am – 12midnight) – 0800 111 757
Healthline – 0800 611 116
Samaritans – 0800 211 211
Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865
Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234,
or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up (5 – 18 year olds, 1pm – 11pm) – 0800 942 8787
Kidsline (up to 14 years old, 4pm – 6pm weekdays) – 0800 54 37 54
Mental Health Foundation Link to web page

ends

Redevelopment Update Newsletter

This latest issue covers the topics of ‘Where we're at with our Grey facilities development', Parking, Noise, steel, Milestones and more.

Redevelopment Update Newsletter

 

Community Dementia Services will soon be managed through the Complex Clinical Care Network (CCCN), to better meet the needs of the West Coast community.

West Coast DHB Director Mental Health and Addiction Services Dr Cameron Lacey says the move from being run by Mental Health Services to CCCN will improve accessibility to a broader range of services, ensure people are supported and reduce duplication. 

“It's a waste of patients' time when they have to be assessed more than once for different services.  This is particularly difficult for people living with dementia in our community. Many of our people living with dementia are already being supported by CCCN, so this change means care will be coordinated through a single team,” Dr Lacey says.

The change will take place from 4 September.  The CCCN is based at 100 Tainui St, Greymouth, and Buller Health, Westport, phone 03 768 0481.  All patients currently registered with the Community Dementia Service have been notified.

Dr Lacey will work with the CCCN to provide specialist psychiatry services for older people, as and when required.  The CCCN also has input from an Older Persons' Health Specialist Geriatrician.  The CCCN can facilitate access to the likes of day programmes, home support, respite care, as well as provide specialist advice and support.

If anyone would like more information, they can talk to their general practice team who provide advice and referrals to the Complex Clinical Care Network as appropriate.

ends

Facilities update – video

Update: This video (Still available on request) was removed from this website: 7 April 2025.)

A walk around the hospital site.