Health New Zealand | Te Tai Tokerau Northland

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) union members are planning to strike on Tuesday 3 December. If the strike goes ahead, patient safety will be our priority: • anyone in hospital will receive the care and support they need • our hospitals and emergency departments will remain open • visiting hours will remain the same • to maintain patient safety, some clinics will be closed and some appointments will need to be rescheduled. • if you have an appointment on the day of the strike, come to your appointment unless we have contacted you directly to reschedule. • any appointments that are deferred will be rescheduled for the next available opportunity. • anyone in need of emergency care will receive it. We value the hard work and dedication of our staff. We remain focused on continuing negotiations with the union to avoid this planned strike. To find out more, visit our website http://spr.ly/6040tOViY

We're seeing many more cases of Whooping Cough (pertussis) across the country. Here's Dr Nikki Turner with some quick info and advice on pertussis. Your best protection against pertussis is immunisation. Nikki is a community GP, academic, and Medical Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre NZ More info and how to get immunised 👉🏽 https://lnkd.in/gi-RMEuE

Bacteria called E. coli were detected in the play water at the Town Basin (Pūtahi Park) water play fountains last week, in Whangārei, by Whangārei District Council. When swallowed E. coli can cause stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. This type of illness is commonly referred to as a ‘stomach bug’ or gastroenteritis. Most people with E. coli can self-manage their illness at home, but if you are concerned about your or your child’s health, call your healthcare provider, or contact Healthline for free on 0800 611 116. To reduce the risk of spreading the infection it’s really important to wash those hands! Wash them with soap and running water after going to the toilet and before eating. Make sure any tamariki with symptoms wash their hands properly too. To avoid passing on E. coli to someone else you should stay away from work, community gatherings and school or preschool until you or your tamaiti (child) have been free of symptoms for 24 to 48 hours. This includes the last time you had diarrhoea. You should also wait for at least 2 weeks after the last episode of diarrhoea before you go swimming in a pool. For more health advice on E. coli visit: info.health.nz/e-coli

Building Repair – Habitat for Humanity and Manawa Ora One local whānau had experienced a long history of respiratory-related home issues before Habitat for Humanity’s Critical Repair Programme changed their lives for the healthier. Issues were noted following a comprehensive house assessment, including windows allowing draughts into the home, inadequate downpipes and guttering, dangerous access into the whare, and a home powered by generator only. Mother, Krystal May said that they had been using between $60 - $80 a week on petrol to light up the house at night by spotlight, and everyone had their own torch. “It used to cost us a fortune, this has changed our lives,” she said. Inside the home, there was exposed framing, no ceiling insulation, insufficient lighting and no curtains. Habitat utilised the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora major funding to carry out the repairs required. These repairs addressed historic issues with the home and supported a healthier drier warmer outcome for this whānau. On the exterior, the team installed an off-grid solar solution, repaired two-bedroom windows, and built stairs for access into the home. The family were happy to share their positive experience and say they use solar power during the day and it is still decent at night. “We only ran out a couple of times due to bad weather for three days. The generator is still sitting there as a secondary backup,” said Krystal. “The gas fridge is set to electric mode and plugged into solar to save us money.” The house repairs have also provided positives to the children's learning she adds. “The kids are learning how to use solar and what type of things to plug in what wattage.” “The kids can do homework now when needed, not during a timed period to get their devices on the internet. The kids now get the benefits for their school learning,” Krystal adds. The interior was insulated behind the walls throughout the home, as well as the ceiling cavity and new light fittings. Light switches and power points throughout the home were repaired (completed by a qualified electrician), the walls lined and the ceiling restored. The Whānau are grateful and appreciative of the support provided by Health NZ and Habitat for Humanity, who assisted in getting them to this stage in their home. The Manawa Ora Healthy Homes Initiative supports tamariki and whānau to live in warmer, drier, healthier homes. This government funded initiative aims to increase the number of children and their whānau living in warm, dry, and healthy homes and consequently to enhance their health and wellbeing, reducing the number of housing-related hospitalisations. “We support people living in various housing situations and have a raft of positive stories around services and interventions to make houses warmer and healthier for local families,” says Dean Barber, Co-ordinator for Manawa Ora Te Tai Tokerau | The Healthy Homes Initiative in Te Tai Tokerau.

Whangārei Hospital Children's Ward staff, patients and whānau were delighted to see a group of One New Zealand Warriors stroll in for a meet and greet last week. Head coach Andrew Webster along with players and support staff including Andrew Webster, Dylan Walker, Kayliss Fatialofa, Leka Halasima, Adam Pompey, Taine Tuaupiki, Tohu Harris, Freddy Lussick, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Whangārei's own Kalani Going, visited as part of the Warriors Community Foundation's three-day Road to Regions tour this week. The campaign aims to foster connection and support within communities through rugby league and charitable initiatives. In Whangarei, the programme kicked off on Wednesday with an invitation-only question and answer session, a player signing session and a Have-a-Go Day with local schools to bring the community together in a celebration of the great game of rugby league. The group called into the Children's Ward before heading back down to Auckland. 

Jim Carney Cancer Treatment Centre Celebrates 10 years and over 45,000 treatments Ten years ago, on 7 November 2014, the efforts of an entire Northland community came to fruition when the Jim Carney Cancer Treatment Centre at Whangārei Hospital officially opened. Read more here - https://lnkd.in/gZRgr4PS Collection of photos https://lnkd.in/gWkDXUcS

💙 @Tai Tupou

Te Tai Tokerau Bowel Screening Programme Marks Three Years of Saving Lives Since the Bowel Screening Programme in Te Tai Tokerau launched on 2 November 2021, 35,000 test kits have been returned and 89 bowel cancers detected. Over half of these cancers were found at an early stage when they can often be successfully treated. General Manager Surgical and Perioperative Services Katy Wilkinson says each bowel screening kit returned is an opportunity to save lives. “Free bowel screening is available nationwide to people aged 60 to 74, with kits delivered to your home every two years. Doing the test is quick and easy. When you get your bowel screening kit, just do it, and send it in!” She says that of the over 35,000 kits returned since the start of the programme in Te Tai Tokerau, there have been about 1500 positive results, resulting in over 1150 colonoscopies and the detection of 89 bowel cancers (October 2024). “Over 50 percent of the cancers detected were early stage, meaning lives are being saved and some whānau have been spared the loss of a parent, grandparent or other loved one.” “For those who test positive, follow-up care – including colonoscopies – is offered. As well as finding bowel cancer, colonoscopies can detect and remove bowel polyps, which are not cancers but may develop into a cancer over several years.” Kylah Pere is the health promoter lead for the Te Tai Tokerau Bowel Screening Programme. She works with the community, talking about the importance of early detection and encouraging eligible people to take part in free bowel screening. “When we visit communities, we often meet families who have lost someone to bowel cancer,” she says. “Hearing their stories is heart-wrenching, especially knowing that early detection could have changed everything. “I remind people that this test isn’t just for them – it’s for their whānau, their tamariki, their mokopuna. By completing the bowel screening test, they’re giving their loved ones the best chance of having them around for years to come.” A local patient was diagnosed with bowel cancer through the programme, underwent surgery and is grateful to be alive. “I will be forever grateful to the bowel screening test team for their reminders and encouraging me to do the test. Who knows what my situation would be without their persistence. I now advise everyone not to ignore the kit when it arrives.” Ms Wilkinson says she’s incredibly proud of the progress the bowel screening programme has made over the past three years. “The programme not only aims to save lives, but also to empower individuals to take control of their health, supporting a healthier future for Te Tai Tokerau.” Nationally, over 1.2 million test kits have been returned resulting in more than 36,000 colonoscopies and the detection of more than 2,600 cancers (October 2024).

Last week, the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) New Zealand blessed us with five new sofa beds at our maternity unit, Te Kotuku. Known as a cosy sofa, the Domus® Sofa bed provides the perfect spot for partners to sleep. “Whānau had given us feedback about how good it would be if the partner were able to lie down to sleep instead of resting in a La-Z-Boy chair,” explains Iona Cameron-Smith, midwife manager Te Kotuku. “We encourage whānau to stay together as much as possible, so the new sofa beds are going to be super helpful. Thank you so much, RRT.” RRT said they were thrilled to donate five brand-new sofa beds valued at over $14,000! “We know new parents will appreciate having a cosy spot that doubles as a bed.”