Winter has arrived and if you haven’t had your influenza immunisation yet, it’s not too late. Influenza is a potentially serious viral infection that’s much worse than a cold and for those most at risk it can be deadly. The influenza vaccination is available free for at-risk groups, including those taking regular preventive medication for asthma.

Seventeen year old Arana Rangihaeata-Watson has had asthma since he was a baby. Arana’s mum, Michaela Kamo first took Arana to get the flu jab four years ago when she became more aware of the dangers for him.

“It was quick and easy (to have the flu jab),” says Arana. “It can be hard to breathe when my asthma plays up and if I got the flu as well I’d be really sick.”

Arana thinks more people

should get the flu jab so it doesn’t spread throughout the community.

“I think it’s important because the more people who get it (the flu jab), the less people will get sick. I also do it to protect my whanau, from my youngest cousin who is one years old to my Papa who is 81.”

Medical Officer of Health Dr Neil de Wet says even someone who is fit and healthy can become ill with influenza, and risks passing it to family/whanau and friends who may have serious complications.

“Influenza spreads easily,” says Dr de Wet. “By getting immunised you can help protect yourself and your family/whanau from influenza. Washing your hands regularly is also one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread, as well as covering your coughs and

sneezes and staying away from work or school if you’re unwell.”

Influenza immunisation is free until July 31 for those aged 65 years and older, pregnant women, and those with long-term health conditions.

Influenza will affect up to one in five New Zealanders every year so don’t delay, contact your GP or local medical centre to get the influenza vaccination. For further information go to www.fightflu.co.nz or www.health.govt.nz or call 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863).

Sally Webb

Chair, Bay of Plenty District Health Board

May is a month I really enjoy as DHB Chair – this is the time of the year we hold the District Health Board staff service recognition awards. The award presentations are a great opportunity to thank staff who have worked at the DHB for more than 10 years.

It’s a privilege to individually thank well over a hundred staff that been providing services to the public of the Bay for 10, 20, 30 and some for 40 and even 50 years or more.

Health is a 24-hour a day, seven days a week service which means many of our staff work shift work and various different hours, so it’s great to also get the chance to acknowledge the support that families give our staff.

There has been plenty to celebrate across

our organisation lately. The new Whakatane Hospital is now up and running and the public response to this amazing new facility can be judged by the Open Day crowds of over 2000 people. I want to give an extra thank you to all the Whakatane Hospital staff who worked so hard to ensure the move into the new hospital went smoothly and successfully.

Whist the opening of the new Whakatane Hospital building has been a major milestone, the rebuild at Tauranga continues with some ambitious plans in place to bring more services to the Bay of Plenty, including radiotherapy.

The Kathleen Kilgour Centre, which is being built on the Tauranga Hospital campus, will mean patients will no longer need to travel

to the Waikato for their cancer treatment, thereby cutting down their travel and separation from families.

Sadly Jacaranda House will disappear from the campus skyline. The building a former Nurse’s Home, has been a landmark for many years, and there are many memories associated with it. We have to demolish Jacaranda House as a structural analysis done in 2013 identified it as being an earthquake risk and it’s been vacant since then.

Health services have to continually evolve as the health needs of our population do. As we learned during our recent centennial celebrations at Tauranga Hospital, what we are doing now, we will be doing differently in another 100 years.

Innovation and change

Don’t take the risk

Influenza immunisation is free from a GP or nurse for New Zealanders at high risk of complications – pregnant women, people aged 65 and over, and children and adults under 65 years of age with long-term health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease (including asthma requiring regular preventive

medication), kidney disease and most cancers. Free vaccination is available until 31 July 2014. Immunisation is available, for a small charge, for healthy adults and children six months and over at surgeries and some pharmacies. Many employers provide free vaccination for their employees.

17 year old Arana (left) gets his annual influenza vaccination with his siblings Elan (10) and Finlay (13). Arana has asthma and doesn’t want to get sick this winter. Immunisation is free for those with asthma who are at risk of serious complications from influenza.

Flu can make asthma worse -Get immunised now

Eastern Bay EditionMay 2014

Bay of Plenty parents are being encouraged to take their child to a doctor as soon as their child complains of a sore throat.

“A sore throat can lead to Rheumatic Fever if left untreated,” says Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service Medical Officer of Health Dr Jim Miller. “If your child complains of a sore throat, take them to the local health centre to be checked. If it could be ‘strep throat’ they will be given 10 days of antibiotics - make sure they take these until they are all finished.”

Rheumatic Fever starts with a sore throat that is known as a ‘strep throat’ – a throat infection caused by a type of bacteria known as Group

A Streptococcus. If the ‘strep throat’ is not treated with antibiotics it can lead to Rheumatic Fever.

Rheumatic Fever is a serious illness in our communities. It mainly affects Maori and Pacific children aged 4 to 19 years especially if someone in the family has had it before.

If a child gets Rheumatic Fever they can become very sick with sore swollen joints (elbows, ankles, wrists and knees), tiredness and heart

problems and may go on to have long term damage to the heart valves that requires surgery. They will not be as healthy as before and will spend a lot of time in hospitals and at the doctors.

Let’s stop sore throats hurting hearts – get sore throats checked to keep hearts strong.

For more information visit: www.ttophs.govt.nz/rheumaticfever

Every child in the Kawerau area has received a ‘Healthy Skin’ pack to help them manage and treat skin sores.

Many of our Eastern Bay of Plenty tamariki/children are living with hakihaki or skin sores and Rheumatic Fever Clinical Lead Coordinator Sandra Ball says skin sores, cuts and scrapes are often uncovered or untreated.

“This can lead to weeping open sores and high rates of infection,” she says.

The Healthy Skin packs contain soaps, plasters, chlorhexidine wipes, toothbrushes, nail clippers, nit combs and health information.

According to schools and teacher feedback, many school-aged children are coming to school with open wounds and sores.

“They were hiding sores, not managing them with plasters,” said a teacher. “This project is helping awareness as prior to receiving the packs, children weren’t aware of the dangers of having open sores.”

If visits to the General Practice (GP) for treatment are delayed, this can lead to the need for more aggressive treatment by GPs or even hospital admission. Whakatane Hospital is seeing higher rates of admissions for skin infections than normal.

“Many of these types of wounds and sores can readily be managed and treated at home to reduce the risk of more serious infection

occurring,” says Sandra.

The ‘Kiri Ora’ (Healthy Skin) Project is delivered through Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance’s (EBPHA) Kawerau Rheumatic Fever Prevention Team in schools such as South School, Te Kura O Te Teko and Te Mahoe. The project also includes classroom and whanau education about skin and wound care, hand hygiene and when to seek medical help. The service provides registered nurse assessment, care and referral to general practice.

Healthy skin packs help Eastern Bay kids

Close to 6000 Kiri Ora (Healthy Skin) packs have been

given to school children in the Eastern Bay to help them treat

skin sores which can lead to more serious infections.

Stop sore throats hurting hearts

A sore throat can lead to Rheumatic Fever. Listen out for a hard hitting message from New Zealand kids to their parents and caregivers: Stop sore throats hurting hearts – get sore throats checked.

Date: Wednesday 25 June 2014

Time: 1pm to 3pm

Location: Clinical School Whakatane Hospital

Join us for a Health Careers Expo

Health: a career that moves with you

Do you want to touch lives and make a difference?

Do you want to work in a sector where there are jobs available for all education and experience levels?

Do you want to work where every day is different and enjoy a competitive earning potential?

Talk to our health professionals about their roles and the career opportunities available.

In BriefDon’t let the flu get youWinter is almost here but it’s not too late to get your flu jab. It’s free for those most at risk until 31 July 2014. Even those that are fit and healthy are at risk of getting the disease. People can carry the disease and pass it to others without showing signs themselves. Influenza immunisation offers the best protection against catching the disease. As well as getting a flu vaccination, remember to follow these simple hygiene measures to avoid getting sick: wash and dry your hands often; cover your coughs and sneezes; stay away from work or school if you’re unwell; and stay away from people who are sick. For more information: Call 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863), text FLU to 515 or visit www.fightflu.co.nz

Help stop the spread of infections Hand hygiene is seen as key to fighting hospital-acquired infections. In a recent audit Bay of Plenty District Health Board was placed 6th of the 20 DHBs, and exceeded the national average compliance to the ‘5 Moments of Hand Hygiene’. These moments ensure staff clean their hands at five key moments: before touching a patient, before a procedure, after a procedure or bodily fluid risk, after touching a patient and after touching a patient’s surroundings. Patients and visitors to hospital are reminded to use the hand sanitizer when they arrive and leave hospital to help stop the spread of infections. Pump bottles of hand sanitizer can be found at the main entrance as well as in each ward.

Kai @ the Right Price comes to WhakatanePeople can now access affordable, quality fruit and vegetable packs from two stores in Whakatane – The Fresh Market and Top of the Crop. The stores will take Kai @ the Right Price orders from customers throughout the week for pick up on Wednesdays. There are two different sized packs at either $15 or $20. Each pack has a variety of seasonal fruit and vegetables and comes in a sturdy, reusable eco-bag. Kai @ the Right Price is a community-based project supported by Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service. The benefits of eating fruit and vegetables are many. They contain a large number of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients required to enable optimum growth and development and maintain health. For more information visit www.ttophs.govt.nz/kai

Local treatment benefits patientsSince 2012 the Cardiology Department at Tauranga Hospital has performed 350 Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) procedures. Previously patients would have to travel to Waikato for this treatment. PCI involves opening up narrowings or blockages of arteries supplying the heart, and is used predominantly to treat angina and forms of heart attack. These procedures are often referred to as stenting, ballooning or angioplasty of the heart arteries. In a recent survey 99% of PCI patients agreed that the PCI service benefits the Bay of Plenty population and 100% said they had confidence and trust in the team treating them. Visit youtube and search ‘Tauranga PCI’ to see a video of what to expect from the procedure.

• Diseasesdon’t discriminate –immunisationisyour bestprotectionagainst someseriousbut preventablediseases.• Immunisation helpsprotectyour child,yourfamilyandour community.• Whileitisbestto immuniseontime,every time–it’snevertoolate tostart.

Immunisation- Are you up to date?Bay of Plenty parents are being encouraged to protect their children by ensuring they get immunised ‘on time, every time’.

New mum Summer Bennett has done her research and believes vaccinating her eight week old baby, Naia, is the best way to protect her from diseases.

“She had her six week immunisation on time,” says Summer. “The stats show that the vaccines are very safe and work.”

Childhood diseases, such as measles, mumps and whooping cough, can all have serious complications and cause long-term health problems. But they are preventable and immunisation is the best way to protect your children, according to Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation Health Promotion Coordinator Tiana Bennett.

“Immunisations begin when your child is six weeks old and they are

free,” she says. “Getting your child vaccinated at the recommended times will give them the best protection against disease. However if you have missed a vaccination, it’s not too late to catch up so contact your GP or medical centre and book an appointment.”

Since the start of the year there have been about 130 cases of measles in New Zealand. It’s a serious disease, which remains one of the leading causes of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine.

Approximately 122,000 people around the world died from measles in 2012 – mostly children under the age of five.

“Measles is only a plane flight away from New Zealand,” says Tiana. “It’s highly contagious, and unvaccinated older children, teenagers and young

adults are the most affected in the current outbreak. The good news is that parents can help protect their children by getting them vaccinated free as part of the schedule at age 15 months, with a booster at four years. If they missed out then, it’s also free to catch up.”

The whole Bay of Plenty community will be better protected if we can increase the percentage of children immunised against this and other serious diseases. Immunisation is one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions and prevents between two and three million deaths globally every year.

For more information on immunisation go to: www.immune.org.nz, www.health.govt.nz or phone 0800 IMMUNE.

Summer Bennett believes immunisation is the best way to protect her eight week old daughter Naia from

childhood diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella.

Immunisation key messages

Protect your family from measlesThe local Medical Officer of Health is urging parents to ensure their children are up to date with their Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) immunisations. Since the start of the year there have been about 130 cases of measles in New Zealand with the majority of these being in Auckland.

“For the best protection from measles, check that you and your children are up to date with immunisations,” says Medical Officer of Health Dr Neil de Wet.

The MMR immunisation provides effective protection against measles. It is usually given at 15 months and again at four years of age as part of the routine childhood immunisations but it’s never too late to catch up if any of these immunisations have been missed.

Because measles used to be very common before measles immunisations were available, people born before 1969 are likely to be immune from having had measles before and so they do not need the MMR. Those born from 1969 onwards (that is, under 45 years old) who are unsure if they have had all their immunisations should check with their doctor to see if they need to catch up.

“Contact your family doctor or practice nurse if you or your child needs to be immunised,” says Dr de Wet.

Measles usually begins with a runny nose, fever and sore eyes. This is followed by a red, blotchy rash that usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

“Measles is highly infectious and complications are quite common,” he says. “These include diarrhoea, ear infections and, more rarely and seriously, pneumonia and brain inflammation.”

If you think you or your child may have measles stay at home and phone your doctor or Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice. Measles is easily spread, so it’s very important that if you think you have measles you ring your doctor before visiting their practice. This allows your doctor to make arrangements for you to be seen without the risk of infecting others in the waiting room.

New system helps patients to rememberPatients cared for in their home are benefitting from a new way of recording their notes.

Regional Community Services Nurse Leader Pamela Barke says clients can sometimes struggle to keep up with the stream of healthcare providers going into their homes.

“To overcome this we came up with a ‘Notes in Your Home’ folder for each patient,” she says. “The folder has sections for the patient to write down future appointments, keep doctors letters and discharge notes, plus a list of their medications. A crucial component of the folder is that all those involved in providing health and wellness are able to document

their name, their organisation, contact details and an overview of the care that they are providing.”

The patient can also involve their family if they wish.

“A family member can write a note to the healthcare professional or join appointments and be part of discussions and decisions,” says Pamela. “Patients are also encouraged to take the folder with them to doctor’s visits or if they are admitted to hospital.”

This initiative was a collaboration between Bay of Plenty District Health Board’s Regional Community Services, the Kaitiaki Nursing Service and Waipuna Hospice.

For more information:

Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service website:

www.ttophs.govt.nz/measles

Immunisation Advisory Centre toll-free phone line: 0800 IMMUNE

(0800 466 863)

Immunisation Advisory Centre website:

www.immune.org.nz

Ministry of Health website: www.health.govt.nz/immunisation

District Nurse Colleen Bimler (left) takes patient Yvonne Little through the new Notes in Your Home folder.