This page will be dedicated to providing news items from each of the DHBs, celebrate events that have occurred throughout the region and provide updates on the various regional projects that we are working on. This page is interactive and is updated as events happen. It will replace the Midland Matters Newsletter.
If you have a news item or a celebration that you would like us to highlight, please send your write up to Akatu Marsters on akatu.masters "at" lakesdhb.govt.nz
News and Events Around the Region (May / June / July 2010)
National and Regional News and Events
Midland Disability Support / Mental Health Interface Workshop
A focus group meeting was being held in the Hamilton on the 5th July 2010 for mental health and addictions staff to gather information about current services and pathways, what works well, what are the areas of good practice, what are the barriers, issues and gaps. The Taranaki and Tairawhiti districts joined the discussions via video conferencing links. The focus group meeting for the Disability Support Services sector was held in Hamilton on the 6th July 2010.
A futher combined workshop is to be scheduled for late August where participants will be invited to attend.
Minister of Health Eating Disorders Press Release
Hon Tony Ryall - Minister of Health
Hon Jonathan Coleman - Associate Minister of Health
7July 2010 Media Statement
Northern eating disorders services on track
Health Minister Tony Ryall and Associate Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman today welcomed further progress in providing a new regional eating disorders service for people in the top half of the North Island.
Auckland DHB has contracted Challenge Trust to establish a day clinic and residential treatment facility by the end of the year.
Mr Ryall said "The new services are the result of an extra $26 million funding this government announced last year to improve eating disorders nationwide."
"We inherited a situation where there was next to no inpatient or residential care for people seriously ill with eating disorders in the northern region. As a result, many families were having to go to Australia for treatment" said Dr Coleman.
Mr Ryall said "Starship hospital established five new dedicated beds for children under15 years with eating disorders last year as part of this extra funding.
The new facility will eventually include up to 9 residential beds available for adolescents and adults and will provide a home- like environment for patients, where they can spend time with their families.
Patients from Northern and Midland region DHBs will be eligible to use these services. "This is a good example of DHBs working together regionally for the benefit of their patients" said Mr Ryall.
Media contacts Jackie Maher 021 243 7803 or Martyn Watterson 021 243 9368
Lakes DHB Mid Winter Staff Lunch
On the 06 July Lakes District Health Board held a mid winter barbeque in Rotorua and Taupo Hospitals.
This was a great opportunity for departments within the DHB to highlight and share with fellow colleagues the health services they offer to the Lakes community.
On behalf of the Midland Mental Health & Addictions team, Akatu Marsters attended the staff luncheon showcasing banners which highlighted the Midland Regional Forums and shared with those interested in wanting to know more about Midlands services.
Daniel Ellery - Proud to know the Midland Team Beryl Harris & Phyllis Tangitu Lunching
Cathy Cooney with DHB Staff
Coexisting Problems Workshops in Midland Region
Lakes Region: 23 June - Millennium Hotel, Cnr Eruera & Hinemaru Streets, Rotorua
For more information about the CEP workshop held in Rotorua please click here...
Waikato Region: 29 June - Kingsgate Hotel, 100 Garnett Avenue, Hamilton
Taranaki Region: 30 June - Taranaki DHB, David Street, New Plymouth
Bay of Plenty Region: 05 August - Kiwi 360, Main Tga - Rotorua Highway, Te Puke
Midland Region Duly Authorised Training 29 July 2010
The Midland Regional Network is pleased to support Dr Sue Mackersey, Clinical Director BOP DHB to offer the first regional DAO Training. Places are limited to 50 participants from across the Midland region so please register your interest by 3pm on the 22nd July.
Taranaki
Taranaki hosted a Takarangi Competency Framework training on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 June at the beautiful Aotearoa Marae in Okaiawa (South Taranaki). 26 participants and facilitators Tony Scott, Moe Milne and Terry Hurawai supported by the Midland Regional Director were welcomed onto the marae by the Aotearoa Kainga.
The Taranaki training marks the final DHB in the Midland region to receive the Takarangi Competency Framework training. With the Introductory modules being completed in all five Midland DHBs, planning will be commencing for Phase Two once we appointment the new Midland Workforce Development Coordinator.
The Midland Regional Network would like to acknowledge the enormous support and passion provided by Terry Huiwai, Matua Raki to ensure that the Midland region achieved this strategic objective. We also take this opportunity to thank Tony Scott and our wahine toa from Ngati Hine, Moe Milne for their wonderful facilitation and teaching styles. Malo lava.
Tairawhiti
Media Statement
Friday, 2 July 2010
New era begins in delivery of community mental health support services
Yesterday marked a new era in the delivery of community based mental health support services when new provider Challenge Trust began its three year contract with Tairawhiti District Health.
The occasion was officially marked with the blessing of the trust’s new residential facility and its main office in Bright Street which, while temporary, will be the information hub for its services for the next few months.
Challenge Trust Chief Executive Clive Plucknett said the trust had partnered with the NZ Housing Options Trust to secure a fit for purpose property for its residential clients and it was taking head leases on other property to provide accommodation.
He thanked both TDH and the community for helping the trust quickly reach a point where they were ready to deliver services by the contract start date.
Mr Plucknett said the decision by the DHB to review its mental health services and then go out to tender for non-clinical community support services was a courageous one.
“It was visionary. I do not think many DHBs around the country would do as TDH has done,” he said.
People were at the heart of Challenge Trust and it would be up to the passion, commitment and attitude of everyone to ensure success.
“We are embarking on a journey. It is going to be an adventure and I am sure the outcomes will be magnificent,” said Mr Plucknett.
TDH Chief Executive Jim Green said it was important the new way of delivering community mental health support services was set on the right path from the very start.
He thanked Challenge Trust for the efforts it had put in to be ready by yesterday’s contract start date.
Mr Green said he did not want to take anything away from the providers that had gone before Challenge Trust. Now it was time to move toward the future and facilitate the recovery of those with mental illness.
“The word “challenge” symbolises exactly what you are doing. You are rising to the challenge to create a better life for tangata whaiora and support them to take their rightful place in the community.”
Kaumatua Parekura Kupenga, Clive Plunkett CEO Challenge Trust and Jim Green CE TDH
Lakes
Healthcare NZ Opens New Facility in Taupo
Healthcare NZ officially opened their new core and cluster facility in Taupo on Friday 23rd July 2010. Eru George, Kaumatua for Lakes DHB opened the proceedings followed by speeches from Donna Mitchell, Group General Manager, HCNZ and the new Mental Health & Addictions General Manager, Liz Burgess. Guest speaker was Noeline Kuru who gave a moving talk about the meaning and practice of recovery. Gail Goodfellow who had been Acting in the General Manager role and had progressed the new facility project was also invited to speak. She expressed the value of good front line staff who assist and support tangata whaiora in their journey. HCNZ Kaumatua Arapeta Amai closed the ceremony stating the name of the facility will be unveiled if permission has been gained from local iwi.
The new facility will provide existing respite services along with transitional accommodation and support, in conjunction with current home based support services.
HCNZ Kaumatua - Arapeta Amai Belinda Walker and Noeline Kuru
Te Utuhina Manaakitanga Trust - Te Whare Oranga Ngakau Newsletter June 2010
Te Whare Oranga Ngakau the Midland regional Kaupapa Addictions Residential service released its third "Whare News" newsletter.
Lakes Mental Health and Addictions Needs Assessment Service Coordination Team
On 1 July Lakes DHB launched a new mental health work stream as part of the Lakes Needs Assessment Service Coordination Service (Lakes NASC).
Keely McSweeney officially commenced her new role as Lakes NASC Team Leader, while Pippa Lee and Doug Mack round out the team as Needs Assessors/Service Coordinators. The three supplement the existing NASC service which, until now, has provided needs assessment service coordination for one work stream - the elderly.
NASC is a nationwide scheme funded by district health boards to assess the needs of older people wishing to access publicly funded support services. NASC provides a mechanism through which the needs of clients are identified and the appropriate support services put in place to meet those needs.
With the new mental health stream, Lakes NASC will fill a service coordination gap in mental health.
“Effectively, needs assessment is the gateway to community support services. At the moment there is no gateway, so referral to community services is almost an all and sundry process,” says Marita Ranclaud, Portfolio Manager Mental Health & Addictions at Lakes DHB.
“NASC’s role is to make sure people get linked into both specialist and community services, based on their needs.”
In the early stages, Lakes NASC (mental health stream) will provide two pathways; one via the addiction specialist service and one via the clinical mental health service. However, there are plans to eventually develop a pathway via the primary care sector.
Lakes NASC is based in Pukaki Street, Rotorua
Doug Mack – Lakes NASC Mental Health and Addictions Needs Assessor/Service Coordinator
Originally from Scotland, Doug Mack has worked for about 11 years as an Alcohol and Drug Counsellor in Taranaki, Auckland and Rotorua.
While in those roles he had the opportunity to gain specialist experience in areas including tranquilisers, cannabis, coexisting disorders, and for the last five years has been working with youth.
Doug’s qualifications include a Bachelor Degree, two Post Graduate Diplomas, two Post Graduate Certificates, and a Graduate Certificate. For the past two and a half years he has worked as a clinical supervisor for the youth service at Te Utuhina Manaakitanga Trust. In Doug’s new role with NASC he will continue to work with people with addictions, as well as people with mental health issues.
“The two fields are interrelated with a high percentage of people presenting to Alcohol and Drug services having co existing disorders,” says Doug.
While the framework for NASC and his new role are still being developed, Doug says it is exciting to be part of a brand new service, its direction and developments.
As NASC Mental Health and Addictions Needs Assessor/Service Coordinator, Doug will work with people across all age groups – youth, adults and the elderly – to assess the needs of clients including whether they need residential care or can live in the community with support, and coordinated services that get the best outcomes for the client.
Pippa Lee – Lakes NASC Mental Health and Addictions Needs Assessor/Service Coordinator
Pippa Lee had been working as a NASC Coordinator at Pretoria Lodge, which had the interim contract to provide the service from October 2009 to 30 June 2010. Now she is Needs Assessor/Service Coordinator for the brand new mental health work stream of Lakes NASC.
Prior to that Pippa was a supervisor for almost four years at Pretoria Lodge, a residential and community support facility for people experiencing mental health issues.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Pippa moved to New Zealand and attended Waikato University. After a break and having her two children, she returned to university and completed her Bachelor in Social Sciences (Honours) (Psychology) in 2007. Pippa is now working extramurally toward a Masters in Applied Social Work, and hopes to finish that sometime next year.
Pippa says referrals to NASC (mental health) in the past nine months have generally come from secondary services including Te Ngako Community Mental Health, residential providers, the ADHD foundation, Adolescent Mental Health Services, and Health of Older Persons.
However, she says that with the new service the process may change, and she looks forward to being a part of the new framework.
“I’m looking forward to this new role because it will bring about some real change. It will make the pathways clearer, and put the focus on recovery and engaging services to enable that recovery. The new mental health work stream will allow for a smoother pathway, and helping clients to navigate the changes in their lives.”
“I love working with people. To see someone come through a crisis and then blossom and knowing that you’ve supported them and encouraged them is quite powerful.”
Lakes DHB Planning and Funding Newsletter
The Mental Health Commission completed its three day visit to Lakes in May 2010. Preliminary verbal feedback has suggested we invest in some social marketing to improve knowledge amongst the sector with regard to the services available, changes when they occur and information sharing. A newsletter has been created to assist that .
The second mental health and addiction newsletter profiles a number of innovative service developments and a piece on a recent visit from Dr Chaplow.
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