The NUHS Annual General

Meeting (AGM) was held on

Thursday, 1 November. It was

well attended and the new

NUHS Policy Board was elected.

The chairperson Glen Baron

acknowledged the contribution

of those members who had re-

signed or who were no longer

continuing with the board.

These members were Glen Baron,

Stephanie Thomas, Linda Hobman,

Mark Derby and Vivienne Coppell.

Glen also welcomed the new members

Daele O’Connor from the Services and

Food Workers Union, Jeremy Rose, Com-

munity member and Pauline Horrill,

NUHS clinical representative. Remaining

members from the previous board are Wil-

son Toma, Gamini Settinayake, James

Sleep, Kieran Monaghan, Tina Ben-

nett and Julie Lamb. James Sleep was

elected Chairperson at the first board meet-

ing held on Thursday 29 November. A sum-

mary of the NUHS Annual Report is avail-

able at reception.

On Tuesday 20 November the CCDHB held

their Quality Improvement and Inno-

vation Awards. There were 61 nomina-

tions for 7 awards and I am delighted to tell

you that Stefanie Döbl, NUHS Social

Worker and Amy Ross, Saint Vincent de

Paul Social Worker, won the award for

Commitment to Quality Improvement.

The award recognises their development of a

“working together” model that improves the

way that health and social service access and

support our communities. The model has

the focus to remove barriers to accessing

services, refining communication between

agencies as well as to improve the

depth and quality of health and

social services available. In addi-

tion Justine Thorpe, CEO of

Well Health Trust, won the

Leadership Achievement

Award so it was an exciting

night for us and the NUHS team

is very proud of the acknowledge-

ment and recognition for both

Stefanie and Amy, and Justine.

Finally I would like to wish you all a safe and

happy holiday season. It is a time for us to

celebrate and enjoy spending time with fam-

ily and friends and I hope you all are able to

have this opportunity.

For the 2 weeks from Monday 24 De-

cember 2012 to Friday 11 January

2013 the NUHS clinic will be open be-

tween 9:00 to 5:00.

Further details are displayed at the clinic

and if you have any questions please contact

reception. The NUHS Pacific Health Clinic

hours remain unchanged.

Every three to five years in New Zealand we

have an outbreak of whooping cough

(pertussis). The last outbreak started in

August 2011 and is continuing. Whooping

cough is a highly infectious disease that is

spread by coughing and sneezing. It starts

with cold-like symptoms: a runny nose,

sneezing, slight fever and a mild cough.

The cough becomes worse and can make

your child vomit. Babies and children of-

ten gasp for air and some make a

„whooping‟ sound during coughing attacks.

It can last up to three months. For babies

less than 12 months of age who get whoop-

ing cough it can be very serious and need

hospitalisation. Some babies can die from

the disease. Many babies catch whooping

cough from their mother, father or older

siblings - often before they‟re old enough to

be vaccinated. Whooping cough is less

serious in teenagers and adults.

How to protect babies from whooping

cough?

The best way to protect your baby from

whooping cough is to bring them in for

their free immunisations when they are six

weeks, three months and five months of

age.

Bring children in to receive a booster dose

of whooping cough at the four year and 11

year immunisations.

Adult immunity to whooping cough de-

creases with time. Being immunized while

pregnant can give added protection for

baby. Pregnant women from 20 weeks ges-

tation and up till four weeks postnatal can

have a free Boostrix vaccine for whooping

cough; this includes Tetanus and Diphthe-

ria vaccine. This will be offered free till

March 2013,

Any household member i.e. Parent, grand-

parents and other household members

where a child under 12 months is living can

receive a free Boostrix vaccine for whoop-

ing cough; this includes Tetanus and Diph-

theria vaccine. This is offered till March

2013.

For those not eligible for the free Boostrix

vaccination who want to be immunized it

will cost $35.Please make an appointment

with a nurse if you want to know more or

have the vaccination.

Please visit for further information:

http://www.whoopingcough.co.nz/

Stefanie Döbl and Amy Ross with their award

Image: Pertussis: Wikipedia—www.cdc.gov

DATE: 01/12/2012

Many aspects of the Pacific Health Clinic at 412 Broadway remain the same since NUHS took on the clinical care in February 2011 for the patients regis-tered there, including the sign, but there have been some changes! We no longer offer acupuncture, and no longer call ourselves a Medical Centre. Pito on reception is the familiar face from the previous service, and is invaluable in her knowledge of the patients. At the moment about approximately 1200 patients registered there. Al-though it still has the title Pacific, there is a wide range of enrolled patients, from from the original group enrolled with the Pacific Health Service, to fami-lies drawn largely from Strathmore housing, and Pacific families drawn from all over! New immigrant families,

including refugees, are now being inte-grated.

We have a roster of nurses, whom work at both sites, on a specific day or days at Pacific (hello, we say, I am the Thursday nurse, or Tuesday nurse). Similarly most of the doctors working at Pacific, also work at NUHS, except the Tuesday doctor, Nikki Turner.

Because the clinic is in a former house, it has an at-home feeling. It is close to both Miramar South and Strathmore primary schools, so is handy for those after-school checks. While the patients registered at Pacific are expected to attend there, they do have access to NUHS‟ weekend clinics, and also reduced charges at AHMC for afterhours care during the week.

INTRODUCING Pacific Health Service

We want to hear your thoughts on young people‟s access to services at NUHS. A medical student is undertak-ing research at NUHS on the barriers to access to service for 6-17 year olds. We are looking for participants to share their ideas on this issue at a ses-sion called a „focus group.‟ Participants must be 16-17 years old and registered

with NUHS, or a guardian of a 6-12 year old child registered with NUHS. The participants will only be required to give an hour of their time. If you are interested please leave your name with reception at NUHS or email: juliet.kane@nuhs.org.nz

ACCESS TO CARE FOR YOUTH STUDY

Receptionist Pito Toeleiu keeping things orderly at Pacific Health Service

In Pictures

UCAN public forums discussing the impacts of cuts to health care. Left: Dr Kathy James, on a brief visit from Australia, with Debbie Leyland: Film producer Bryan Bruce skype’d into the meeting to share his insight to a room full of interested audience.

MP Annette King and councillor Paul Eagle address the 2012 NUHS AGM

Dr Andy O’Grady busy at the recent NUHS spring clean - doesn’t the place look so much better!