CEO UPDATE
14 October 2019 | 14 Whiringa-a–-nuku 2019
Our vision takes flight as new helipad put through its paces There was a special informal ceremony this morning for a couple of the key people who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the helipad on top of the new Christchurch Hospital, Hagley Building a reality. This morning was extra special for Clinical Leader of the Canterbury Air Retrieval Service David Bowie, and Clinical Nurse Coordinator Air Retrieval Shane McKerrow. Both David and Shane have been involved behind the scenes and talking about a rooftop helipad for Canterbury for more than 20 years. Thankfully that dream has been landed.
Shane McKerrow (left) and David
Bowie (right)
It was a moment to behold seeing their faces as the chopper gently touched down. This week will see the air retrieval teams doing stretcher transfers as part of the training regime. Over the past week it’s been all about landing, taking off and parking with two choppers on the rooftop pad at times. Testing will continue over the coming weeks to ensure all the new technology and systems around it, such as the advanced lighting system, perform as they should. There are around 800 landings each year on the Hagley Park helipad, and with a 40 percent increase in emergency care landings and transfers over the past three years we knew our community needed and deserved better – a facility that would support teams to provide world class, life-saving treatment as quickly and as smoothly as possible.
In this issue
Trials involving using stretchers start
this week
›› Regulars – Kōrero ai... pg 4-10
›› Tribute to Antony Todd Young... pg 13
›› One minute with... pg 16
›› Major patient care capacity management programme ready to launch... pg 11
›› Making a difference “the best thing”... pg 14
›› Notices – Pānui... pg 17-21
›› ‘Drop, Cover and Hold’ this Thursday for the New Zealand ShakeOut... pg 12
›› Vagahau Niue – it’s Niue Language Week! pg 15
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