CEO UPDATE 20 January 2020 | 20 Kohi-ta–tea 2020
Welcome to 2020 For those who have been able to take a break I hope you have returned refreshed after spending time with friends and wha–nau. To those who worked through the holiday break, thank you. Health services right across the Canterbury Health System have been extremely busy. The Urgent Care primary care practices were busier than ever, as were our health centres and hospitals and, at times during the Christmas/New Year break, admissions to Christchurch Hospital were at levels normally associated with the middle of winter. Those of you who have been with the Canterbury Health System for the past 12 years will recall our then futuristic Vision 2020 experience that commenced back in 2008 – it doesn’t seem that long ago, but the future is here. Collectively the Canterbury Health System created a shared vision and set about bringing that vision to life. We transformed and created an integrated health system; we valued patient’s time; we continued to work to make it better for patients and people accessing health and wellbeing services. We did this by ensuring the right person receives the right care in the right place, provided by the right person. Our service improvement journey continues, as the future is well and truly here. Over time we built trust through alliancing and valuing the input of
In this issue
› Regulars – Kōrero ai... pg 4-10
› Celebrating the contribution of a colleague and mentor... pg 11 › New risk assessment and guidelines for tackling the threat of ‘superbugs’... pg 12
everyone, from primary, secondary and tertiary care. We continue to develop new ways of working in order to deliver on the priorities outlined by the Minister of Health in his letter of expectations. The success of this approach has enabled the Canterbury Health System to weather a decade of multiple shocks – from pandemics, earthquakes, fires, floods, more earthquakes, terrorist attacks and the unrelenting health pressures across primary/community/ hospital and mental health. The start of a new year is a time of reflection and anticipation. To think about where we’ve been and where we are heading. It was great to see out 2019 – a year again impacted by so many elements, which were beyond our control, that affected our ability to provide timely health services to everyone who would benefit from them. However, I couldn’t have been prouder of the way teams kept stepping up to face each new challenge. I know it wasn’t easy, but you proved time and time again that your professional skills, compassion and determination to do the best for patients and people in our care was always the focus.
2020 will again be a year of change with Christchurch Hospital Hagley coming on stream during the year, there will be moves within the existing Riverside and Parkside facilities to accommodate busy inpatient areas and to allow for repairs and refurbishment, ongoing progress with the new Christchurch Campus energy centre, progress with the new Mothers & Babies/Eating Disorders/ Child & Youth and High and complex needs facilities at Hillmorton along with completion of campus master planning for Hillmorton (adult and forensic services). At the heart of all we do is providing timely, quality and compassionate care. This year will be challenging with increasing demand and constrained physical environments. Now, more than ever, for the whole system to work we need the whole system to work. If the new year heralded the resolution to work on a ‘new you’, check out the special offers available for staff from local health, fitness and wellbeing providers on the Something for You page of PRISM, and read the Looking After Yourself article on page 10 for some tips on setting yourself up for 2020.
› Transgender HealthPathways “huge leap forward”... pg 13
› Community service rewarding in so many ways... pg 16
› Via Innovations: Helping turn health innovation ideas into reality... pg 14
› Laboratory team member retires after 42 years of service... pg 17
› Activity Room passes audit with flying colours... pg 15
› One minute with... pg 18 › Notices – Pānui... pg 19-21
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