CEO UPDATE 3 February 2020 | 3 Hui-tanguru 2020
You need a whole system to work for the whole system to work This past week has seen a large number of people from throughout our health system working together to plan our local processes and protocols for managing cases of novel coronavirus. Primary care, public health, infectious diseases, infection prevention and control, Canterbury Health Labs, emergency response, clinical teams in Christchurch Hospital, communications and others in each of our facilities are all working to ensure the Canterbury Health System is well prepared to care for someone who may be diagnosed with novel coronavirus. Canterbury is no stranger to managing the unexpected, but like all health systems throughout New Zealand and the world, our people are preparing in an evolving environment where guidelines and advice are changing by the day, sometimes by the hour. Thanks to everyone involved in our contingency planning to date, and I’d like to acknowledge the work of our Public Health team who have been managing a number of priorities as well as novel coronavirus, with staff working closely with teams at Christchurch International Airport and Customs and Border Security, meeting passengers off direct flights from mainland China. For the latest information the Ministry of Health website has up-to-date advice. Its information sheet for the general public is being updated daily and there are also a number of downloadable resources for health providers and the public. Government announcements over the weekend mean that New Zealand is placing temporary entry restrictions on any foreign nationals who have come from or transited through mainland China. This measure is in line with Australia’s
In this issue › Regulars – Kōrero ai... pg 4-6
› Canterbury developed oral health toolkit “fantastic”... pg 7 › Celebrating primary care nurses... pg 8
announcement over the weekend and is designed to help protect NZ and the Pacific Islands from novel coronavirus. This means any foreign travellers who leave or transit through mainland China after 2 February 2020 (NZ time) will be refused entry to New Zealand.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze Put your used tissue in the rubbish bin or in a plastic bag Wash and dry your hands often, especially after coughing or sneezing – use soap Stay away from others if you’re sick health.govt.nz/coronavirus
Protect your family/wha-nau from coronavirus January 2020 | HP7328
This poster is available to download from the Canterbury DHB website here.
Canterbury’s Public Health team will keep providing advice and screening to passengers arriving on direct flights from mainland China as well as international flights (apart from flights from Australia, Singapore and USA) as anyone who has transited through China now needs to self-isolate. This border screening will continue for the foreseeable future. Any New Zealander who returns from China from today will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days. Full details are available in the Prime Minister’s 2 February media statement. New Zealand citizens and permanent residents returning to New Zealand will still be able to return home, as will their immediate family members, but they will be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival back in the country. Information on self-isolation is available on the Ministry of Health website.
› Dedicated mental health nurse for homeless community... pg 9
› Holidays Act Compliance Programme underway... pg 11
› Co-design in primary care opportunity... pg 10
› One minute with… Daryn Elley... pg 12 › Notices – Pānui... pg 13-18
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