The GB Weekly - 8 December 2023

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Friday 8 December 2023

Te Whatu Ora visit GBCH

From left: Graham Loveridge GP and clinical director Nelson Bays Public Health; Joe Bourne, Manatū Hauora chief medical officer; Andrew Goodger, Te Whatu Ora; Bryan Betty, General Practice New Zealand chairperson; Talis Liepis, Te Whatu Ora regional manager – rural health (Te Waipounamu); Abbe Anderson, Te Whatu Ora national commissioner; Ruth Robson general manager GB Community Health; Karen Poutasi, Te Whatu Ora chairperson; Sara Shaughnessy CEO NBPH; Matua Harvey Ruru; Jane Kinsey, Te Whatu Ora. Photo: Submitted. RONNIE SHORT

Dignitaries from Te Whatu Ora, Hauora, Rural Health and General Practice New Zealand visited Golden Bay Community Health (GBCH) last Thursday afternoon, part of a nationwide familiarisation tour. The top health leaders spent the morning in Richmond, hosted by the Nelson Bays Primary Health (NBPH) team. The entourage comprised Karen Poutasi, Te Whatu Ora chair; Bryan Betty, General Practice New Zealand chair; Joe Bourne, Manatū Hauora chief medical officer; Abbe Anderson, Te Whatu Ora national commissioner; and Talis Liepis, Te Whatu Ora regional manager for rural health (Te Waipounamu). They were accompanied by Sara Shaughnessy, CEO from NBPH, and Graham Loveridge, GP and clinical director from NBPH, along with other members of Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough. Manawhenua ki Mohua representatives gave a warm welcome, responded to by

Archdeacon Harvey Ruru. Both Eddie and Harvey acknowledged the recently deceased Eric Lander who was the cultural advisor at GBCH, the latter describing him as a taonga. GBCH manager Ruth Robson welcomed the visitors before inviting members of the leadership team to introduce themselves and the positions they hold. Each of the visitors introduced themselves also. Karen Poutasi said, “It’s a real pleasure for us to be here. We are keen to hear from you. We are here to listen.” Ruth then led a tour of the facility and integrated services, answering any questions and giving succinct explanations of the facility and the community it serves. Starting in the general practice, Ruth commented that the model of care in general practice has changed in the 10 years since the new building opened in 2013. “Back then it was mostly doctors and nurses and a few visiting consultants. Nowadays we have an extended care team working out of the practice made up

of 22 different types of clinicians and users. We have run out of clinic space and are working on plans to extend this area of the building.” Moving through the urgent care area that runs 24/7, Ruth explained, “We have low emergency department presentation rate [to Nelson hospital] because generally only our very sick patients go, either by ambulance or air. The rest we can generally look after here.” She spoke of the team of five in the district nursing team, the Well Child nurses, and the Youth nurse who works within the high schools one day per week. She also referred to the facility’s occupational therapist and physiotherapist and how all these clinicians work in an integrated way. Pointing out the helipad, which services an average of one-four patients per month, Ruth paused to allow the group time to take in the tenth anniversary timeline mounted on the wall. “It’s a way of celebrating and acknowledging those people in our... Continued on page 4

Speed Management Plan JO RICHARDS

Tasman District Council and Nelson City Council are reviewing the region’s speed limits and inviting public feedback on a draft Speed Management Plan (SMP). Speed limits are now set through a SMP rather than a bylaw. The new SMP, which will cover a 10-year period, is expected to come into force in June 2024. With the exception of possible hearings scheduled for April 2024, the current consultation represents the public’s sole opportunity to provide input to the plan. The draft SMP outlines four options each for urban and rural roads. These range from essentially “doing nothing” to implementing significant speed limit reductions across the district’s roads. TDC states that, “By providing a range of options, we will have flexibility to tailor the final outcome taking onboard the views of the community.” Golden Bay’s roads are predominantly classed as rural and many are unsealed. The speed limit on unsealed roads is currently 100km/h but three options propose reducing this to 60-80km/h with similar proposals for sealed roads. Reducing speed limits is seen as a way of cutting the number of deaths and serious injuries on Nelson Tasman roads: Waka Kotahi NZTA data shows that during the period 2013-2022, excluding State Highways, there were a total of 5003 crashes, 21 deaths, and 275 serious injuries across the region – incurring an estimated social cost of $429 million. Since speed limits were last reviewed more people are living in the rural environment and many have requested speed limits reductions so that walkers and cyclists can safely use the roads. Another approach to reducing the death and injury toll is to improve the road network. TDC, however, admits that the “major and costly engineering improvements” required would be an “unaffordable exercise”. Implementing a system of “safe and appropriate speeds” that reflect the road’s existing function, design, safety, and use, is therefore the more cost-effective response, and the focus of the current consultation. Although there are no drop-in sessions scheduled in Golden Bay, there will be a Zoom session at next week’s Golden Bay Community Board meeting. For more information, and to provide feedback, go to: https://www.tasman.govt. nz/ and select Speed Management Review. Feedback closes 29 February.

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Inside: Wholemeal mural Rural Views Squash tourno Volunteer profile CAS prizegiving THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 8 DECEMBER 2023

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