2014 December Connect+

Connect +

COUNTIES MANUKAU DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD

A COUNTIES MANUKAU HEALTH PUBLICATION

DECEMBER 2014

In this issue 2014 in review Mobile surgical bus at MSC

Christmas at CM Health

From the CEO

The joy of giving

Welcome to the Christmas edition of Connect+.

It is hard to believe that the festive season is upon us, the year has gone by so quickly.

And what a year it has been! We have done so well in so many areas, it is hard to single out special mentions, but I would like to pay tribute to the clinicians who work in some of the most difficult areas, ICU, burns and mental health.

All of these areas have faced major challenges this year in terms of the difficult cases they have faced. I salute you all for your professionalism and compassion.

We go from strength-to-strength in achieving the National Health Targets.

We have achieved every target except for immunisation, where we are only one percentage point below target. Well done team!

Moving towards financially sustainable healthcare has been a challenge which we have championed in New Zealand. Now CM Health is leading the way in Australasia by measuring and adapting our environmental footprint. We are now diverting 1,670 tonnes of waste from landfill each year. This equates to 6,700 elephants by weight!

A new waste segregation system was trialled at the end of last year, resulting in just one theatre being able to divert 100kg of waste each week. It would be wonderful if we all took responsibility in our own areas for reducing our carbon footprint. You can help by turning off the lights when not in use. Turn off your computers at night and please use durable crockery instead of polystyrene cups.

This year we also said goodbye to the Galbraith operating theatres after 50 years of use. The new 42 bed medical assessment unit was opened in the Harley Gray Building, which has helped to reduce pressure on Emergency Care and to facilitate patient flow.

I know this year has been challenging and sometimes difficult, but I hope you can enter the festive season with pride on a year of achievements and be ready for our next big year.

Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.

Geraint Martin

O 2 December, On b some off our o older patients spent time making Christmas decorati ons for the d Ko K Awatea Christmas tree and helped wrap p donated presents for fo the children of the Kidz First children’s hospital. All of the presents were donated by Ko Awatea staff and will be given to the children on Christmas day.

All the patients thoroughly enjoyed the activities and were kindly provided afternoon tea by the Wishbone café.

Due to its success the event will continue next year.

Patient/whaanau feedback Ward 8

xpress our e t o n n a c t Words e, respec v lo , e d u it grat gratefully .C .L T and e . Everyon d e t ia c e r p ap rs, nurses, D , d e lv o v in rs, aff, cleane t s g in r e t ca big s, a very and other to all. thank you Ward 8 Patient of

Module 5 Commend you on the wonderful ladies on the front desk in Module 5 - Hand Thursdays. They are always so friendly and helpful. They even remember you from previous weeks. I'm actually sad I can't see their bubbly, smiley faces more often.

Patient of Module 5

MSC PACU Very impresse d with the whole exp erience.

Considerate st aff, caring at all times. F elt like I was in good hands, furthermore procedures w ere well explained so th at I felt at ease at all tim es - thank you very much .

Patient of M SC PACU

CM Health produces Connect+ three times a year. If you have h something omething to t share, sha hare re,, or would wou ould ld like lik ike e to o rrec receive ece e a copy of this publication, please contactt the Communications Team via email, communications@middlemore.co.nz.

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Christine Lockhart an d Sharon Wood-Stote sbury

urner cGuinn & Andrew T M e ik M , on ns re So Tom

eli'a-Tufue g and Sophia Manul lin mp ra W dy an M is, SSarah Ell

Keneti Tovio, Oscar Moors, Alick Willia ms

Christmas at CM Health The W Th Westmacotts t tt

David's D id' d day . . .

For the past seven years, my wife and I have been privileged to be part of the Auckland City Mission Christmas Day lunch.

As you are tucking into turkey and munching on mince pies, spare a thought for those of us who have the unluckiest birthday of all.

There’s a small group of about six like-minded individuals from both ADHB and CM Health, who help organise entertainment for the 3000-3500 people who turn up for their Christmas Lunch. We coordinate with Diane Robertson the CEO/Auckland City Mission and entertain for almost two hours as the guests arrive and are seated for their lunch.

I'm the MC for the entertainment and my wife Cecilia runs the backstage to ensure the right “acts” are in the right place at the right time.

It’s an early start on Christmas Day morning, and we get away just after 12 noon. It’s a small price to pay; we feel incredibly honoured and privileged to play such an important role for those less fortunate than us in our community.

Cecilia Westmacott, nurse coordinator, General and Vascular Surgical Team and Andrew Westmacott, anaesthetic technician and professional leader.

“Oh, you were born on Christmas Day, that’s unusual.”

Er, no. There’s a 1-in-365 chance of it happening.

David Kemeys, public relations officer Middlemore Foundation

This misfortune means all Christmas gifts double as birthday presents, there is seldom a cake, no one makes a fuss of you, and worst of all you may have to live with a family legend.

Mine goes that my arrival ruined the wonderful Christmas everyone was having at Nana-Down-the-Road’s house in 1959. (The other one was Nana-in-Tauranga).

This tale would be revisited every year, and was so often told that it was a universally accepted truth.

In 1999 my Uncle Eric – a magnificent and kindly man – gave me a birthday gift as I hit 40. “Enough,” he said.

“Your mother was in hospital for days with her blood pressure (an affliction I would often spark throughout my life) before you came along.”

I could not believe I had been made to live with his terrible shame. You know what happened the next year?

My brother regaled everyone with a tale about how my arrival had ruined Christmas at Nana’s.

So if you really are interested in my Christmas ritual, truth is, it involves my humiliation – and sulking!

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Mobile surgical bus comes to MSC A 40-tonne, 20-metre long mobile surgical bus will park up at the Manukau SuperClinic and Surgery Centre (MSC) from 15 – 19 December and then again from 19 January – 5 February 2015.

What’s unique about this particular bus is that it expands into a fully operational theatre on wheels – not a lot different to a normal hospital one.

The reason it’s coming to MSC is to help carry out some minor operations, while four theatres are being refurbished and expanded.

“We approached Mobile Health Solutions (the bus company) as we wanted to ensure people continued to get their operations while the construction work was being done,” says Catherine Larsen Service Manager Theatres.

“While our other theatres will continue to operate as usual, the surgical bus provides a much welcomed helping hand.”

Project SWIFT gets moving The rubber hits the road for Project SWIFT in 2015 as staff and public engagement on the transformation of healthcare in Counties Manukau begins in earnest.

Between 2015 and 2019, 14 separate initiatives will be rolled out to make health services more efficient and accessible and patients, whaanau and communities better able to manage their health and wellness.

The changes include new electronic referral and ordering processes for staff, new systems to allow health teams from the hospital to the community to share information, and providing a wider range of health services in the community.

Clinicians and managers from CM Health and primary care gave their time over six months to advise on the transformation and the next step is to develop detailed plans that are also led by the clinicians and managers who know best how the changes will work.

CM Health Chair Dr Lee Mathias says CM Health is embarking on CO N N EC T + I PAG E 4

an unprecedented journey of change.

“We’re incredibly proud to be at the forefront of health-sector change in New Zealand, confronting the challenge of an increasing population and rising demand for services that is common to health providers all over the world,” says Dr Mathias.

CEO Geraint Martin says SWIFT builds on CM Health’s already solid foundations of strong financial performance and a focus on innovation to put the patient at the centre.

“The health sector is realising that care must follow the patient to deliver better, sooner and more convenient health services,” says Mr Martin. “We need to take the pressure off our acute hospital services and that means shifting our focus to care in the community.

“We’re confident that by working closely with our staff and primary care, the changes will improve the quality of care and lead to happier staff and patients and a more healthy community.”

Middlemore plastic surgery past, present & future

On 6 November Middlemore Hospital’s heritage was linked to its future.

Plastic surgeons who had previously worked at Middlemore Hospital were invited to view world class facilities in the Harley Gray building.

The morning was a filled with reflections of the past followed by an update from current consultants on what we do now and where we are heading in

the future. The event was thoroughlyy enjoyed enjo en joyed by all who attended.

An information booklet will be compiled of the event. If you would like to receive a copy please contact Wendy Mckinstry Wendy.McKinstry@ middlemore.co.nz.

Project awards celebration Project Managers are the unsung heroes of virtually every organisation and often new initiatives are introduced and implemented across the organisation with little mention of the hardworking sta that make it all happen. These

Above: Helen Telford and Jenny Pooley.

Below, The Feet for Life team: Jacqueline SchmidtBusby, Fakaola Otuafi, Lawrence Kingi, Rowena Scofield, Jubedah Shah and Helen Telford.

Absent: Catherine Tracy and Viliami Tutonel.

unsung heroes were celebrated at a lunchtime awards ceremony on Wednesday 3 December. Presenting the awards was Helen Telford, President of the Project Management Institute of New Zealand.

PROJECT MANAGER OF THE YEAR Jenny Pooley- Perioperative Clinical Information System (PCIMS) Project PROJECT OF THE YEAR Feet for Life Project EMERGING PROJECT MANAGER OF THE YEAR Michele Carsons- Discharge Lounge Project PROJECT TEAM OF THE YEAR Improving Access to Contraception Project Team

Above: Michele Carsons and Helen Telford.

Below: Ady Priday, Anna-Maree Harris, and Helen Telford. Absent: Dr Sarah Tout, Dr Yvonne Lake, Catherine Roguski, Maya Bachu, Tanya Wilson, Margaret Abercrombie (Family Planning), Dr Juliet Walker, and Adrienne Laing.

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Our year in review

As the year comes to a swift end, we take stock of what an amazing year it has been and the terrific achievements that have been made by our staff.

New Medical Assessment opens in the Harley Grey building The long awaited new Medical Assessment opens, bringing current areas: AOU (Adult Observation Unit), Adult Short Stay (monitored patients) and Medical Short Stay together on the ground floor of the Harley Gray Building.

The 42 bed Medical Assessment was designed to reduce demands on EC and improve the flow of medical patients through the hospital.

Somewhere over the rainbow Never has the journey through Middlemore Hospital been so amazingly colourful as when the new rainbow was installed following a major upgrade of facilities. Along the way there are a variety of fun and playful silhouettes and cultural elements which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve.

A fancy farewell to Galbraith Theatres The Neonatal Unit at Middlemore Hospital changed its name to Neonatal Care and moved to Level 1 in the state-of-the-art Harley Gray building.

January

After 50 years in which theatre staff performed thousands of operations, we bid farewell to the Galbraith Theatres.

Staff celebrated the occasion by wearing clothes from the year they started work at the theatres.

February

April

New Smokefree Quit Bus launched This innovative new service is delivered by skilled advisors who provide free one-to-one advice, information and nicotine replacement therapies. So far this year the bus has welcomed 3,600 people who have been encouraged to quit. An amazing achievement for the Smokefree team.

Harley Gray building officially opens Former Minister of Health, Tony Ryall officially opens our impressive $190 million Harley Grey building at Middlemore Hospital, named after eminent orthopaedic surgeon Dr Harley Gray.

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May

March

June

The drums beat for Pasifika Week With its theme of ‘Yes, We Can’, Pasifika Week 2014 proved to be another successful engagement opportunity for Pacific Health Development, Middlemore Hospital and the wider Pacific community.

This popular event is firmly set into CM Health Cultural calendar of events. The 2015 theme will look at evidence of best practice with Pacific from across the region.

Manukau SuperClinic & Surgery Centre volunteers Congratulations to the volunteers of the Manukau SuperClinic and Surgery Centre for receiving a runnersup award in the category “Health Care Provider Service” in the 2014 Minister of Health Volunteers Awards.

The group were presented a certificate by the former Minister of Health, Tony Ryall.

Project SWIFT is unveiled A strategic relationship started between CM Health and global technology giant IBM, to transform healthcare in Counties Manukau. The team spent six months talking to staff from CM Health and primary care to understand the challenges facing each service and developed proposals for a range of initiatives to be carried out over the next four years. The Board endorsed 11 strategic initiatives across hospital and community health services and three “quick wins” to look at how to make our core systems more robust, provide better tools for mobile teams and investigate wider uptake of shared care plans.

APAC heads across the Tasman This years APAC headed to Melbourne and proved to be an outstanding success with over 1500 delegates attending. Run by Ko Awatea the event focused on the themes of value based healthcare, co-design, leadership, high performing organisations and transformational change. Next year the event will return to New Zealand and will take place at Skycity Convention Centre. Topics will include the challenges around identifying improvement interventions, the context in which they are applied, and the methods used to understand how they impact on healthcare.

Bio containment unit opens Middlemore Hospital unveils its very own bio containment unit in the former Neonatal Unit on Level 3 of the Galbraith building. The unit headed by Dr David Holland addresses the growing concern about the Ebola virus and other highly infectious diseases that could arrive in New Zealand.

July

September

August It’s celebration time at the Diversity Ball 2014 Over seven hundred staff turned out in their finest frocks and suits for the inaugural Diversity Ball held in what is arguably Auckland’s finest location, the Langham Ballroom.

Following positive feedback from staff the team are already planning for the next ball which is expected to take place in August. Details will be released early next year.

October

CM Health wins Business Excellence Bronze Award The award, given by the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation is judged on seven criteria: leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, measurement and analysis, processes, workforce and results.

November December

The big red Stoptober ball rolls into Middlemore Hospital and MSC

To kick-start a month long series of activities encouraging staff and patients to quit smoking, the big red Stoptober ball was rolled through Middlemore A record breaker for National Health Targets A historic milestone was reached for the organisation when hospital and MSC to mark the every MOH Health Target was finally achieved. CEO Geraint beginning of Stoptober.

Martin says it’s an outstanding achievement by the Health Board and its public and primary care teams.

“I salute all the people who have made such a huge inroad in these important targets, which will be reflected in great gains in the health of our community.”

Health Minister visits Health Minister, Dr Jonathan Coleman met staff from different departments and addressed national media outlets outside the Bio-containment Unit at Middlemore Hospital.

Surgical bus parks up at MSC The 40-tonne, 20-metre long surgical bus converts into a fully functioning theatre for minor operations.

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The changing face of the volunteer services The volunteer services at CM Health are changing. Leading the transformation is newly appointed volunteer service manager, Neshanee Naidoo, who has been at the Recruitment centre for almost six years.

“We are committed to improving, growing and enhancing the volunteer services at Middlemore Hospital. I see the volunteer services as a vital part of the hospital, contributing to patient and whaanau centred care” says Neshanee.

While we still need the way finder helpers, we will build a team of patient-focused volunteers. The service will expand to have volunteers in some of our clinical areas where they read to patients, help at meal times or simply be there when our patients have no whaanau at visiting time.

Our talent pipeline of volunteers will be students, retired health professionals, recovered patients sharing their patient journey or people from our community who want to be a part of their hospital.

‘We are thrilled that our community can now become involved’ says Dot McKeen, Middlemore Central Manager.

Do you know someone who could be interested in becoming a volunteer? Email Dot McKeen for more information: Dot.Mckeen@middlemore.co.nz

live at CM Health Following a major IT system upgrade, all staff have full access to YouTube. The rationale behind this landmark decision is that it enables staff to access work related videos that will enhance their professional development. The decision follows extensive feedback from clinicians who expressed a clear case to be able to access information from the YouTube site.

For those of you who haven’t yet discovered YouTube, the information channel is a video-sharing website. The site allows users to upload, view and share videos. Available content includes video clips, TV clips, and other content such as video blogging, short original videos, and more importantly, educational videos. In fact, the DHB launched its very own YouTube channel ‘Counties Manukau Health' where we provide regularly updates with topical videos.

Staff are respectfully reminded that access is exclusively restricted to viewing educational videos that are related to their job, and not for viewing dancing puppies or the latest Taylor Swift video!

Use this check list to ensure you are complying with our guidelines: - It’s a firm NO to viewing the latest cuddly animal video that may be trending - By watching the video does it help me to do my job better?

- Videos should be educational and not for your infotainment.

Volunteer service manager Neshanee Naidoo.

Remember access to YouTube will be monitored by Health Alliance to ensure compliance of our social media policy.

Medication Safety Service 'Making it easier to do the right thing.'

The Medication Safety Service has officially launched at CM Health. Our focus is to design systems to reduce preventable harm to patients from medicines and to promote a culture of safety.

The core team is composed of physician, nursing and pharmacy staff.

This multidisciplinary approach will help promote innovative ideas that are practical in our day-to-day care of patients.

Visit the Medication Safety Service website on SouthNET. Here you’ll find information about our service, including our principles. In addition, you will find a medication safety form where your ideas and suggestions for submission are welcome.

Work in 2015 will commence with medication safety self-assessment for the organisation and a review of our existing prescribing culture, both activities will identify gaps for improvement. Another initiative is the national collaborative to reduce harm from opioids. Work will continue in our other work streams including electronic medication reconciliation and allergies/adverse drug reactions.

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Medication Safety Working Group - Back L to R: Marie Lewis, Chip Gresham, Trevor Lloyd, Jane Farris. Front L to R: Anne Blumgart, Sanjoy Nand, Anne Goddard.

Absent: Tony Zheng, Tanya Crompton

Environmental sustainability update

E-waste is collecte & recycled or disp d osed of responsibly.

Almost 1 tonne of waste, per week, w ill now be recycled.

Visitors now have somewhere to park their bikes.

At CM Health, we are leading the way iin environmental i l sustainability. i bi b li We have measured our carbon footprint and have put programmes in place to help reduce our footprint by 20% by 2017.

Recently Middlemore Hospital theatres adopted the environmental sustainable practice of recycling waste. As a result almost one tonne of waste, per week, will be recycled.

There are many other activities and initiatives being driven by the sustainability programme and many ways that you can help.

You can purchase a “Keep Cup” from www.keepcup.com.au and receive a 20c discount every time you use it at work. Why not take a look at the way you travel to work. Could carpooling or public transport be an option for you? The summer months are a great time to try out new travelling habits. We’ve also installed visitor bike stands outside Kidz First Hospital and the main hospital entrance.

Recycle your plastic shopping bags or even better, just say no. Waiuku company ReMaterialise recycles used shopping bags into new reusable bags. However, there are loads of reusable options out there.

You can now recycle toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes and caps, floss containers, and the outer packaging! Visit www. terracycle.co.nz for more details. Every piece of waste collects points that can be transferred into cash donations to the Middlemore Foundation.

If you’re looking for ways to help, visit the Environmental Sustainability page on SouthNET.

Compost your food waste, we have ove 20 Hungrybin r sites at CM Healt h

Keep Cups will get you a 20cent dis count and reduce waste.

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Smokefree support grows Smokefree services spearheaded by CM Health are celebrating a successful year, with the Quit Bus travelling all over Auckland, the pregnancy incentives programme expanding and workplace support set to launch next year.

More than 3,000 people have engaged with the Quit Bus in its first year and the team is looking forward to a busy summer of events, having already established a busy programme of visits to shops, marae, markets and community events all over Counties Manukau.

The distinctive green and silver buses are seen all over Auckland, with a second bus now launched in the Waitemata district, and the Counties Manukau bus also covering Auckland DHB areas like Mt Roskill.

The pregnancy incentives programme was so successful with its trial in Manurewa that it has now moved to Otara, Papatoetoe and Mangere with the aim of helping mums-to-be quit.

In Manurewa, 211 pregnant women and 47 whaanau engaged with the incentives programme, and of those 50 successfully quit smoking for 12 weeks or more, receiving grocery vouchers as an incentive to stay smokefree during pregnancy.

Finally, another smokefree project is working with social services and large workplaces to deliver smokefree support to staff and their clients as a further step on the road to Smokefree Aotearoa 2025.

In 2015 the team will formally launch the project and offer tailored support to businesses and organisations wanting to go smokefree, and refer more people on to smokefree support services.

For more information see the Smokefree Counties Manukau 2025 Facebook Fac cebo ook page. pag a e. e

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CM Health supports Stoptober The worst thing Geraint Martin ever did was start smoking. The best thing he ever did was give up says CM Health’s chief executive.

“The most important thing we can do in terms of improving our health in Counties Manukau is getting rid of smoking totally,” he says. “I’m glad to have been a non-smoker for more than 20 years now.”

Local resident Christine Caspersen agress with Geraint, saying that giving up smoking was the best decision she ever made. After smoking for many years Christine made the decision to join Stoptober – a campaign that encourages smokers to give up cigarettes for the month of October.

Nearly two months smokefree, Christine credits her success to Zyban – a medication that helps to reduce cravings, a local stop smoking programme and support from her family to keep her on track.

Stoptober was launched in NZ for the first time this year with 5,218 people taking part. In Counties Manukau the campaign was promoted widely across CM Health and in the community.

Congratulations to everyone who undertook the Stoptober challenge. If you require further support or are wanting to start your quit journey today call 0800 569 568 for more information.

Where do you want to go next?

Growing great leaders Congratulations to the first graduates from the Ko Awatea Leadership Academy!

From October 2013 – October 2014 (2 days per month) 16 keen and motivated people from across the organisation took part in an intensive leadership development programme, focused on creating a pipeline of highly capable, innovative and engaging leaders who have the skills and passion to lead health system transformation into the future.

For the participants it was a great opportunity to obtain an insight into their own management/leadership style, and learn about the different models, tools and approaches to being an effective leader.

“Not only have I learned a lot about myself, I’ve also taken away some great tools and strategies for how I can develop my own role, while helping others to do the same,” says Selema Talagi, security coordinator.

“I also learned the importance of being true to myself, my beliefs and values – no matter what."

Jessica Pettersen, HR advisor learned it’s ok to explore new things and to not be afraid to fail.

“The academy encouraged me to try out new things on a small scale, and if something doesn’t work, to think about what you’ve learned, forgive yourself, and get back up again,” says Jessica.

“I’ve also picked up some great tools, which include how to support and coach teams to encourage the best from each other,” Both Selema and Jessica agree they would recommend the Leadership Academy to others. “It is hard work, but you get to take away so much from it. The learning and possibilities are endless,” says Selema.

For further information about the Leadership Academy contact Kim Wiseman via email: Kim.Wiseman@middlemore.co.nz

Stay well this summer With summer upon us, here are a few tips to help keep you and your family/whaanau well: • To speak to someone about becoming smokefree, call QUITLINE on 0800 778 778.

• Ease up on the drink. To talk about your drinking, or the drinking of someone you care about, call the Alcohol and Drug Helpline on 0800 787 797.

• Family violence is not OK. Phone 0800 456 450 to ask for help.

• If you or someone you care about is struggling with a low mood, see your family doctor or ring the psychiatric unit, Tiaho Mai, on (09) 270 4742 who can put you onto the right service.

• When handling food, remember to: Clean (wash hands and utensils in between raw meats, seafood and eggs) Separate (keep raw meat separate from food that won’t be cooked) Cook all meat to a high temperature Chill all foods within 2 hours of cooking • Be sunsmart - slip, slop, slap and wrap.

• Don’t use petrol, meths or kerosene to get fires going. If someone gets a burn, cool the burn wound but keep the patient warm.

• Always check that there are no kids playing on the driveway before you back your car out.

• When boating, wear a life jacket and check the weather forecast before leaving home.

• If your Medical Centre is closed and you need advice, call Healthline anytime on 0800 611 116.

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What is the Middlemore Foundation?

We hold an annual Xmas party Despite operating for 15 years, the Middlemore Foundation still struggles for recognition within the hospital.

Formed as the South Auckland Health Foundation in 1999, it was tasked to help the Counties Manukau District Health Board rebuild Middlemore Hospital. The aim was to support new facilities, including Kidz First Children's Hospital, a new Intensive Care Unit and a Neonatal Unit.

The focus moves to meet the challenges facing the hospital, but the mission remains: To partner with CM Health to help provide the community with the best care.

The Foundation raises millions each year, money used to support equipment needed in various departments. Last year it paid for about $3million worth of projects.

The largest grant – $1.6million – went to improved neonatal services. As well as the money spent within the hospital, the Foundation also obtained funds to upgrade the Multi Agency Centre, Bereavement Care, and for several projects at the Manukau SuperClinic.

Then it backed community projects, obtained countless toiletry packs, provided for thousands of items of clothing, got funds for prescriptions, and eye and ear testing, laid its hands on televisions for the renal facilities and AT&R, as well as toys for patient use – and the annual Christmas parties.

Just in case there wasn’t enough to do, the Foundation ran its second Jammies in June campaign, putting thousands of pairs of PJs on children in the hospital and community, while wool programme members made up parcels from the thousands of articles knitted for babies by volunteers across

Our Jammies in June campaingn

Meet some of our sewing volunteers

We help run Fun Feast

the country. Staff even ensured an on-going supply of magazines.

Despite trying to maintain and develop relationships with businesses, they also found time to meet with service groups, check in with the women prisoners who sew for the hospital, visit toymakers, fund the insulation of homes in south Auckland, and administer an extensive scholarship scheme.

They also all cut short their Christmas break to help run Fun Fest, an annual free community event held at Alexandra Park over four days.

Foundation member David Kemeys said a work day could involve anything from recycling books and clothing, to meeting with senior business executives. “One minute you can be delivering pyjamas, and the next you are trying to convince someone to pay for a ventilator or a CT scanner.”

The Foundation also has an increasing community focus. Executive director Pam Tregonning said socio-economic disparities meant preventable illnesses were a critical issue. “That requires a new approach to healthcare, so we work with Ko Awatea on chances to work differently, based on education, research and practice. Any successful solutions can go on to benefit all New Zealand.”

There are always more requests than funding. Moreover, in 2015 the Foundation has been asked to raise $1million for a CT scanner for EC and another $1million for an O-Arm for surgeons. Meanwhile there are requests for about another $2million worth of support, and more arriving every week.

To find out more about the Foundation, or to support its work, visit: www. middlemorefoundation.org.nz and follow us on facebook!

We supplied countless toiletry packs...

& 1000s of items of clothing

Please email communications@middlemore.co.nz if you have any enquiries regarding this publication or contributions for the next issue.