Connect March 2016 issue

A COUNTIES MANUKAU HEALTH PUBLICATION | MARCH 2016

WIN

FAD DIETS

Separating fact and faction on the paleo, sugar-free and single food diets

ONE OF FOUR FREE YEAR GYM MEMBERSHIPS WITH CLUB PHYSICAL

s r e t s o p e Fre inside

CONTENTS Popular diets – fact or fiction

2

Inspiring our communities to live healthy and active lives

3

Fighting fit for summer

3

Beware of emotional eating

4

Integrated care

5

How much sugar do you drink?

7

Healthier takeaway choices

9

There’s no better time than now

10

Five minutes with Dawn Rennell

11

Garden market goodness

11

News in brief

12

Staff notices

13

Thank you from the Middlemore Foundation 14 Auckland Feet Beat

15

Connect+ is proudly produced bi-monthly by the communications team. If you have something to share, or would like to receive a copy, please email communications@middlemore.co.nz

FROM THE CEO Welcome to the first issue of Connect+ for 2016. This year we are inviting a guest editor to provide expertise and insight on our themed issues. Our guest editor for this issue is Claire Green, Associate Director of Allied Health Nutrition and Dietetics. Claire and her team are passionate about ensuring people have the nutrition they need to keep their minds and bodies healthy and happy.

Within this issue experts offer some great tips on healthy diets, portion sizes, cost saving and tips to stay well and healthy. We also bring you the latest news from Integrated Care, an inspiring story about a mum who gave up smoking and updates on initiatives taking place across CM Health. It’s a bumper issue and a credit to all of your great work. Happy reading.

Geraint and Claire Cover image: Some of the Pacific Health Team, from left, Moe Terekainuku, Paula Takiwa, Anne Fitisemanu and Bernadette Lepou.

1 | CONNECT + MARCH 2016

U A N A A H W T N PATIE

k c a b d e e f Hi, I would like to pass my gratitude to a few of your staff members.

Firstly Aimee and Adele in your Neonatal department. When everything started hap pening with our baby, we already knew we were in the best place we could be and that the big things would be taken care of and our new baby given good care.

What we didn't expect was the amazing care not only [our baby] received but us as parents too.

The little things both Aimee and Adele did for me as the concerned dad, such as taking time to check I was okay, that I had something to eat and drink, that I knew what was going on, that I knew where my wife was and what was going on with her. To explaining things in simple terms and instead of talking about our new bab y to the side and filling me in later, they included me in discussion and explained when I didn't und erstand the lingo. The whole experience was made just so much easier by these little things, when I'm sure it would be easy for them to slip into car ing for the baby and not worrying about the littl e details.

Also up in the maternity ward the midwive s were amazing for my wife, they constantly che cked on her even when baby was away in neonata l. Nothing was too much hassle and while I can't remember everyone's name we didn't have even a sing le fleeting moment of bad manners or impatie nce.

We are eternally grateful for all your help and hope this email gets to everyone involved as we were truly blown away.

Keep up the great work team .

Thanks a load!

POPULAR DIETST

BY CLAIRE GREEN, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ALLIED HEALTH NUTRITION & DIETETICS

For many of us losing weight and getting that body we have always promised ourselves sits high on the list of New Year’s resolutions.

However with so many diet books, nutrition blogs and celebrity endorsements promising the miracle solution it can be hard to know how to start. Often these miracle diets are either very restrictive, cutting out whole food groups, or they encourage an unusual combination of foods for a short period of time. Whilst some people find that they lose weight quickly on these types of diets, people often get fed-up, revert back to old habits and put the weight back on.

The No Sugar Diet

The Paleo Diet

Encourages the exclusion of all types of sugar and often carbohydrates from your diet.

Encourages people to eat “whole foods”, which are thought to have been eaten in prehistoric times and to exclude all other foods such as dairy, grains, sugars, legumes, processed oils, salt and other food such as alcohol and coffee.

Reducing the amount of sugar in your diet and reading the labels are definitely a positive, however some versions of this diet promote cutting out all sugar from your diet which is almost impossible.

This would include fruits, vegetables, dairy products and nuts which all provide us with a range of vital nutrients for health. Some versions of this diet also recommend using a substitute like palm sugar, maple syrup or honey, which are just another form of sugar! I recommended taking a whole diet approach rather than cutting out a single food or nutrient.

HERE ARE SOME USEFUL TIPS TO HELP YOU TELL FACTS FROM FICTION

The emphasis on fruit and vegetables, and high quality food choices rather than processed options is a positive feature, however the paleo diet fails to provide all the recommended nutrients and excludes foods and entire food groups. In fact, by cutting out dairy completely, you could be in danger of compromising your bone health without very careful substitution, because of a lack of calcium.

Healthy diets that will help you keep weight off

FAC N FICTIO OR

Single food diets Single food diets or food specific diets are based on the idea that some foods have magical fat burning or weight loss properties such as cabbage, grapefruit, and lemons.

No foods or single food group can burn off fat. Single food diets are restrictive and difficult to maintain.

They are often unbalanced and don’t provide the right balance of nutrients for health.

WHERE TO GO FOR FURTHER ADVICE Registered dietitians are able to provide individualised dietary advice. If you would find this helpful you can find a registered dietitian near you.

Visit www.dietitians.org.nz Unhealthy diet trends

Encourages Encouragers plenty of fruit Recommend a range of Promote eating mainly regular meals, and vegetables for meals expensive supplements or one type of food like in the starting with and for snacks products cabbage soup diet breakfast Is realistic about weight Restricts or cuts out whole Promises rapid weight loss of Promotes a loss, aiming to lose food groups such as dairy more than one kilo per week variety of food between half and one kilo or wheat unless you have a Promises a magic bullet per week proven allergy Encourages lower fat foods to help you lose weight such as lean meats and low Encourages regular physical Promote a food with miracle without having to make any fat dairy food activity, ideally 30 minutes fat burning properties like changes to your lifestyle daily moderate activity grapefruit or lemons such as exercising COUNTIES MANUKAU HEALTH | 2

B

Inspiring

our communities to live healthy and active lives Green Prescriptions (GRx) are a free referral based health and wellness programme for adults 18 years and over.

It is best suited for adults who would like support and motivation to get active and improve their lifestyle. Sport Auckland delivers GRx through group sessions in various communities throughout Counties Manukau and Auckland DHB. The programme is suitable for anyone who has a medical condition such as weight issues, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, osteoporosis, stress, depression, anxiety, cardiac and respiratory conditions etc and would benefit from more activity.

Many health professionals can prescribe GRx.

For more information please contact Alannah Collins, Green Prescription Promotions Advisor via alannahc@sportauckland.co.nz (09) 623 7986 sportauckland.co.nz

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT? Initial one-on-one consultation with a Healthy Lifestyle Advisor Weekly group sessions involving physical activity and/or lifestyle education Group workshops with Sport Auckland’s Registered Dietitian Group workshops by various health agencies Phone support A healthier and more active lifestyle!

3 | CONNECT + MARCH 2016

T I F G N I T H FIG r for summe

In our increasingly busy and hectic lives, finding the time to get fit is can be a challenge. But once you’ve started to enjoy the benefits of regular exercise it makes all the grunting, running and sweating worthwhile.

Over the past six months the Pacific Health Development Team has organised twice weekly 30 minute CrossFit sessions for their staff at Health 101 in Mount Eden.

I was invited along to join the team and was introduced to Bernadette Lepou who started on the programme last year and loves the camaraderie which encourages her to attend on a regular basis.

“Not only do we have great fun, but I’ve lost five kilos since starting the programme. I’ve also learnt about healthy eating” she says.

Trainer Baily Rogers from Health 101 says CrossFit is ideal for all levels of fitness ability, “We start

with the basic movements and gradually build up as the person gains confidence,” she says. “One of the key goals for my Pasifika ladies is to make them aware of their eating habits and encourage them to make healthier choices. The combination of regular exercise and being aware of what you eat means most people lose around five to six kilos over the six week period.”

So what is this new fitness trend that’s taking the world by storm?

The class-led exercises are based on a combination of gymnastics, weightlifting and circuit training. The overall idea is to improve your stamina, strength, flexibility and power. The perfect ingredients to lose weight and get beach body beautiful!

BEWARE OF EMOTIONAL New research published in Psychological Science found that people eat more junk food when the sports-team they are supporting, loses; Whereas when your team wins you find yourself eating more healthily. Perhaps that’s why fast food giants advertise during games.

EATING

Club Physical Transformer Samantha (42) followed a similar pattern. She shared “My challenge with ... she began weight-gain began as a to experience result of sadness a sense of victory, and the antifriendship, and depressants my stress relief. doctor prescribed when my husband cheated on me, leaving me as a single mum.”

As Samantha began to enjoy the routine and support of the group, she began to experience a sense of victory, friendship, and stress relief.

This helped her to choose a healthier eating regime, and the subsequent outstanding results she experienced.

“Cutting out the poor carbs and replacing this with lean protein. This was a huge thing for me! I began feeling good inside,” she admitted.

Inquire about your special CMH offer now by calling 0800 258 248

A 12 MONTH MEMBERSHIP!

Thanks to our friends at Club Physical we have FOUR 12 MONTH memberships available.

All you have to do is email us your top five fitness tips. This information will be announced in early March in the Daily Dose.

Samantha was able to reduce her waistline by 17.9cm and her doctor withdrew the anti-depressants.

Tina and Paul Richards, founders of Club Physical remain extremely passionate of the benefits of exercise through managed and monitored programming. “Each year we are completely blown away by the results that people enjoy on our 12 week Transformation Challenge. Hearing participants speak and reading the stories of what they had to overcome and helping people like Samantha certainly makes the effort worthwhile” says Tina Richards.

WIN

Email

.nz by Friday 19 M

middlemore.co communications@

arch.

INTEGRATED CARE

It’s the little things

BY DIANE ABAD-VERGARA, SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR

In memory of Karl Farrell. January 1960 –December 2015

It’s the little things that count, the smaller, finer points that make life easier.

It’s not the big things. My care has been made up of many small things. People like Krishna have given me time. It’s important to give people time. It’s the small things.

It was raining the day I interviewed Karl. I ran from the car with Krishna Narayan, (his Counties Manukau Health Occupational Therapist), covering my head with my notepad. We knocked and waited on the wheelchair ramp.

Ruci Farrell, Karl Farrell's wife, opened the door, her Fijian warmth welcoming us into their home. Karl soon entered the room in an electric chair with a massive grin, the type that draws you in and causes you to relax immediately.

The rain continued to pour down outside.

"There are days when I just I sit here in this chair and just look out that window," says Karl pointing toward a window starting to fog with condensation. "I wonder what my day holds and if anyone will visit. At times like this you know who your friends are. The real friends you can count on one hand. With so many complications going on it can get depressing. It could be easy to lose hope. But life goes on."

Karl continues to reflect on his journey since being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and various other medical conditions. There have been a lot of issues and challenges. Getting around the house in his old wheelchair, Ruci needing to push him everywhere, difficulties in 5 | CONNECT + MARCH 2016

Karl Farrell pictured with his Occupational Therapist Krishna and his wife Ruci Farrell.

getting to dialysis and back, going to the toilet and having a shower.

"It was a continuous challenge to do the small things, to get the right information, to access services and help," he says.

Karl found that each health care worker he came in contact with had different information. His care was fragmented, and it was difficult for them to get a good picture of how he was really doing. "No one was seeing me in the house. They had no idea how I was doing, how I was at getting from the car to the house and things like that."

Enter Krishna Narayan, Occupational Therapist. Krishna is the face of a changing health system, and her spirit and approach epitomizes the hopes and aspirations of the transformation currently taking place at Counties Manukau Health.

go alone without help and getting up and down isn't painful as it was before.

Even sitting on my couch now, it's been raised to make it easier to transfer and sit. It means I can now relax comfortably on the couch."

Karl's manual wheelchair was difficult to manoeuvre due to his weakness and spine disorder.

"Now with an electric wheelchair I can get a cup of tea, dish up my food, go to the mall or a restaurant with my family. I can even check the mail by myself and visit my neighbours. I can now do whatever I want, in my own time, Karl explains.

"Krishna rang one day and said she was my Occupational Therapist, so I said ‘oh yeah', and she came around, and we talked and she looked around the house, looked at my condition and at the way I was moving around. Ever since then I have gained a lot."

"I have Fijian neighbours on this road, when they first saw me come out in my electric chair they were surprised and came across the road and said hello to me. They said they hadn't seen me for a long time and thought I had moved or was in a rest home or something. I said – not yet – my wife's still at home!! I like to go down to the dairy at the end of the street and back again," says Karl. "I want to go out more, but my wife says no."

"She arranged a shower seat, so I can shower now much easier, a nice high chair for the toilet means I can now

"Well, I go to work, and I don't know where he is or who he's with!" says Ruci followed by an infectious laugh.

"Krishna has been incredible. She's taken the time to get to know us, listen to us and coordinate our care. We can call her anytime."

"Karl feels like he can talk to Krishna.

Our family is very supportive, but I think Karl sometimes needs someone aside from us to talk to, confide in and offload. Krishna has given him encouragement and hopes to keep going, ideas on how to do things better or differently. It's all about the person.

He's not one to talk much but when he finds someone, he's comfortable with that's the person he will talk to."

"People just don't have time anymore.

It's important to have someone that will sit and listen. Doctors with the sheer volume of patients they need to see don't have that time. But someone needs to take the time. That's what makes the difference in health care."

"It's all just part of my job," interjects Krishna. "I attend meetings with various healthcare workers at your doctors practice, your nurse and GP are also at that meeting. Along with your shared care plan it's a great way for us to share information and discuss best approaches for our clients."

"In one meeting I mentioned Karl, they said he had just come out of the hospital and needs to be taking antibiotics. The discussion continued around how expensive those antibiotics are and it was asked in that meeting if Karl was on the disability allowance.

At my next visit, I found out that he wasn't on the disability allowance. I obtained the correct forms from the hallway corridor at work. I was able to drop the form to Karl's GP who I work with regularly, this was signed by the appropriate people, and the GP practice arranged delivery to Karl.

This happened within a few days of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting.

Karl then continued the process of obtaining the disability allowance."

Krishna's facilitation of this application meant that it saved Karl from unnecessary travel. Without the multi-disciplinary team meeting at the doctor's practice, Krishna would not have addressed the disability allowance as it's not traditionally knowledge that she has as part of her "job".

"Without having those meetings, and that interaction I wouldn't have known to ask whether Karl had the disability allowance. It's opened my eyes, and now I know and can use that knowledge to help others in the future."

Jen Tuua-Ropati, Practice Nurse at Mangere Health Centre was part of those meetings. She sat with Karl and agreed on goals to work towards. These were entered into an electronically shared care plan that all health professionals working with Karl have access to. This means that behind the scenes people are working to provide joined-up care, and it's benefiting Karl.

"Those goals are absorbed by the secondary care staff and we all work together to move closer to achieving them," says Krishna.

Karl adds, "It's great that when we go into Middlemore hospital now, we know the staff have got together and talked about my care. They know me and my story each time we go in. I no longer have to keep retelling my situation."

As the rain began to ease outside, the conversation soon returned to Karls' new power wheelchair and the freedom it gives.

"We went to the mall the other day," says Ruci. "The electric chair has two speeds, at home it's on the 'turtle' but at the mall he switches it to 'rabbit'!

From a distance, I watched him. He was in and out of shops, smiling, and happy."

Tears well up as she continues, her love and care for Karl obvious, I saw this new found joy and independence. He's been so sick for such a very long time and just watching that spark come back is really good. I love watching that part of him come back. It's priceless. It's his human spirit that really helps too. Others would give up. He doesn't."

"It's true," says Karl. "I feel like I am getting my life back."

Marcello Espinsoza chats with Karl about soccer as he dresses his wound.

A multidisciplinary team (MDT) ...or inter disciplinary team as they are sometimes called is a group of health professionals who work as a team to assess, plan and evaluate patient care. They collaborate to solve patient problems that are too complex to be solved by one discipline or many disciplines in sequence. A MDT creates formal and informal structures that encourage collaborative problem solving – to help patients achieve their goals.

Karl’s MDT: Ruci Farrell, Karl’s wife and advocate

Jen Tuua-Ropati, Care

Coordinator, Practice Nurse

MANGERE HEALTH CENTRE

Christopher Naughton, GP MANGERE HEALTH CENTRE

Krishna Narayan, Occupational

Therapist

HOME HEALTH CARE-ORAKAU

Beryl Kaa, District Nurse HOME HEALTH CARE-ORAKAU

Marcello Espinsoza, District Nurse HOME HEALTH CARE-ORAKAU

Mala Beermathy, Practice Nurse MANGERE HEALTH CENTRE

It’s important to have someone that will sit and listen.

Doctors with the sheer volume of patients they need to see don’t have that time. But someone needs to take the time. That’s what makes the difference in health care.”

integratedcare@middlemore.co.nz COUNTIES MANUKAU HEALTH | 6

KNOW?

15 teaspoons of sugar

9 teaspoons of sugar

0 teaspoons of sugar

ZERO sugar tap water

DID YOU

10 teaspoons of sugar

energy drinks

Soft drinks, fruit juice, sports drinks and energy drinks can contain 5-7 teaspoons

16 teaspoons of sugar

sports drinks

fruit juice

750ml

350ml

soft drinks

600ml

350ml

DO YOU DRINK?

HOW MUCH SUGAR

a month

2kg

NPA045 | May 2014

The ďŹ gures are indicative only and are based on popular sugary drinks available as of February 2014.

of soft drink every day, you will drink 480 teaspoons of sugar a month, which equals 2kg of sugar.

If you drink a 600ml bottle

Daily

=

SUGAR

= $60 a month

unflavoured milk

M I LK

your daily can of soft drink for tap water.

You could save $60 a month if you switch

Daily

Other low or no-sugar options are:

water is the best choice

=

coffee

contains as much sugar as 25 jelly beans.

A 350ml bottle of fruit juice

tea

of sugar in a 250ml glass.

energy drink every day, it is the same as eating an extra 45 slices of white bread every month.

If you drink a 350ml bottle of

=

diet or zero drinks

hpa.org.nz

Healthier takeaway choices Takeaways are often cheap, convenient and satisfying but they are not always very healthy. Most takeaways are very high in fat and can lead to weight gain. If you get hungry when you’re out and about or if you don’t have time to cook...

TRY SOME OF THE FOLLOWING OR HEALTHIER IDEAS

TRY MAKING THESE ‘TAKE AWAYS’ AT HOME

Salad with a dash of dressing Sushi Chinese stir-fry rice with plenty of vegetables – not battered or deep fried.

Turkish kebab with plenty of crunchy fresh salad

Sandwich, bread roll, pita or wrap with chicken, tuna, or cold meat, or egg with a tiny bit of mayonnaise Vegetable soup and a roll

Hamburger with plenty of lettuce and tomato – try only having two of these fillings: meat, cheese, bacon and egg on the same hamburger – and have grilled fish instead of deep fried – you may need to ask for your fish to be grilled

BBQ chicken like the rotisserie chicken at the supermarket, oven fried chips or bread and coleslaw

A baked potato with a yummy topping, try mince bolognaise, baked beans or ham and pineapple

Roti roll

Plain taro

Frozen crumbed fish fingers and oven fries

Tacos or nachos – mince, beans, taco seasoning, salad and cheese

Home made hamburger patties with bread rolls and fresh, crunchy salad

Lean meat or vegetable stir fry with jar of sauce and rice or low fat noodles

Lean meat or vegetable curry made with jar of tomato based curry sauce Pasta and ready made tomato sauce

Pita bread pizza topped with ham, mushrooms, pineapple, capsicum and cheese

Or make your own kebabs using any cooked meats, hummus, salad and pita bread

If you do go to a fast food restaurant, there are some healthier options. Be aware that some foods that are labeled ‘healthy choices’ often have lots of fat in dressings. These are the healthiest options:

SUBWAY Six inch subs and wraps Honey mustard ham Roasted chicken Subway club Veggie delight Roast beef Savoury turkey and ham Chicken teriyaki

Salads Roasted chicken Club Veggie delight Sauces Honey mustard Sweet onion BBQ

MCDONALD’S Salads plus menu Chicken salad

Garden salad Lite and free french dressing Deli Wraps Seared chicken wraps

BURGER KING Burgers Chicken whopper, no mayonnaise Vegie burger, no mayonnaise

Salads Garden salad Chicken Caesar salad Shrimp Caesar salad Sauces BBQ Honey mustard Sweet and sour

KFC

Sides Coleslaw Potato and gravy Dinner roll

NANDO’S Grilled chicken salad Pita with no mayonnaise ¼ chicken no skin

Tender roasted chicken, no skin

Based on Healthy Takeaway Choices, Nutrition & Dietetics Team, CM Health 2015.

There’s no better time than

MAY ADAMS LIVES IN OTARA WITH HER HUSBAND PENI AND FOUR CHILDREN. When 36-year old May Adams saw a vision of herself as a wheelchair bound asthmatic she decided to stop smoking for good.

“I had tried to give up before, but it didn’t stick,” said May. “Then one day I was looking out my kitchen window and I saw a little image of me in a wheelchair with gas bottles, an oxygen mask, unable to talk and being pushed by my four adult children. But there was only one grandkid and I thought ‘No way. I don’t want to die and only see one! If my mother could see her great grandkids I’m going to do the same.’

That was more than a year ago and May has been smokefree since 9 October 2014.

“My entire family smoked and when I was 13 I was smoking three to four cigarettes a day. I got pregnant at 18 and because I was feeling sick and didn’t want to eat, smoked even more – sometimes up to 20!”

May’s parents and siblings all smoked, and six years ago her mother died at 63 from renal failure. She was diabetic, asthmatic and was showing signs of bronchial emphysema.

“Before she died mum asked me to give up smoking, but I couldn’t. Not

NOW

long afterwards my father found out he had type 2 diabetes and he have up smoking, but it was hard for me. And then I had my youngest son…”

May’s two-month old baby suffered recurring bronchial problems, and the family was often at Middlemore Hospital seeking help.

“They always asked that question ‘is anyone smoking in the house?’ and my husband, would always give me ‘that’ look and go ‘you better tell them it’s you!’. I’d have to tell them it’s me, they’d ask if I ever considered giving up and I’d say ‘nup’. I stopped for a week then started again, stopped then started again. I couldn’t quit.”

May wanted to return to work, but her son refused to switch from breast to bottle so she stayed home with him for more than two years, often seeking out a solitary cigarette on an outside chair by the garage. “I never smoked around the kids, inside the house or the car.”

Her son showed signs of asthma and May knew she had to make a decision.

“Standing there at the window I knew I had to stop smoking. It was a gruesome vision and I couldn’t afford it anymore.”

May asked her family doctor for help, was referred to the Counties Manukau Smokefree team and enrolled in a seven week smoking cessation course.

“It was great. The smokefree team knew what my triggers were and how I felt, and offered lots of support, patches and gums to help me stop. Chocolate helped!

May took the chair away from the

garage and threw away her ashtrays.

She didn’t want to be around other smokers but her non-smoking motherin-law encouraged her to go and take a long good look. It did the trick.

“I used to smell like that? No way, it was gross”, said May. “I didn’t like the smell on someone after they had a cigarette and that’s what got me, because I could never smell smoke on myself. But my kids, my husband and my family who were all non-smokers could smell it.

When I realised that there was no going back. Not long after my son said ‘mum, you smell like bubble gum’ and I thought ‘right, that’s the smell I’m going to live with for the rest of my life,” said May, laughing. “I’m sure I smell like Beyoncé!”

A smokefree life has changed May. She has more money in her wallet and says her skin is clear, her teeth are white and her relationship is better.

‘My husband never liked me smoking and bet me I couldn’t do it. I won the bet and have become a bit perky, like I can accomplish anything in life.

My message to others? Give up man – there’s no better time than now. There might not be tomorrow.”

COUNTIES MANUKAU HEALTH | 10

Garden Market Goodness

FIVE

MINUTES WITH

Dawn Rennell

Tell us a bit about yourself

I grew up in Pukekohe but I now live in Bombay with my husband and two children. I have previously worked at CM Health and returned in February last year from Heinz Watties Ltd. What made you decide to become a dietician?

I was inspired by my mother who worked as a nurse, her role made me take an interest in health so I did a degree in physical education and nutrition. Before I trained I shadowed a dietician here at Middlemore Hospital, which gave me a good idea of what the role involved . Overall, I have a passion to promote healthier lifestyles in Counties Manukau especially in children so combining that with my career was perfect.

With obesity becoming a huge topic in this country I feel that there needs to be a collective effort in educating parents on why they need to prevent and/or tackle obesity early in their children – being overweight at a young age can mean multiple health problems in their adult life including diabetes, heart disease and renal disease and has a huge impact on communities.

11 | CONNECT + MARCH 2016

How do you stay healthy?

As a dietician I try to practice what I preach so I make sure I stay active by working out at the gym and running with my friends, I also try make sure my family and I are eating well too.

What do you like about Counties Manukau?

I like how there is a strong sense of diversity here, I’ve been fortunate to meet people in this community and patients at work who come from different backgrounds and ethnicities.

What is your favourite organisational value?

I would have to say, kindness. I feel that this value is at the core of my work as dieticians need to put a lot of care and support when dealing with the nutrition and weight management of patients.

We’ve all heard that it’s cheaper to shop at the markets for fresh fruit and vegetables – but is it actually?

Ms Tavalea shops at Otara markets most Saturday mornings, she sent this in to us at Connect+.

“This is what I bought last week – lots of delicious fruit and vegies for my son and me. I bought cabbage, blueberries, plums, carrots, mint, coriander, parsley, limes, chillis, garlic, celery, lettuce, shallots, red onion, white onion, peaches, apricots, cauliflower, bok choy, capsicum, eggplants, cucumber, ginger, tomatoes, green beans, broccoli – all for only $34!

“There were other great deals too, blueberries were $6 for 3 punnets, cherries were $10 per kilo, herbs for $1 a bunch and summer fruit like nectarines, plums and peaches were all about $2 or $3 per kilo.

“I prefer to go to the markets because they’re so much cheaper, it’s all fresh and beautifully ripe.”

Follow Health Together Counties Manukau for more tips on cheaper, healthy recipes.

NEWS in brief Community Stroke Rehabilitation

Special Quilts Make the Difference Hand-made quilts are making all the difference for critically ill children.

The Counties Manukau Quilters Guild has made more than 700 quilts for the critical care complex at Middlemore Hospital over the past four years.

Each is unique and is donated for the child to take home when they are discharged.

The delivery of stroke rehabilitation in the community within Counties Manukau Health has evolved over the last two years. What was previously known as the Community Based Rehabilitation Team (CBRT) has recently changed its name and is now called Community Stroke Rehabilitation (CSR). This change in name reflects the positive changes that have occurred to ensure the provision of best practice – a continuous community rehabilitation service which specialises in stroke.

CSR provides rehabilitation in the home, helping people do the things that are important to them. The team uses an interdisciplinary client-centred approach to develop an individualised

rehabilitation program. We are able to deliver both high and low intensive models of care for people who have had a stroke within the last two years and live in Counties Manukau Health area (excluding Franklin which is covered by Pukekohe Home Health Care). The high intensive model of care is an alternative to inpatient rehab and the low intensive model of care is a continuation of rehab. The client has the same team of therapists throughout their stroke journey in the community regardless of the intensity of rehabilitation required.

For further information please call the team on 09 276 0044 ext 8659.

Credit: Samantha Smith/Manuakau Courier, Fairfax Media NZ

CM Health Second Annual Project Awards

Paediatric clinical nurse specialist Pamela Culverwell says it's stressful for any parent to have a sick child admitted to hospital.

"Providing a handmade quilt helps to personalise the child's bedspace, making it look less clinical, and assists in creating a more calming atmosphere for the child and their family."

Guild members have also donated crocheted blankets, knitted booties and hats when babies are discharged.

"Each quilt is made and donated with a great deal of love and thought from the guild members and we feel privileged to be able to give them to the deserving children who are admitted to our intensive care."

The guild has also given several adultsized quilts that are used for palliative care adult patients.

Culverwell says a "special thanks" goes to guild member Mae Hutton.

"She makes sure we never run out of quilts, delivers them to us and always goes the extra mile."

Credit: Samantha Smith/Manuakau Courier, Fairfax Media NZ

Project Manager of the Year – Monique Davies

Emerging Project Manager of the Year – Alan Shackleton

Monique led the Safety in Practice Collaborative. She has demonstrated outstanding project management and leadership skills in leading 3 DHBs, 7 PHOs and 32 general practice teams to deliver the project on scope, within time and budget.

Alan is a Nurse Consultant in Wound Care and led a project to develop a Complex Wound Care Clinic in parallel to relocating the wound care team. Alan demonstrated excellent communication during the project and developed project management skills.

Project of the Year – Franklin Locality Winter Plan Franklin has an ageing population and in 2014, there were 76 more patients aged 80+ presenting at ED. Franklin residents accounted for 9.1% of the ED presentations. A multi-agency approach and a range of initiatives reversed the increase in 2015 with Franklin having a 6% decrease despite a 4.9% increase overall in ED presentations.

COUNTIES MANUKAU HEALTH | 12

Staff notices HAPPY

NEW

YEAR from the Talent Acquisition Team

Healthy Together Facebook page Become part of the CM Health Team and make a difference to the lives of others!

With the New Year comes new opportunities to grow and develop your professional career. At CM Health we have a wide range of clinical, support, scholarship and managerial career opportunities across the organisation spanning multiple locations across our community.

Like ‘Healthy Together Counties Manukau’ on Facebook for health and wellbeing tips and upcoming events. There are plenty of recipes and healthy meal ideas that we hope will keep our followers away from the nearest fast food restaurant!

Check us out on Facebook,

Our staff work in one of the most give us a like and share dynamic and multicultural environments our posts with your family in New Zealand, providing healthcare and friends. to our community. We are a teaching hospital; we invest in our staff and are at the forefront of technology to help them reach their professional goals. facebook.com/healthytogetherCMH

If you are interested in being part of our organisation, check out our website countieshealthjobs.com, where you will discover more about our benefits, the latest career updates and information about our teams.

THINK Before You Post With many social media sites readily available at our fingertips it’s easy to find yourself sharing photos, event updates and your deepest thoughts. While it may seem harmless, social media can make users feel anonymous making the opportunity to abuse other people or organisations. At CM Health we have a social media policy to provide guidance for staff currently using the services within the organisation.

13 | CONNECT + MARCH 2016

When using social media within CM Health it should only be used for work, otherwise please use social media for personal stuff when outside of work.

CM Health have a number of social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and this has been created so that we are able to highlight staff achievements, events or project updates. We respectfully ask all CM Health staff to remember some of the following rules when commenting on our channels: No foul or discriminatory language Comments must be relevant to the post No attacks that identify individuals, companies, unions or other organisations No attacks directed at CM Health

Failure to adhere to some of the above rules will result in access being blocked from posting on CM Health social media channels.

Please be aware that you will be notified and reported to HR.

You can make social media a place where you feel encouraged and safe to have open, thoughtful discussions on topics that are important to you so if you think before you behave in real life, then think before you behave online.

You come across Middlemore people working with families with virtually nothing, so you do get a sense of relief that our staff can do something practical to help.”

Thank you from the Middlemore Foundation

BY DAVID KEMEYS, PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER AT THE MIDDLEMORE FOUNDATION

Last Christmas proved one of the busiest ever for the Middlemore Foundation, the organisation that supports the work all our staff do.

Christmas cheer: ARHOP patients turned Santa’s little helpers, wrapping hundreds of gifts for use at Kidz First.

Sideshow helpers: Middlemore Foundation volunteers staffed the games at Fun Fest, a community event that attracted about 40,000 people.

Thousands of gifts were distributed to Kidz First, in the community, and around the hospital.

“They come courtesy of The Life Centre Trust, and went out to a community team working with families in Manurewa, to a unit helping those with mental health problems, to Kidz First Children’s Hospital for families, and to a service that works with abused children,” Mr Kemeys.

“You come across Middlemore people working with families with virtually nothing, so you do get a sense of relief that our staff can do something practical to help.

“And it was particularly gratifying that so many people within the hospital did a little to help too. ARHOP had an amazing event at Ko Awatea, where elderly patients came to wrap gifts, and it was great to see them enjoying in participating in the festive season,” Mr Kemeys said.

But if the Foundation staff thought they’d get time to relax they were mistaken. They were straight back into the Trillian Trust Fun Fest at Mt Smart in early January.

Hundreds of children attended the Sky City Kidz First Community Christmas party at Sky City.

Another army of volunteers did everything from face-painting to staffing ice-cream stalls and fun fair attractions, to raise money for Kidz First.

“We really owe Sky City a huge vote of thanks because there is just no way we could host the party ourselves.

Sky City provides the catering and the venue, and it must be quite an undertaking,” Foundation member David Kemeys said.

Foundation member Ankita Luthra said volunteers worked five days straight at the event. “Fun Fest has always been four days, but this year we added a fifth for community organisations dealing with children who might struggle in the big crowds we get.

“But there are others too, like Planet Fun, which year after year, gives us all the gifts we need. Planet Fun goes above and beyond, and this year Howick and Eastern Buses stepped up to provide all the transport. Then we have a Santa who has been travelling from the Coromandel for years, and an army of volunteers, plus all the sports stars who turn out.”

“It was fantastic to see so many South Auckland families out, picnics packed and committed to turning it into quality family time,” Ms Luthra said.

Staff also distributed more than one hundred food parcels.

“And like all our other events, we have to thank the Trillian Trust. It is incredibly expensive to run Fun Fest, and they step up every year.

Foundation run the paid games, and the profit made comes to Kidz First.

It’s critical to us because we have very little income coming in over January.”

COUNTIES MANUKAU HEALTH | 14

AUCKLAND

T A E B FEET E G N E L L A H C WALKINGMarch 2016 1-31

A fun workplace team walking challenge!

Compete against other teams to walk the virtual length of New Zealand.

Great prizes to be won throughout the month, so get in on the fun!

Register your team at AT.govt.nz/walkmonth

HEALTHY AUCKLAND TOGETHER

AT Feetbeat challenge A3 poster v2.indd 1

17/02/16 3:54 pm

MARCH 2016 IS WALK MONTH

time to take to your feet and discover the many benefits of walking.

A SHORT DRIVE is a great walk! Get fit, healthy, have some me time AND save on petrol and parking.

Get walking during March and be in to win heaps of online prizes, or sign up for the Auckland FEET BEAT Walking Challenge to compete against other teams virtually walking around New Zealand.

at.govt.nz/walkmonth

facebook.com/Walk-Month-March