Pegasus Health Pānui
Welcome to Tōtara Pegasus Health Pānui
Pegasus House stands on land that was previously a dense Tōtara forest. Tōtara is a name that honours our home’s past. Just like the Tōtara tree that thrives in the forest, soaring towards the sky and Ranginui, we create this newsletter with the aim of highlighting excellence in primary care and to support others to similarly flourish and strengthen.
Each issue of Tōtara Pegasus Health Pānui features stories, interviews, and new initiatives from across Waitaha Canterbury.
Tōtara Pegasus Health Pānui is produced by the Communications Team at Pegasus Health. Content within Tōtara Pegasus Health Pānui has been included with the approval of content providers. If you wish to reproduce, alter, or transmit any of the information or images contained within, please contact communication@pegasus.org.nz.
If you have a story, you would like our team to cover, please email communication@pegasus.health.nz
Pegasus Health
Pegasus Health is a charitable organisation committed to improving health outcomes for the people of Waitaha Canterbury, through innovation in service design and delivery, enabling and supporting primary care teams, collaboration with partners and continuous improvement.
We are dedicated to ensuring that all people have access to the primary health care they need, when they need it, closing the health equity gap and investing in healthy lifestyles and screening services.
Our purpose is by 2030, the health outcomes for people in our takiwā have improved substantially with a significant reduction in inequities in access and outcomes.
Our values of Inclusive, Strive, Connection, and Integrity, are underpinned by our guiding principle of Manaakitanga, to create the fabric of our ways of being as an organisation.
Pegasus has a commitment to ensure that we overtly, purposefully, and strategically thread equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi through all we do and how we operate.
We ensure equity is prioritised in our considerations, structures, decisions, and processes so that we are able to improve the health outcomes of all people and communities in Waitaha Canterbury.
Message from the Chief Executive Kim Sinclair-Morris
Tēnā koutou katoa,
It was wonderful to see so many of you at the recent Administrator and Practice Manager Excellence (APEX) Day.
We had a great turnout, with 67 practice managers, administrators, and clinical team members joining us from across our network.
As the first point of contact for many in our communities, your role is crucial in ensuring our general practices run efficiently and provide high-quality care.
In this issue of Tōtara, we’re shining a light on our rural kaimahi and communities. One feature in this edition focuses on Barty Doak, a farmer and mentor at Te Puna Wai ō Tuhinapo Youth Justice Residence.
His 5-Acre Farm initiative offers youth hands-on learning, helping them gain practical skills and qualifications while fostering values like responsibility, empathy, and pride. It’s a remarkable example of how initiatives like this can transform lives and open up new opportunities.
We also celebrated World Pharmacists Day this September, a chance to recognise and thank our community pharmacists for the
vital role they play.
We spoke with James, a community pharmacist in Methven, who, thanks to CPCT funding, now works one day a week at Rakaia Medical Centre. Be sure to check out this story and the other inspiring highlights from across our practice network and primary care.
Ngā mihi nui,
Kim Sinclair-Morris Pegasus Health Chief Executive Officer
“Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi”
With your basket and my basket, we will sustain everyone.
World Pharmacy Day
Meet James, a general practice pharmacist
James Nethercott is the community pharmacist at Methven Pharmacy. Through CPCT funding, James is now able to work one day a week at Rakaia Medical Centre. In his role as a pharmacist working as an integrated member of the general practice team, James splits his time between being based in the practice and making home visits to people in the community.
This means that the community has access to a pharmacist where they’re most comfortable. Doing home visits also means he gets a real look at what’s in the medicine cabinet, how patients are taking their medications and how they’re managing. James has been in the role for six weeks and being flexible is a critical part of the job.
“Our initial ideas for how the role would work have changed as time has gone on and more and more needs have cropped up,” says James.
Overall, James has fitted in well with the Rakaia team. “The professional interactions are really helpful,” says James. “Being able to have those chats and come up with a plan for the patients is really rewarding.”
The tasks James has taken on in the past six weeks include:
• Medication reviews
• Reviewing patients, virtually and in-person
• Following up with high risk (5+ different medications) patients
• Vaccinations
• Discharge reconciliations
• Reviewing repeat prescriptions
• Dry cupboard review and quality assurance
• Advising patients on health and healthy living
• Answering questions from other practice staff
James Nethercott
Rakaia Medical Centre
Celebrating Community Spirit
Kaikōura Healthcare embrace Te Ao Māori
Kaikōura Healthcare is deeply committed to embracing Te Ao Māori in their practice.
Recently their journey encompassed a focus on Te Tiriti o Waitangi when Pegasus Health Hauora Māori Manager, Kimi Jackson, facilitated a three-hour workshop on the Treaty’s impact on healthcare. The session brought together 22 hospital and primary care staff, including nurses, doctors, receptionists, and administrative staff.
“It was an enlightening experience for our team,” said Angela Blunt, Practice Manager at Kaikōura Healthcare. “We have a passion for building stronger relationships with our Māori whānau, and this workshop has helped deepen our understanding of how Te Tiriti underpins equitable health care.”
The equity champions in the team have been instrumental in introducing initiatives that celebrate Te Ao Māori in everyday practice. Waiata and karakia are now integral parts of the team’s routine, creating a more culturally inclusive environment.
The back office is adorned with te reo Māori posters featuring general and health-related words and phrases, making the space a visual celebration of Māori culture.
“The marae is just over the back fence, and we continue to build a strong relationship with our local hapū,” Angela added. “As a result of a cultural competency workshop on Tangi, death and dying, organised with our local Rūnanga, we have developed a beautiful way to send off our patients when they pass away in the hospital or rest home.
This involves staff and whānau in a guard of honour including waiata and hīmene [hymns], as appropriate to the person, and on occasion a kaikaranga comes to karanga as the tūpāpaku [deceased person] leaves the facility, honouring the person’s journey in a deeply spiritual way.”
In addition to the workshop, Kimi Jackson also led a short te reo pronunciation session with staff during their morning huddle, helping the team gain confidence in using the language every day.
“It’s the small steps that make the biggest difference,” Angela said.
He moana pukepuke e ekengia e te waka A choppy sea can be navigated.
Kaikōura Health Centre Exterior
Kaikōura Health Centre Interior
Farmlet Farm Story - Te Puna Wai ō Tuhinapo Youth Justice Residence
Stepping through the gate with Barty Doak into the farm at Te Puna Wai ō Tuhinapo
Youth Justice
Residence, you’re struck by a sense of calm.
Barty isn’t just a farmer, he’s a mentor and guide, offering stability to the youth at the facility. His deep connection to the land, rooted in his upbringing, inspired the 5-Acre Farm initiative.
“Growing up in a farming community taught me the value of hard work, patience, and responsibility,” Barty said. “I knew bringing that here would create real change for these residents.”
In 2018, the vision for Te Puna Wai Farm took shape. Barty and the team started small, first mowing a simple field and through hard work grew the 5-Acre Farmlet, which now provides a nurturing environment for the rangatahi (young people) at Te Puna Wai.
Barty believed the farm could be a place for growth, not just for crops and animals but for the youth as well. It began by cleaning up the grounds around the residence and building sheds and pens from old materials they found. Slowly, the farm grew through the dedication and hard work of the rangatahi.
Leanne Doake, Team Leader of the Pegasus Nurses who are a key part of the facility, reflected on how the farmlet became a cornerstone of Te Puna Wai’s rehabilitation efforts.
“The farmlet is the jewel in Te Puna Wai’s crown. It’s where our rangatahi can engage in hands-on farm activities like
building a chicken coop, feeding animals, or constructing fences. Watching them take pride in their work is something special,” Leanne said. The farm also offers practical, hands-on learning. Barty has been working toward obtaining his 4098 assessors’ qualification which will mean rangatahi working on the farm can earn New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA credits for their work. This opens doors for the youth, providing real qualifications to take with them after they leave Te Puna Wai.
“Here on the farm they can really let down their guard and learn. I know some of the residents have been employed once they leave us as a result of the farm skills they have learned here,” Barty said. “One of the main goals of Te Puna Wai is to help residents make a change. Thanks to this farmlet program we are seeing the results all kiwis want for the residents who come through our doors.”
The 5-Acre Farmlet at Te Puna Wai stands as a beacon of hope and transformation. The skills the residents acquire go beyond the physical tasks of farm life, instilling values of empathy, responsibility and pride. These are the skills to truly help them long after they leave Te Puna Wai. As the farm continues to grow and evolve, so do the lives of the youth who pass through its gates. Each of them leaving with a newfound sense of purpose and a brighter future on the horizon.
Inspired by the way rangatahi are engaging with the farm, nurses at the Te Puna Wai health clinic have started the Animal Wall, a display filled with photos of the farm’s animals, staff pets and residents’ pets. It’s more than just decoration, it’s a conversation starter and a bridge to trust-building.
“The Animal Wall creates a warm, friendly atmosphere,” Leanne said. “It sparks conversations, especially with those feeling nervous on their first admission. Talking about a quirky pet name or deciding which animal is the cutest helps break down barriers.”reward of having made a difference.
Shetland Pony hunting more snacks
Hand feeding lamas
Can I take this one home?
Mama Sow teaching some foraging
Sheep enjoying some spring sun
Pacific Peoples Story
Pacific Peoples are diverse, with distinct traditions, languages, and cultures.
Despite these differences, there exist cultural similarities linked to precolonial inter-island trading, marriage, and reciprocity. The collective sharing of these cultures and traditions was evident at a recent Pacific General Assembly Hui held between Pacific Peoples and tangata whenua in Otautahi Christchurch. It was organised by Tangata Atumotu Trust to highlight the value of rangatiratanga, or selfdetermination, through collective cultural representation.
For Pegasus Health, equity and rangatiratanga are key values that guide its practice. Pegasus Health was represented at the hui by its Manager of Pacific Health who participated in the celebration of gifting on behalf of the Otautahi Pacific community. The gift of kete (Māori) or ketekete (Fijian) is fitting, signifying a diverse culture woven together in unity to represent the collective voice of Pacific Peoples in Christchurch. The blending of tangata whenua and Pacific Peoples’ cultures at the hui recognised that in Aotearoa, 25% of Pacific Peoples also have whakapapa Māori, underscoring our shared genealogical ties.
Esala Vakamacawai, the Manager of Pacific Health at Pegasus Health Charitable Trust, presents a gift to Tangata Whenua. The gift symbolised the willingness of Pacific Peoples to be represented and heard at the national level.
The Pacific community leaders at the
hui used the event to select someone of both traditional and legal standing to be their representative and speak on their behalf at the national level. They picked former Labour government minister Aupito Tofae Su’a William Sio. He will become the voice of Pacific Peoples in New Zealand and receive and represent community-based information from regional advisory boards across the country.
His selection shows that a collective approach is crucial in determining a better outcome for the health and well-being of the Pacific community, and the hui symbolised the strength of having a united voice in decisionmaking, summed up by Japanese poet Ryunosuke Satoro who wrote, ‘Individually we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.’
Cultural autonomy, equity and health literacy Autonomy within a culturally diverse community empowers participation regardless of age, population size, ethnicity and gender. While cultural representation is essential in a diverse Pacific community, we should acknowledge that in Aotearoa, some ethnic groups have greater numbers than others.
For example, Samoa has the biggest population at 49%, followed by Cook Island Maori at 21%, Tongan at 20%, and Niuean at 8%, and Fijian 5% of the Pacific population (Lilo et al., 2020). The risk is when we focus on the majority, the minority becomes excluded, creating an environment that negatively impacts
Esala Vakamacawai, the Manager of Pacific Health at Pegasus Health Charitable Trust, presents a gift to Tangata Whenua. The gift symbolised the willingness of Pacific Peoples to be represented and heard at the national level. their health and well-being.
For Fijians at the hui, witnessing their culture and traditions performed was a breakthrough, as a participant observed: “Au dau masuta lo tu me na dua na siga, me na bau laurai talega na noda itovo ni kai Viti.”
(It has always been my prayer that a day will come when Fijian culture and tradition will be showcased in a Pacific community event). A key takeaway from the hui was the understanding that equity in our diverse Pacific community is essential for improving the participation and involvement of the target population.
If the same view is incorporated into non-government organisations and primary healthcare practice, we will see an improvement in healthseeking behaviours leading to better health literacy and outcome.
A Cook Island Māori cultural group and a Fijian warrior perform during the Hui. The collaboration of the two cultures is a sign of peace within the community.
A Cook Island Māori cultural group and a Fijian warrior perform during the Hui. The collaboration of the two cultures is a sign of peace within the community
Faster Access to MRI Scans Highlighted at GPCME Conference
At the recent General Practice Conference & Medical Exhibition (GPCME) in Ōtautahi Christchurch, a new initiative to improve access to MRI scans for knee, lumbar, and cervical spine patients took centre stage.
The GP referred MRI initiative (GPMRI), delivered by Dr. Akshey Shukla and Dr. Robyn Barnes in collaboration with ACC, allows general practitioners (GPs) who complete specialised training to refer patients directly for MRI scans, reducing wait times from months to just days.
“Accessibility to the imaging for GPs reduces the unnecessary burden on the tertiary care and improves patient waiting time”, said Dr Mark Coates, Radiologist.
So far, more than 640 GPs and nurse practitioners have completed the training, benefiting over 5,000 patients. The program, funded by ACC, and led by Pegasus in collaboration with local PHOs is running in the West Coast, South Canterbury, Nelson, and Marlborough.
“This initiative also aims to benefit communities that have faced barriers to timely healthcare, focusing on better health outcomes for Māori and Pacific peoples populations”, said Dr Eli Leckey, a GP working as Equity
lead for the Concussion initiative.
The training includes both practical exams and detailed guidelines, ensuring GPs and NPs can safely and effectively refer patients for MRIs.
For more information on the GPMRI program or to participate in upcoming training, contact Dr. Akshey Shukla at Akshay.shukla@ pegasus.health.nz.
Attendees learned how to improve access to MRI Scans for patients
Dr. Akshey Shukla speaks with attendees
Enhancing GP Skills in Managing Knee, Spine, and Ankle Injuries
As part of the ongoing GPMRI program, a workshop was held at Pegasus House to enhance general practitioner (GP) knowledge and skills in assessing and treating knee, spine, and ankle injuries.
This phase of the program focuses on improving GP decision making after an MRI, guiding them on when surgery may be required and how to manage conditions that don’t require surgery.
Participants rotated through four rooms, each featuring a 20-minute presentation on musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries. Sessions were coled by radiologists, orthopedic surgeons, physiotherapists, and an MSK physician.
Knee Injuries
• Team: Mr. Alex Lee (Orthopaedic Surgeon), Dr. Robyn Barnes (GP), and Dr. Clarke Baker (Radiologist).
• Focus: Understanding imaging findings, exploring surgical and non-surgical options, and discussing knee injury cases, including issues like radiculopathy and knee locking.
Spine Injuries
• Team: Mr. David Keiser (Orthopaedic Surgeon), Dr. Robyn Barnes (GP), and Dr. Mark Coates (Radiologist).
• Focus: Assessment and
treatment strategies for spine injuries, including how to interpret imaging results effectively.
Ankle Injuries
• Team: Dr. Andreas Shekkeris (Radiologist), Dr. Eli Leckley (GP), and Mr. Brad Stone (Orthopaedic Surgeon).
• Focus: Accurate diagnosis and treatment of ankle injuries, with a deep dive into best practice approaches.
Conservative Management and Examination
• Team: Dr. Chris Pratt (MSK Physician), Mr. Jeremy McTear (Physiotherapist), and a Radiologist.
• Focus: Conservative treatment methods, physical examination techniques for knee and spine injuries, and interactive case study discussions.
For more information on the GPMRI program or to participate in upcoming training, contact Dr. Akshey Shukla at Akshay.shukla@ pegasus.health.nz.
Showing how to interpret spinal imaging results effectively
Discussing best practices for ankle injuries
Hands on training for knee injury diagnosis
General Practice Small Group Peer Education Model Successfully Piloted in the UK
Pegasus Health’s Clinical Quality and Education team recently celebrated a significant milestone with the acceptance of their research publication in the British Journal of General Practice Open (BJGP Open).
The article focuses on the successful pilot of its Small Group peer education model for GPs in South Tyneside, UK.
The pilot, part of an international collaboration between South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group and Pegasus Health, aimed to determine whether the successful Pegasus model of peerled professional development could be adapted and successfully implemented in a different healthcare system.
For over 30 years, Pegasus Health has been delivering this Small Group education model in Waitaha Canterbury. The programme brings GPs together in small groups to engage in interactive discussions, informed by evidence and locally relevant data, with a strong emphasis on peer-developed content. Given its success in Aotearoa, the question was whether this model could be transferable across borders.
Between November 2021 and March 2022, three pilot sessions were held in South Tyneside, focusing on clinical topics
relevant for practising GPs such as persistent pain, screening, and optimising treatment. Four UKbased GPs were trained as Small Group leaders to facilitate the peer group discussions and help the Pegasus team tailor the content to their local context.
The results were overwhelmingly positive. Attendance grew steadily across the three topics from 31 to 61 GPs, and 90% of participants rating the quality of the sessions as either “good” or “excellent.” This strong feedback has paved the way for two further phases of the pilot programme in South Tyneside.
The pilot demonstrated the transferability of the Pegasus Small Group education model to another health system and the potential for global collaboration in GP education. Future evaluation will focus on assessing the longterm impact on patient care and the broader benefits of peer-led professional development for the health system.
Read the full published article here: https://bjgpopen.org/content/ early/2024/08/16/BJGPO.2023.0227
Moving forward the Group Education Programme has been subsequently re-branded to Clinical Connect Peer Education Programme.
We want your feedback
If you have feedback on this issue or would like to share a suggestion for a story in our next issue please contact communication@pegasus.health.nz.
Tōtara Pegasus Health Pānui is produced by the Communications Team at Pegasus Health. Content within Tōtara Pegasus Health Pānui has been included with the approval of content providers.
If you wish to reproduce or alter and transmit any of the information or images contained within, please contact communication@pegasus.org.nz
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