4 Wairarapa Midweek Local News Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Man caught fire at hospital Eli Hill One patient caught fire, and another died after a colonoscopy at Wairarapa Hospital between July 1 last year and June 30 this year, according to adverse events reported to the Health Quality and Safety Commission. They were two of nine adverse events reported by the Wairarapa District Health Board. Three of the adverse events were colonoscopy related. An elderly patient with a variety of chronic health problems died after undergoing a colonoscopy. The DHB reviewed its procedure and found that patients with previous health problems should have a clinical appointment beforehand to look at the risks involved in the surgery. One patient needed to be transferred to another hospital after suffering a bowel perforation following a colonoscopy and biopsy. Another patient also needed to be transferred to another hospital after undergoing a colonoscopy and receiving a bowel perforation. The patient had other health conditions and was on anti-coagulant medicine. To ensure both events wouldn’t happen again the DHB purchased a new endoscopy machine and ensured they had clear procedures going forward. Wairarapa District Health Board communication manager Anna Cardno said the
Wairarapa DHB Adverse Events July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018 • Elderly patient with chronic health problems, died, colonoscopy; • Patient caught fire during surgery; • Two bowel perforations, colonoscopies; • Fused knee joint as result of infection; • Patient with fractured femur fell, fracturing arm; • Three mental health events.
burns around their knee and had to undergo surgery and skin grafting as a result. Following a review, the hospital found that products containing alcohol should be taken out of the operating theatre when surgery is performed, and skin should be given time to dry after alcohol products are used. After undergoing a knee joint replacement and getting an infection that didn’t respond to treatments a patient was left with a fused joint. A review found that the hospital had provided appropriate care, backed up by expert advice that
said tracking down the source of the disease would’ve been difficult. An elderly patient already suffering from a fractured femur (leg bone) fractured their humorous (arm bone) after falling in the bathroom. While a review is still in progress the DHB will add a falls education session to its update days for staff. Three mental health events were also reported, but further information on them was not made public. Cardno said, “We continue to encourage a reporting culture, and support staff to review and improve systems and processes where the opportunity arises.”
A truck driver was seriously injured after a truck went off a bank and landed in a stream about 12km along Masterton Stronvar Rd at about 6pm last Thursday. It appeared the truck failed to negotiate a left-hand bend and crossed the road, taking out 30 metres of fencing before crashing down the bank for about 30 metres before coming to rest near a stream. When police arrived, they found the driver, who had suffered serious injuries, conscious and breathing, a police spokesperson said. Fire services personnel carried the driver up to the road to be attended by ambulance staff. A Life Flight helicopter was called from Wellington and arrived at the scene at 6.50pm to pick up the driver for treatment in Wellington.
Christmas in the car park
Wairarapa Hospital. PHOTO/EMILY IRELAND
number of endoscopies had significantly increased since the initiation of a bowel screening programme for men and women last year. “Being such a commonly performed procedure, colonoscopies do reflect in these figures.” Cardno said that like all surgical procedures colonoscopies have identified risks. One of the more unusual reported events was a patient catching fire after undergoing diathermy, a surgical technique involving the production of heat through applying electric currents to the patient’s body. The patient received
Truck goes off bank, into river
The number of adverse events reported in Wairarapa have grown slightly, the nine reported this year up from eight the year before, and three, two years ago. New Zealand wide there were 982 reported adverse events, 631 reported by district health boards. Clinical management events were the largest number of events reported by DHBs with 317 reported New Zealand wide. DHBs reported 255 incidents of harm caused by falls, 31 to do with infection, 20 for medication or IV fluid, five due to consumer accidents and three due to medical devices.
Whaiora will be hosting ‘Christmas in the Carpark’ for the second year running. The event will be held on Friday, December 14 from 3pm-5pm. Whaiora spokesperson Jane Ross said there would be all sorts of stalls from donated clothing to toys and other items. “Christmas in the Carpark is our Christmas gift to our clients and whanau,” she said. “We wish them a happy and healthy Meri Kirihimete.” Also at the event will be old school games like hop scotch and gutter ball, a sausage sizzle, face painting, and music. There will be carol singing from 4.30pm-5pm.
Trishaw a gift to town’s elderly and disabled Continued from page 1 and Noel Hamilton House, but people based in their own homes who would benefit from the service can also get in touch. “I’ve had elderly people who see parts of the town
they’ve never seen before – they’ve been in a rest home for 10 years and haven’t really seen the town. “We literally give them wind in their hair, we literally let them smell the roses – it’s wonderful.”
South Wairarapa Mayor Viv Napier said it was “wonderful” not only to address a need in the community – but to go above and beyond that need. “It’s a little bit extra to make people’s lives
Christmas Gift Ideas
more pleasant and more enjoyable, especially if you are someone who can’t get out and about as you used to. “I look forward to seeing this trishaw going around Greytown giving people smiles on their faces.”
The project was successful with the support of Greytown Lions Club, Freemasons of Wairarapa (driven by Greytown St Mark’s Lodge), Greytown RSA, Greytown Lands Trust, South Wairarapa Rotary
Club, Greytown Lionesses, Greytown Community Board, South Wairarapa Workingmen’s Club, South Wairarapa Inner Wheel, Bruce Eglinton, Adam Blackwell, Nigel Thorp, and many other generous donors.
Come in and see us 431 Queen Street, Kuripuni, Masterton Phone: 378 6060 Email: carl@countrylife.co.nz www.countrylife.co.nz
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