Better HealthW E L C O M E T O B E T T E R H E A LT H

A DV E RT I SI N G F E AT U R E

0415n5000-16-h

Tino-E-Tasi Pre-school children holding their ‘Smile for Life’ Poster at the poster launch

Southern DHB performs its first Emergency Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) under local anaestheticHarold Masters from Balclutha has become the first patient to benefit from a type of life-saving surgery at Dunedin Hospital.

Mr Masters underwent the first emergency endovascular repair (EVAR) conducted solely under local anaesthetic, for a ruptured aneurysm (ballooning of an artery), ever conducted at Dunedin Hospital. This is a first for the South Island, with very few emergency local-anaesthetic EVARs having been carried out in the country.

EVAR is surgery to repair an aneurysm in a patient’s aorta (the largest blood vessel in the body). An aneurysm is a widening or bulging of the aorta. In this case, Mr Masters’ aneurysm had actually ruptured.

Conventional surgery for aneurysm repair usually involves a large abdominal incision.

However, Mr Masters underwent the significantly less invasive EVAR procedure.

Endovascular means “inside the vessel”. It involves making two small incisions in the groin and passing a stentgraft through blood vessels to seal off the aneurysm.

The minimally-invasive procedure was carried out by a team led by Mrs Jo Krysa, Vascular Surgeon, and Dr Gabriel Lau, Interventional Radiologist.

Mrs Krysa said that, “a ruptured aneurysm that is treated with open repair involves patients usually staying in intensive care for a number of days and then on a surgical ward for 10 to 14 days, followed by long-term rehabilitation.

“Mr Masters had the EVAR under local anaesthetic and was on

the phone to his wife during the procedure! He spent one night in the hospital’s high dependency unit rather than the intensive care unit and was discharged after only four days.

The procedure has all the advantages over traditional open surgery, including less time in hospital, less risk of infection and a shorter recovery period, so that the patient can return to normal activities sooner. This is a great result for the patient and a cost saving for the DHB,” she said.

The patient, Mr Masters, said, “Mrs Krysa explained that we would try to do the procedure under local anaesthetic, which for me worked very well!”

Following Mr Masters’ successful operation, he has been recovering at home and is delighted with the operation and how quickly he is recovering.

“Smile for Life”� poster series launched for World Oral Health DaySouthern DHB celebrated World Oral Health Day with the launch of the ‘Smile for Life’ poster series.

World Oral Health Day is celebrated every year on the 20th of March. It is an international day to celebrate the benefits of a healthy mouth and to promote worldwide awareness of the issues around oral health and the importance of good oral health for everyone, old and young. Around 90% of the world’s population will suffer from oral diseases in their lifetime and many of these can be avoided.

‘Smile for Life’ is the theme this

year and it has a double meaning: ‘lifelong smile’ and ‘celebrating life’. This fits with the New Zealand Government strategic vision for oral health in New Zealand – Good Oral Health for All for Life.

In keeping with this theme, Southern DHB Oral Health Promotion Advisor, Community Oral Health Service, Kate Hall produced a series of eight posters featuring participants from across the district. The first poster in the series features a pregnant woman and the subsequent posters feature subjects from different ages and stages across the lifespan. Each

poster has a story that relates to the subject’s oral health journey. All eight are very different and convey important oral health messages. The posters will be used across the district to promote good oral health.

“These posters are a great way of conveying the important messages about good oral health for all people throughout their lives. They’re bright and informative, but above all people can relate to them,” said Southern DHB Dental Public Health Specialist, Clinical Leader Oral Health Services, Dr Tim Mackay.

Remember to Immunise on timeIt’s immunisation week between 24 and 30 April and Southern DHBs immunisation teams are raising awareness among parents of young children and babies (especially parents of babies younger than eight months) of the importance of immunisation to protect their child against serious illnesses.

Alice van Zijl knows only too well the importance of immunisation, as her first son, Logan, now aged six, had Rotavirus when he was just under a year old. The virus left Logan in hospital with severe vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, stomach pain and dehydration.

“It all happened so quickly,” said Alice.

“I picked Logan up from day care at 3pm, when he had just started vomiting, and by 6pm he was in hospital, severely dehydrated. It was terrifying.”

“Logan was really sick and it was awful to have a baby who was so ill. We felt really helpless and I really would urge parents to have their children immunised.”

As well as Logan, Alice now has Archie, aged four and a half, and is expecting her third baby anytime now.

When Logan caught Rotavirus, the Rotavirus vaccination wasn’t

included in childhood vaccinations. Fortunately, since last July, a Rotavirus vaccine (Rotateq) has been provided nationally alongside the other childhood vaccinations administered when children are six weeks, three months and five months of age.

“I’ve always made sure that all my children’s immunisations are up to date, and it’s great that now all babies have the Rotavirus vaccinations and that Rotavirus isn’t something we will have to deal with,” said Alice.

Southern DHB Medical Officer of Health, Dr Keith Reid said that, “Alice’s story shows the importance of immunisation and although Logan had Rotavirus before the vaccination was provided in New Zealand, parents are now able to protect their children from this serious infection.”

“To fully protect a child from preventable disease, they must be vaccinated at six weeks, three months, five months, 15 months and at age 4, 11 and 12. It’s a commitment well worth making,” he said.

If parents have any questions about immunisation they should ask to discuss these with their family doctor or practice nurse.

The medical team who performed the EVAR procedure and patient,Mr Harold Masters this week after his follow up appointment.

Alice and Logan (now age 6)

0415n5001 - 82 - 16.4.15 - sdhb - pg2 - f/c

Jan with colleagues, family and friends at her retirement afternoon tea

Farewell to Jan SeuseuLast week marked the retirement of Jan Seuseu, Charge Nurse Manager of Dunedin Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Jan trained in Dunedin and Balclutha Hospitals and qualified as a registered nurse in 1972. She worked initially at Dunedin Mater Hospital from 1971 to 1974 before moving back into the public sector to work at Dunedin’s Queen Mary Hospital as a staff nurse. Jan has worked in Dunedin Hospital NICU since 1981 in various roles, progressing her career through to Charge Nurse Manager in 2001.

She has constantly sought to upgrade her skills and knowledge, sitting on numerous committees, being involved in valuable research and constantly striving to ensure Dunedin Hospital NICU provides the best care possible. Jan has extended her interests outside the unit through her involvement with NZNO and has been highly

regarded as a negotiation committee member over the years.

Jan was closely involved in the Children’s Health Inpatient Relocation Project (CHIRP) for the new paediatric and neonatal units and it is clear from the success of the new NICU that her ideas and vision have been valuably translated into what the unit is today.

“Jan has been a great strength to the unit and the wider Charge Nurse Manager group. She will be sadly missed, not only in NICU, but throughout the organisation. Her contribution has been immense and has positively influenced the outcomes for many families using the NICU service. We wish Jan well for her retirement and hope that this new phase in her life will be full of the pleasures and contentment that she deserves,” said Southern DHB Nurse Director, Women’s, Children’s and Public Health Directorate, Jane Wilson.

Southern DHB goes ‘Spotty’Southern DHB went ‘Spotty’ on the 27th of March to raise awareness of Melanoma.

March was Melanoma Awareness Month and the Melanoma Foundation held its third national ‘Go Spotty’ Mufti Day to raise awareness of this disease which is affecting over 4000 Kiwis every year.

The idea was to get everyone wearing something spotty or dotty to get people thinking about melanoma and checking their skin for ‘spots’ or signs that could lead to melanoma later on in life.

Vicki Devery, Physiotherapist and Manual Handling Advisor at Southland Hospital, came up with the idea of holding a ‘Go Spotty’ day at the DHB.

Vicki wanted to raise awareness of melanoma because she has had a melanoma which, thanks to early detection, has been successfully removed.

“In mid-2013, I noticed a dark freckle on my left upper arm which had been there for while. I have lots of freckles so hadn’t thought much about it. After it became tender I visited my GP, who removed the freckle,” said Vicki.

A week later, the results came back as a diagnosis of stage II primary melanoma, with the recommendation for a wide local excision. Vicki had the excision and now has six-monthly checks.

“I had not thought about my skin as a potential health hazard, so it has opened my eyes to thinking about my skin more. I worry now when I see someone who is sunburnt, or sitting out in the sun with little protection. I feel that if it can happen to me at the age of 30 then it can happen to anyone,” she said.

Vicki wanted to support and promote “spotty day” as a way of getting people to think about their skin and how they look after it, as well as people thinking about their families, especially children.

“I would like people to be more proactive in checking their spots and determining what is normal for them, so that they are aware of any changes and can then get these changes checked out by a GP. If in doubt, get it checked out!”

Southern DHB Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon and chair of the Melanoma Multi-Disciplinary Meeting Mr Will McMillan said that: ‘Go Spotty Day is a great way to raise melanoma awareness. The annual melanoma toll in New Zealand is higher than the road toll and melanoma is the biggest cancer killer of New Zealanders aged between 25 and 45. Prevention and early detection are our best hope of improving this. If caught early, melanoma has a much higher chance of cure. ‘

For more information, go to: http://www.melanoma.org.nz/melanoma/overview/

Vicky Devery with the prizes on offer for ‘Going Spotty’ at Southern DHB

New Audiologist welcomed at Southland HospitalSouthern DHB has welcomed Michelle Quinn as a new member of its audiology team based at Southland Hospital.

Michelle has just completed her Masters in Audiology at Auckland University and started her new position at the beginning of March. She will be seeing mainly children, from newborn to 18 years old.

The appointment of Michelle at Southland Hospital means that Southern DHB can provide a better service to the Southland community.

“Our audiology service at the Southland site over the past few years has been mainly outsourced apart from the new born hearing testing and advanced paediatric testing. We now have an Audiologist on the Southland site who is a new graduate and being supervised by Robyn McNeur, Professional Leader Audiology, who is based in Dunedin,” said Southern DHB Executive Director of Allied Health, Scientific and Technical, Lynda McCutcheon.

“We can now offer a strengthened audiology service to families in Southland,’ she said.

Michelle whose family live in Christchurch is originally from the UK and says that she is, “really enjoying her new job and loved working with children.”

About the Southern DHB Audiology teamThe team is based in Dunedin and now in Southland Hospitals. It specialises in children’s hearing testing and hearing aids. The range of equipment used is the most up to date available which ensures accurate diagnosis of hearing loss in children and enables the team to provide the optimum rehabilitation for children with hearing loss.

The team consists of four audiologists all of whom are either Members of the Audiology Society and hold Clinical Certification or are working towards this goal together with clerical support on both sites ensuring the smooth running of the Department.

Various services are provided including diagnostic hearing assessments for children, hearing aid fitting for children

with permanent hearing loss, and ototoxicity monitoring (monitoring hearing loss which can be caused by treatment for other health problems such as high dose antibiotics or chemotherapy). Providing audiological support to ENT Outpatient clinics is a priority on both sites.

How to access the Audiology Service:The service can be accessed in a number of ways including referral from your:• GP• Speech and Language Therapist• Paediatrician• School Vision and Hearing Tester• Plunket Nurse

If you have any concerns about your child’s hearing please contact your GP who can arrange a referral to the Audiology team.

Southern Strategic Health Plan — What’s happening?In March we visited Alexandra, Balclutha, Winton, Invercargill, Murihuku Marae, Te Anau, Dunedin, Arai Te Uru Marae, Gore, Oamaru, Wanaka and Queenstown to update you on the progress we have made with our Southern Strategic Health Plan. Thank you to all the people who came to one of these Roadshows.

At the Roadshows we discussed the opportunity to be involved in

Locality Network Groups to help us implement our Plan. In April we will be advertising for anyone who is interested in the future design of health care services to come forward and nominate themselves to sit on these Groups.

The Groups will, over the coming months, receive information from our clinical teams on the future design of health care services and have the opportunity to

provide the DHB with suggestions and feedback on improving the services in their local area. If you are interested please email liz.disney@southerndhb.govt.nz with your contact details.

We will be providing regular updates in Better Health as well as quarterly updates on our website www.southerndhb.govt.nz/pages/sshp

Robyn McNeur, Professional Leader Audiology and new Audiologist Michelle Quinn