Consumer Council

Summary of Consumer Council Meeting – May 2022

This month the Consumer Council heard about the work that is being undertaken by the Hamilton City Council regarding their Disability Plan that will provide links and information for the disabled community in relation to facilities and accessibility within the Hamilton area.  It also includes work that is being proposed within the Hamilton area for upgrading some facilities to be friendlier for the disabled community.  Waikato DHB is one of the partners in this project.

The Council also heard about what is happening within the Asian and Migrant community with regards improving communications related to their care.

An update was provided to the Council around Covid.  One of the key factors and focus for communications is vaccinations, not just Covid vaccinations but also those that relate to measles, mumps, rubella and childhood vaccinations, to be ready for the winter.

Summary of Consumer Council Meeting – April 2022

This month’s hui was shorter in duration than normal due to other hui commitments.  The Council did, however, hear two excellent presentations.  The first was in relation to the work being done within the area of renal world and whilst this isn’t a study it is extensive work to improve services to those who are requiring dialysis  Basics being looked at are who we serve and where our patients come from – who are our patients.  The renal services at the DHB are having to move and the new premises will provide the ability to provide services to more patients.

The Council also heard about the proposed improvements to the emergency services area at the hospital.  The plan is to provide improved flow for patients and alleviate space constraints that currently exist.  This is still in the proposal stage and has not been fully approved.

Summary of Consumer Council Meeting – February 2022

The Consumer Council met for the first time in 2022.  They were introduced to Kataraina who is the new Chair of Iwi Maori Council and will (when available) be attending the Consumer Council hui moving forward.

Presentations at this month’s hui covered the Disability Responsiveness Plan, an update on Equity and also an update on Covid-19 responsiveness.

The Disability Responsiveness Plan is about the aim to improve the responsiveness of our health services.  This was approved in October and this is now ready for printing. 

There will be a dedicated intranet hub for disability where all the documents in relation to support will be available, this will include things like information around parking, wheelchair access, bus timetables.  The rest of the implementation will happen once plan is launched.  There will be quarterly progress reports.  Will submit the updated plan at the next hui. 

On Wednesday it was announced vaccination booster for 18 and up is now 3 months from the 2^ndvaccination not 4 months.  Waikato DHB have delivered over 100,000 boosters to day.  

Summary of Consumer Council Meeting – December 2021

Taranaki DHB are in the process of putting their own Consumer Council into place so attended this month’s Consumer Council hui via Teams with an aim to learn more about the way a Consumer Council  works.

Presentations where given by one of the Māori Equity Strategy Analysts on where the KPIs stand in regards to Equity.

An update was provided to the Consumer Council on the Community Health Forums that are held throughout the year.  One of the items discussed was the potential for special CHF meetings to be held for the disabled community.

Summary of Consumer Council Meeting – November 2021

Angela, who holds a GP Liaison role, is one of a group of GP liaisons who interface between primary care and the DHB the November Consumer Council hui.  Angela addressed concerns and questions that the Consumer Council had themselves or had heard around fact or fiction surrounding the Covid vaccination.  She was asked about ways to get the correct information out to whānau and the community who may hold concerns around the vaccine.  

The Consumer Council got to meet the new Director of Māori Health Services, Equity Hospital & Community who has recently started with the DHB.

Following introductions the Consumer Council were provided with an update on the Travel Plan and Survey including some of the results that have come from this and where to from here.

Also on the table and discussed at length was the provision and delivery of services to the rural areas.

There was an update on Telehealth and what is happening with extending this as well as the effectives on digital services that are recovering from the cyber-attack.

Our main speaker this month provided a presentation around Māori Equity Research.  This generated some healthy interest and discussion around the three projects that are underway.  The projects take place over 3 years, 2 years and 1 year respectively although the third project has been given a slightly extended timeframe due to both the cyber-attack on the hospital and Covid.  These studies cover Cancer WHIRI, Collaboration and Activation.

Discussions were also held in relation to inhouse work being done to improve the quality of services and understanding of equity to the community as a whole.

A presentation was around the Disability Responsiveness Plan was given to the Consumer Council.  It was an excellent and informative presentation. This plan is not just for those with disabilities but should be for anyone accessing health care and not all disabilities can be seen so includes physical, mental and sensory disabilities.  Great feedback was provided which will now be taken into account in the plan.  Once the plan incorporates the feedback it will be presented to CPHAC.

This month’s hui was the first following the cyber-attack so there were discussions around the recovery process and the responses that have been put in place. Most of the hui was with the Council being provided with updates on equity which also provided information around the new Māori Equity Clinical Response Team which has now been put into place along with new Equity Response Initiatives.

Covid vaccinations and the equity around these were also discussed in detail.

The new Director, Quality & Patient Safety and new Chief Medical Officer Primary & Community Health were introduced to the Consumer Council.

Summary of Consumer Council Meeting – March 2022

This month the Consumer Council had the opportunity to discuss what is happening within the community in relation to Covid.  Members were able to discuss problems that were being experienced by the community in accessing tests, RATs, help for those who are isolated at home.

Almost a year ago, the Consumer Council heard about the Localities Project so this month guests provided an update on the stages various parts of this project are at.  At the last update, a flow diagram was shared that summed up our approach to localities.  Although not moved away from the principles there has been a range of national activity, which has given the opportunity to review and reflect, and are now led more along the national approach