The Consumer Council promotes and oversees consumer involvement in the planning and delivery of Waikato DHB services, and provides advice to the Waikato DHB’s board and senior management.
It currently has 12 members (including two co-chairs) with a range of skills, ages, experience, qualities and networks, importantly those who have personal or family experience in accessing health services.
All members bring their own experiences to the Consumer Council. They are not representatives of any specific organisation or community.
The Consumer Council works in partnership with the DHB to provide a consumer perspective and help shape health services and make sure they meet the needs of Waikato communities.
The Consumer Council meets monthly and summaries of the most recent meetings are posted below.
For more information about the Consumer Council, please contact consumercouncil@waikatodhb.health.nz
Current Consumer Council members
Summary of Consumer Council Meeting - May 2021
The Consumer Council met via Zoom this month. Our final two new members were welcomed and introduced to the existing Council members.
Updates and discussion was held around the Equity Action Plan, Disability Profile, Disability Responsiveness Plan and the HQSC Māori Health Equity Markers dashboard.
Work is still being done on all these projects and whilst some aspects are complete there is still work needing to be undertaken before release.
Summary of Consumer Council Meeting - April 2021
Following the Easter period the Consumer Council were able to meet in person and as well as the existing members being at the meeting there were two of the three new members attending.
The first agenda item was the whakatau welcome the new members to the Council. Our new members are passionate about equity for Māori and disabled peoples as well as improvement of the health system for all people and chronic conditions.
With formalities and introductions completed the Council moved onto hearing about the Equity Report, Whānau Hauā Health and Wellbeing profile and the Mental Health & Disability System Review. Discussion was also held around the Māori Health Equity Report - Health, Quality & Safety Commission. These reports provided a baseline for improvement
Summary of Consumer Council Meeting – March 2021
A very interesting hui this month with three important presentations given to the Council. The first was an update on the Locality Development Approach from Fiona Murdoch, Programme Lead Localities. This related to services that are being put in place for rural areas to link health, social and community services, and what stage these are at and where to moving forward.
Following this was an update from Greg Morton, Senior Plan & Engagement Manager, around the Annual Plan and its progress through sign off by the Ministry.
The Council then heard an update from Maree Munro, Programme Lead Strategy, Investment & Transformation, on the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme. This presentation provided the Council with an insight into what the stages are for vaccinations, the hurdles that need to be overcome to ensure that process of vaccine distribution is smooth and the vaccine remains viable through this process. Discussion also revolved around reaching those areas of the rural community that are more isolated.
Summary of Consumer Council Meeting – February 2021
This was the first hui for 2021 so it was good to be able to catch up on the news and events that have been happening.
Rhonda Dames, Project Manager Health Point, presented about to the Consumer Council about the structure, aims, achievements and goals of Health Point. Health Point is a comprehensive health service which provides the ability to digitally access information about health care providers, referral expectations, services offered and common treatments in one place. The Waikato DHB partnered with Health Point last year and their website can be found at https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/.
Following on from the November hui Andrea Mockford and Laarnie Tagalong presented an update on the Releasing Time to Care project (a nurse-led programme which aims to improve processes for patients, whānau and to improve care) and positive changes put in place following patient surveys.
Summary of Consumer Council Meeting - December 2020
Riki Nia Nia, Executive Director Māori, Equity and Health Improvement, attend the hui along with Sheryl, who is a current member of the Mental Health Review panel.
Riki updated members on the progress and intent of the Mental Health Review. The Review was presented to the Iwi Māori Council in a hui earlier in the day. Following this there was in-depth discussion between Riki and the Consumer Council about the gaps within the mental health system. Riki will update the Consumer Council on the findings of the Review.
There was also some discussion surrounding a possible web-based tool which would assist in the measurement of quality within the health and hospital system for whānau.
Following the resignation of one of the Council’s valued members the recruitment process is now looking for 3 new members for the Waikato region. It is hoped that these members will be in place for the February/March hui at the latest.
Summary of Consumer Council Meeting – November 2020
Members heard about ‘Releasing Time to Care’ – a nurse-led programme which aims to improve processes for patients, whānau and to improve care. Patients in hospital are asked to complete a survey regarding the care they received and this is analysed and improvement introduced as a result. The discussion was around ensuring that the results are publically available so that the community can see what changes have occurred as a result of patient and whānau feedback.
An update on funding for a healthy communities initiative was provided, noting the focus is on wider community-led initiatives focusing on healthy families and children, moving away from targeted individual/group interventions. It is intended to be a united effort for better health to work collaboratively with communities via co-design to help people to make healthier choices and live healthier lives.
The Consumer Council also heard from Dr. Ruth Large who provided a Telehealth update. Feedback was provided to help to ensure that the process runs smoothly for patients when attending telehealth consultations.
Shortly, the Consumer Council will be recruiting for several members to join them. They want to hear from those in our community who may not traditionally have a voice and want to contribute to how our health services are delivered in the future. Please keep an eye on the website for further details.
Summary of Consumer Council Meeting - October 2020
This month the Consumer Council had the opportunity to meet kanohi ki te kanohi with Riki Nia Nia, executive director Maori, equity and health improvement, for the first time. Through whanaungatanga, Riki shared about his role and the aims/goals of the department. This was followed with in-depth discussions about various reports and plans that are in the process of being finalised. Riki will return to the Consumer Council in December to present the final drafts for further discussion.
Summary of Consumer Council Hui – September 2020
This hui gave the Consumer Council a chance to hear what is happening in the localities work which has come from the Health System Plan, and what are the next steps. The DHB talked about how they are working with Raukawa and implementing a Mahi Tahi approach to ensure the DHB are enabling locality leadership in the South Waikato. The Localities Planning Team are now preparing to start work in the North Ruapehu region. The Council stressed the importance of action, as there has been a lot of planning, and the communities are ready to lead and realise community-informed change.
The Council also received an update on the Covid-19 response, and were able to discuss the current DHB Provider Arm restructure, and how it was hoped this would bring accountability and decision making closer together.
Summary of Consumer Council Hui – August 2020
Members heard from Dr. Jesse Whitehead, sharing insight from his PhD into spatial equity of GP services in the Waikato DHB region. Spatial equity fits into three groups – fair distribution, focus on outcomes or causes, needs based distribution resources. The Consumer Council found the report to be interesting and while affirming what is currently known, is adding to the evidence base and will help to inform how best to plan and locate primary care services across the region.
The Council also discussed a range of projects that members are working on, as well as discussed their communication plan and how to create communication channels with communities and DHB staff across the region.+
Consumer Council meeting July 2020
The July hui of the Consumer Council was the first time in several months that the meeting was held in person. It was great to see everyone and members discussed their experiences of COVID-19 and the Waikato DHB’s response. The general consensus was that it is important to take away positive learnings from this event and to continue to engage effectively with communities. We don’t want to lose some of the gains made, especially in terms of the local engagement that occurred.
Members heard about a project underway by the Midland Trauma Service who are working directly with patients of the service to gain knowledge about their experience of care at Waikato DHB. From this feedback the service are working on making improvements to the patient and whānau experience. The Consumer Council are keen to have further updates on this.
There was also a discussion about the Waikato DHB Transport and Access Plan, the acknowledgement that there has been some progress with a new Taumarunui bus. It was pointed out that this is as much about equitable access as it is about transport methods.
A discussion was held as to how the Consumer Council can raise their profile both within the Waikato DHB (to raise the voice of the consumer) and within their communities. Further engagement on this matter is planned, including bringing the Communications team into the discussion.
Summary of Consumer Council Meeting - June 2020
With the Director of Communications attending the hui updates were provided around the shifting to the recovery phase of Covid 19 and the channels of communication that have now been set in place. There are means in place to ensure the community are updated the resumption of services.
The Consumer Council are looking to increase their profile within the community so there is an awareness of what they do and how the community can be involved.
With a successful outcome to the launch of a community bus in the Taumarunui area attention has been turned to replicating this type of response to transport needs in other rural areas.
Summary of Consumer Council Meeting - May 2020
This month Dr Kevin Snee, Chief Executive Waikato DHB attended and updated the Council on matters around Covid 19 and the impact on patients and the services provided.
Also attending was the Acting GM Strategy and Funding who provided an update on services and works happening around the hospital and the Waikato area.
An update was provided on the rebuild of the Waikato DHB Mental Health and Addictions inpatient unit. Patient and whānau engagement through all stages is critical to this work.
A representative from Māori Equity & Health Improvement discussed the wok being done with the Māori clinicians during Covid and the screening tool that has been adjusted to work with kaumatua.