Capital & Coast

The newsletter of Capital & Coast DHB
Issue #22: 20 August 2004

PHARMACY CONTRACTS

All of the pharmacists in the C&C DHB district have now returned their ‘pharmacy agreement’ contracts. That means all pharmacies will continue to receive the base dispensing fee for medicines which they dispense over the next two years. This helps to ensure that C&C DHB can focus available resources on the direction of primary care, and how pharmacy can support that direction.

We are also moving to contract out a very successful scheme which we have been running since April this year to collect pharmaceutical waste from pharmacies. We have collected more than half a tonne of pharmaceutical waste in that time, which is carted away for safe incineration.

ISO ACCREDITATION
Congratulations are in order for our Laboratory Services, which have gained ISO 15189 accreditation. This makes them the first large DHB laboratory to earn this internationally recognised accreditation.

C&C DHB is the first DHB in the country to have ISO accreditation for both Genetic Services and Laboratory Services. This reflects the hard work and high standards achieved by the dedicated staff in these services, and we congratulate them on their success.

SOUTH / SOUTHEAST HEALTH LINK PILOT UNDERWAY
A pilot programme is now underway in which C&C DHB is funding a community worker to connect with other groups from outside the health sector whose work impacts on health in Wellington’s south/southeastern suburbs. Community worker Jeanette McCracken is now working with community groups, government agencies, the Wellington City Council and others on issues such as access to income and suitable housing

The South/Southeast Health Link scheme is aiming to discover useful suggestions from the community and other sectors about how Capital &Coast can adjust services in the area around high need. That involves networking across sectors, to discuss what works and what doesn’t and to consider more effective ways to work together. It will include a Health Hui in Strathmore in November, as well as other events in Newtown, Berhampore and Kilbirnie.

The pilot scheme has been funded by C&C DHB for a 12 month period, which will run until June 2005.

MINISTRY SEEKS NOMINEES FOR NEW ETHICS COMMITTEES
The Ministry of Health is seeking candidates for membership on seven new ethics committees which it is in the process of establishing. The committees will be based in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch (two committees), and Dunedin, with a Multi Region Ethics Committee bringing the total to seven.

The Multi-Region Ethics Committee will provide independent ethical review of health research and innovative practice that occurs in more than one region, or nationally. The local committees (such as the Central Regional Ethics Committee which will be based in Wellington) will provide independent ethical review of health research and innovative practice in their region, to “safeguard the rights, health and wellbeing of consumers and research participants and, in particular, those persons with diminished autonomy”.

Each committee will have 12 members, including two health researchers, two health practitioners, a biostatistician and a pharmacist or pharmacologist. The other six positions must include an ethicist, a lawyer and people with community and consumer perspectives. Each committee must include at least two Maori.

If this sounds like a position which might be appropriate for you or someone you know, you can find more details, including application forms, at: http://www.moh.govt.nz/statutorybodies

Applications close on 20 August.

WORKING WITH WORK & INCOME
C&C DHB has now formalised its working relationship with Work & Income, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.

The MOU recognises the important relationship between income and health, and will help us to build shared understanding and closer working relationships between the two sectors. It reflects the link between employment/income support and the health of people and communities. It also encompasses the ways in which health issues can interact with a person’s ability to participate in employment and in their community.

The MOU captures some of the agreed work programme that has been developed over the past year by a jointly hosted Health and Income Working Group. That group includes representatives from public health, Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) and non government organisations (NGOs), and has focussed on identifying potential solutions to particular health and income related issues. Its work has already generated a number of changes and actions in both sectors, and has helped to develop some important relationships.

Over the next year our close working relationship with Work & Income will help us to address ethnic disparities in income and health access in our District, and to provide more effective support for people on Sickness Benefit or Invalid's Benefit who are interested in finding employment.

Bob Henare – Chairman, Capital & Coast DHB
Margot Mains – CEO, Capital & Coast DHB

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ENDS