Waitemata excels against primary care quit smoking target

12 September 2014
From almostlast to national leader – Waitemata excels against primary care quit smoking target

In less than a year Waitemata DHB has gone from secondtolast to bestperformer out of 20 DHBs in the primary care component of the better help for smokers to quit national health target.

In the latest results for April – June 201314 the DHB exceeded the target reaching 101 percent – up significantly from the 43 percent achieved for the same quarter of 201213.

Waitemata DHB Chief Executive Dr Dale Bramley acknowledges the outstanding effort made by the DHB’s PHO partners and all of the general practices in the district to achieve the result.

“Smoking is the leading risk factor for illhealth and death in New Zealand and this demonstrates that, as a district, we’re committed to reaching people across our community with the smokefree message.

“The DHB has worked closely with primary care partners Waitemata PHO and ProCare on this hugely important prevention measure.

“Our primary care partners in the district have done a tremendous job contacting patients by text and phone to proactively offer smokefree advice and reach any patients that may not have visited their GP recently,” says Dr Bramley.

The DHB continues to maintain an excellent result in the hospital component of the target with final results for 201314 (April – June) showing that 97 percent of patients in Waitakere and North Shore Hospitals who smoke are seen by a health professional and offered brief advice to quit.

“Clinicians actively refer patients to our smokefree service for quality, individual smokefree advice enabling anyone seen by our services to take control of their health and make positive changes for themselves and their family,” says Dr Bramley.

“The sustained positive result is down to dedicated staff within our organisation making smokefree support a priority for their patients."

“The overall aim of these interventions is to have fewer people in our community smoking. At the last census smoking prevalence at Waitemata had reduced to 12 percent, well below the national average of 15 percent. Waitemata now has one of the lowest rates of smoking in the country."

“This is fantastic news as we will see fewer deaths and less suffering in our community as a result."

Waitemata DHB offers free smokefree advice to anyone receiving treatment in our hospitals or visiting GP clinics in our district. Free stopsmoking services are available at Waitakere and North Shore Hospitals alongside a specialist service for those awaiting elective surgery. Communitybased stopsmoking services include a number of language and culturally appropriate alternatives.

Smokefree advice and services are available yearround by phoning the Waitemata DHB Smokefree Team on 09 486 8962 or by contacting your general practice.

Waitemata DHB’s complete national health target results: www.health.govt.nz

ENDS

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