Media Release

Date: 23 August 2012

Quality Improvement Our Highest Priority: Waikato DHB

Waikato District Health Board has released its second Annual Quality Report.

Whilst not yet a national requirement, it is the second report of its kind published by the DHB.

“Waikato DHB is a healthcare organisation that puts patients first, and intends to grow its reputation for excellence and innovation,” said Health Waikato chief operating officer Jan Adams.

“Putting patients first means that our hospitals and healthcare facilities are safe, our patients feel cared for and that they, and their loved ones, have confidence in the services we provide.”

“To do this means we must have a continued focus on quality,” said Waikato DHB Quality and Risk manager Michael Bland.

He said the Quality Report has identified patient safety, patient outcomes and patient experiences as the key focus for the organisation.

Following on from last year’s report, the following areas of work have been moved to business as usual:

• Reducing patient falls
• Improving hand hygiene
• The establishment of a Health Waikato Mortality Committee; and
• Ensuring clinical audits are carried out in every clinical unit

The 2011/12 report highlights areas of priority for improvement as:

• Reducing medication areas – achieved
• Reducing avoidable mortality – achieved
• Reducing pressure areas – partially achieved
• Hospital out of hours project – achieved
• Productive series – achieved
• Care essentials – partially achieved

“Our results to date have been encouraging and reflect the leadership, energy and commitment of our staff in rising to the challenge and focussing on improvement,” said Mrs Adams.

“Against a backdrop of financial and organisational challenges, we have continued to rate quality improvement as our highest priority. That commitment continues.”

The Waikato DHB Quality leadership team comprises Mrs Adams, chief medical advisor Tom Watson and director of Nursing and Midwifery Sue Hayward.

For a full list of priorities for 2012/13 and the full Annual Quality Report, visit www.waikatodhb.health.nz

ENDS