PROVIDING DEFIBRILLATORS TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

In partnership with the Order of St John, over 60 AED units (defibrillators) have been placed into Hawke’s Bay locations that were identified by St John as not having ready access to the equipment. The importance of rapid access to the equipment in the event of a heart trauma is the key driver of this initiative. We warmly and enthusiastically acknowledge the support and efforts of local St John personnel who helped to drive this project.

GOOD NEWS STORY

We have received a good news story from Jamie Sinclair, a director of Jamrac Events Limited. Jamrac runs multi-sport and similar events in Hawkes Bay.

At an event in late 2020, one of the competitors collapsed and required urgent medical assistance. “The event included a number of medically trained participants who provided immediate assistance, but it was the portable AED which proved the difference” said Jamie.

We understand the competitor has made a good recovery. Jamie expressed sincere thanks to the medics involved and to the Royston Health Trust for the AED initiative.

SUPPORTING A HEALTH AND SPORTS CENTRE AND SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH

The Royston Health Trust have provided financial support, by way of initial capital donation, short-term loan funding and a loan guarantee, to the Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness Centre Trust (HBCFCT). This was to facilitate the fundraising campaign for the new health and sports centre built at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Sports Park.

The construction of the facility, and several subsequent extensions, has enabled the HBCFCT to facilitate local participation in the Pau te Hau (Get Puffed) research programme being led by AUT associate professor, Dr Nigel Harris. This programme aims to integrate high intensity physical activity into the normal classroom environment for primary aged children and demonstrate the enduring health and well-being benefits. Further information can be found in the Pau te Hau HB RHT summary report.

Additionally, the Royston Health Trust is directly supporting a similar local research study in the early childhood sector – “The Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Teacher-Led Physical Activity (PA) Programme in Hawke’s Bay Ministry of Education Licensed Early Childhood Centres”. This work is being undertaken as part of a PhD program by Wendy Pirie.

These research studies, with a vision to understand and improve child health in the region sits well with our vision of a healthier Hawke’s Bay.

DENTAL INITIATIVES FOR THE WAIROA COMMUNITY – Tō Waha Wairoa

In January 2022, the Wairoa community, in partnership with dental volunteers, health, social and local government providers, and the DHB, worked collaboratively to deliver oral health care to people with urgent dental needs.

The initiative was in response to the lack of access to dental care for adults living in the Wairoa district. Over a 6-day period, utilising five dental chairs, and a volunteer dental and community workforce, 307 dental appointments were filled resulting in 677 dental treatments. The Royston Health Trust partnered with the Princess Alexandra Medical Trust to provide financial support to this project.

This followed a similar initiative, supported in 2020, which involved the New Zealand Defence Force dental team working alongside local volunteering dentists and the DHB.

EXTENSIONS TO FACILITIES AT PETTIGREW GREEN ARENA

The Royston Health Trust has provided a financial contribution to the Regional Indoor and Events Centre Trust to assist them to build a new fit-for-purpose indoor sport arena on land behind the existing Pettigrew Green Arena.

The expansion, estimated to cost $18.5m, substantially increases indoor court space in Hawke’s Bay with a range of court configurations useable by futsal, netball, basketball, volleyball and badminton. By building this facility next to the existing Pettigrew Green Arena it creates a complex which will meet the needs of current and future community sport users and ensures that the growth of the major indoor sports in Hawke’s Bay and their users can be accommodated.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SHUTTLES

The Order of St John has taken over the role of providing health shuttles in Hawkes Bay to facilitate patients accessing health services, particularly from rural and remote areas. The Royston Health Trust has agreed to support the purchase of four new shuttles to facilitate this service. The first two of these are in service and have completed many trips.

Trustees, Jacqui Gray, John Berry and Ron Hall at the official blessing of the new shuttles

A NEW HOME FOR CANCER SOCIETY IN HAWKES BAY

The local branch of the Cancer Society has relocated to a new, easy to find residential premises. The new site provides a tranquil and relaxing environment for the provision of massage clinics, support group meetings and exercise programs for post cancer surgery patients – not unlike a mini wellness centre. The Royston Health Trust provided a capital contribution toward the purchase of the property.

SUICIDE AWARENESS TRAINING FOR LOCAL ORGANISATIONS

Mates4Life Hawke’s Bay is a locally developed concept to provide suicide awareness, prevention and mental wellness training to Hawke’s Bay workplaces and organisations. The training is made available free of cost to any workplace or organisation within Hawke’s Bay.

The goal is to increase suicide awareness across the district and ultimately prevent suicide in our region. This is intended to be a long-term, sustainable, no barriers suicide prevention and awareness training programme created and delivered by Hawke’s Bay people. The Royston Health Trust has agreed to support the program by funding the trainers time and cost as well as some clinical support for it’s first two years.

HAWKES BAY YOUTH TRUST RELOCATION

The boxing academy run by the Hawkes Bay Youth Trust required new premises and a solution was found to co-locate with a new indoor cricket facility being built at the Mitre 10 Sports Park. The Royston Health Trust has contributed to the building costs of the new premises. The work of the Hawkes Bay Youth Trust is well known for its work with young people, focusing on physical and mental health through the boxing academy.

UPGRADE OF RESIDENTIAL ADDICTION TREATMENT FACILITY

The Royston Health Trust is providing funding assistance for the final redevelopment stage of the Hawkes Bay Addiction Centre Trust owned facility, known as “Springhill” and located in Morris St. Napier.

The Hawkes Bay District Health Board (DHB) lease the facility and run residential alcohol and drug and rehabilitation programmes from the site. The DHB programmes see clients reside at the centre for eight weeks. Each attendee commits to the programme voluntarily, all have a large vulnerability and require treatment in a safe and therapeutic environment.  Springhill provides that environment and is a unique and valued asset in the treatment of addictions in Hawke’s Bay.

NEW AMBULANCE CENTRE FOR NAPIER

A project enabling St John to build a fit for future “One St John” building, which incorporates a new ambulance station and community hub, is being supported by the Royston Health Trust.

There have been significant changes in the provision of ambulance services over the past 20 years with much higher incident volumes, increased staffing levels to meet “double crewing” requirements and a new “hub and spoke” ambulance service delivery model. The new build will also meet earthquake safety requirements.

EXPLORING NEW WAYS OF CARING FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN

The Ngātahi Project set out in 2017, as a pilot programme, to assess the skills and development needs of health, education and social service professionals in Hawke’s Bay who are working predominantly or exclusively with vulnerable children and families.  The Royston Health Trust co funded this pilot.

Over a three-year period Ngātahi and its partners designed, implemented and evaluated a workforce development plan to support practitioners.

The pilot programme was fully evaluated through a comprehensive study led by two research professors from EIT.  Further information can be found here.

PRIMARY CARE SYMPOSIUM

This inaugural symposium, organised by Health Hawke’s Bay Primary Health Organisation (PHO), was held on the 8th and 9th September 2018 at the Napier Conference Centre. Over 280 delegates from the primary health care community including receptionists, nurses, general practitioners, business managers and chief executives attended the event. The PHO hosted over 60 speakers delivering a wide range of presentations on clinical and non-clinical topics. A round robin clinical skills session allowed clinicians to practice minor surgical skills, joint injection tips and tricks as well as practical fracture management and plastering skills. The event received very positive feedback from attendees. People particularly enjoyed that the event was unique to, and focused on, Hawke’s Bay. They also enjoyed the opportunity to network with their peers and secondary care colleagues in the forums. The Royston Health Trust was one of the sponsors of the symposium.

Following almost 3 years of covid imposed restrictions, another successful symposium was held in late 2022.

ENDOMETRIOSIS EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS

The symptoms of endometriosis can have significant negative implications for a woman’s physical, mental, economic, social, educational and cultural wellbeing, and is associated with compromised fertility. Yet there is often a long delay from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis and referral to a specialist. For the past five years we have supported Endometriosis New Zealand with its educational programme (and supporting phone clinic) in Hawke’s Bay secondary schools to provide awareness and support for students. The aim of the programme is to support early intervention and diagnosis.