17 January 2006:
Hawke’s Bay Hospital receives thumbs up from Quality Health NZ
Hawke’s Bay Hospital has just received news that its accreditation with Quality Health New Zealand has been renewed for
another three years. This is third consecutive accreditation for the organisation.
Quality Health is New Zealand’s leading Standards and Performance Assessment Agency for Health and Disability Services.
In August 2005, Hawke’s Bay Hospital was surveyed by a team of Quality Health surveyors. They spent the whole week at
Hawke’s Bay Hospital, reviewed organisational systems, policies, procedures and protocols, and interviewed almost 700
staff and other stakeholders.
Clinical Director & Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Dinesh Arya, said the accreditation survey was a wonderful opportunity for an organisation to
be reviewed by their most experienced peers. “We know we have good systems, excellent and committed people and an
organisation that is in good heart, however, having external endorsement from people who have surveyed other DHBs in New
Zealand and can provide a comparison with other hospitals and health services is an opportunity we cherish.
“Being an accreditation surveyor myself, I am fully aware of the rigour with which surveyors go through each and every
aspect of care delivery. We volunteered to join this accreditation programme to provide an opportunity for an in-depth
review of our systems and processes. The outcome was not unexpected but does give us confidence we are progressing in
the right direction,” Dr. Arya said.
He said Hawke’s Bay District Health Board (HBDHB) was committed to continuous quality improvement. “Ensuring that we
continue to improve requires commitment and good systems that protect the organisation when the going gets tough, a good
spirit and a continuous improvement culture that is apparent at every level of the organisation. I think we are very
fortunate as we have all of that at Hawke’s Bay District Health Board,” Dr Arya said.
Chair of HBDHB, Kevin Atkinson said he was delighted to receive the news that Hawke’s Bay Hospital had been
re-accredited. He said accreditation re-affirmed the status of Hawke’s Bay Hospital as a good quality hospital providing
excellent care.
ENDS