Look out for the latest edition of Canterbury DHB’s WellNow magazine that is being delivered to mailboxes across the
region this week.
Canterbury DHB Acting Chief Executive, Andrew Brant, says the magazine informs those who want to keep up with our
fast-moving health system and is well worth a read.
“It is still one of our most effective and direct channels for letting Canterbury people know what’s going on in their
health system.
“As well as stories about the health journeys of Canterbury people, it holds valuable information on the services that
are available and how to access them. Most importantly for this edition though, it includes an introduction, mostly in
pictures, to Waipapa – our newest, state-of-the art health facility which is opening to the public this month,” says Dr Brant.
The name “Waipapa” was gifted to the people of Canterbury by Te Maire Tau, Ūpoko (head) of the Ngāi Tuahuriri hapu, a
gift strongly endorsed by Manawhenua Ki Waitaha, Canterbury DHB’s health partners. It builds on the DHB’s partnership
with Manawhenua Ki Waitaha and acknowledges the mana of Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga who are papatipu rūnanga for the land
on which the new building sits.
“The new Emergency Department (ED) opens to the public today, 18 November – but to help our teams move and acclimatise,
we ask that people save ED for emergencies and if they don’t need emergency care, they instead take advantage of their
own GP team or one of our three Urgent Care facilities – 24hrs Surgery in Bealey Ave, Moorhouse Medical or Riccarton
Clinic.”
From today the new ED can be accessed off Riccarton Avenue, with the entrance to the left as you face Christchurch
Women’s Hospital.
Other highlights include stories that go behind the scenes of our COVID-19 response – celebrating just some of those
teams that worked away unseen in health’s engine room. Read about the wellbeing and mental health benefits for Māori who
connect regularly with whānau and learn about their whakapapa, and hear 86-year-old Shirley’s story that shows just how
important it is to get up and moving as soon as possible after surgery.
There’s also information on the National Bowel Screening Programme. It advises people aged 60-74 years to look out for
their free bowel screening test kit in the mail near one of their next two birthdays, and use and return it. The test
detects signs of cancer early, when it’s easier to treat, and during the first year alone could help find around 100
cancers and save as many lives.
In addition to the print edition, there is an online version of WellNow on the Canterbury DHB website. An important additional section called “How we measure up” will be added later this
month. This extra section looks at our performance and is more focused on data that highlights areas where we need to
improve and charts our progress.