As part of meeting this commitment, New Zealand DHBs are expected to report to their communities on their quality and safety performance to the community. We are pleased to provide this snapshot summary, and further information is available in our Annual Report 2017/18: Quality and Performance Account at www.southerndhb.govt.nz
This year we have implemented a number of initiatives that will improve health care for our people – from the roll-out of the National Bowel Screening Programme, to better supporting rural and remote midwives through our primary maternity system of care, to opening a new gastroenterology unit and getting started on redeveloping Lakes District Hospital. We also continue to have challenges, and redoubling our efforts to ensure good clinical systems that reduce delays and value patients’ time is a clear focus for the year ahead.
Of course no initiative, and no measure, stands alone. High quality care requires the whole health system to work together. That is why we are committed to building the more integrated health care system our communities have asked for.
We appreciate the efforts of all our 4,600 staff, and health care partners and providers from across the district, as they work to serve our community with high quality care every day.
Kathy Grant, Commissioner
Chris Fleming, Chief Executive Officer
Health Targets
| Raising Healthy Kids: | Improved Access to Elective Surgery: | Increased Immunuisation: | ||||||||||||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |||||
| Target | >95% | >95% | >95% | >95% | Target | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | Target | >95% | >95% | >95% | >95% | ||
SDHB | 92% | 97% | 99% | 96% | SDHB | 98% | 99% | 99% | 100% | SDHB | 94% | 95% | 94% | 94% | ||
| NZ | 92% | 98% | 98% | 98% | NZ | 104% | 102% | 102% | 103% | NZ | 92% | 92% | 92% | 91% | ||
| Shorter Stays in Emergency Departments: | Faster Cancer Treatment: | Better Help for Smokers to Quit - Primary: | ||||||||||||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |||||
| Target | >95% | >95% | >95% | >95% | Target | >90% | >90% | >90% | >90% | Target | >90% | >90% | >90% | >90% | ||
| SDHB | 93% | 92% | 90% | 90% | SDHB | 86% | 89% | 90% | 85% | SDHB | 91% | 91% | 91% | 91% | ||
| NZ | 91% | 93% | 91% | 91% | NZ | 92% | 92% | 91% | 91% | NZ | 89% | 88% | 89% | 90% | ||
Improving our system - highlights in 2017/18
| Southern DHB and WellSouth’s Primary and Community Care Strategy and Action Plan was launched, reshaping services | The Speak Up programme, promoting a positive workplace culture, exceeded 2,500 participants |
| The National Bowel Screening Programme was launched for the Southern district | New gastroenterology department opened |
| The planned rebuild of the new Dunedin Hospital, and central city site, was announced | The number of teenagers who have never smoked continues to rise |
| The Home as my First Choice initiative was launched, promoting options for older people wanting to stay in their homes | Southern DHB met the Faster Cancer Treatment target for the first time |
| The Oranga-Pepi programme was introduced, to improve whanau awareness of entitlements for newborn babies, so they can get the best start in life | Resource consent was gained for redevelopment of Lakes District Hospital |
2018 Statistics
- The Southern district has a population of 326,280 residents, the majority living in Dunedin and Invercargill
- Our population is slightly older when compared to the national average .54,860 people are aged 65 and over
- 3,379 babies were born in the Southern district last year
- 4,655 staff were employed at Southern DHB
- There were 84,110 presentations to Emergency Departments
- 13,219 elective surgeries and procedures were performed
What have we learned from our serious adverse events?Pressure Injuries Southern DHB was a pilot site for the Health Quality & Safety Commission (HQSC) to develop more accurate data relating to the incidence of pressure injuries. A review template was developed and every patient has an individualised plan of care to minimise further harm and aid wound healing. Recognition and response for deteriorating patients Delays in the recognition and response of patients whose conditions were deteriorating led to three adverse events. There was an immediate assessment of the processes that were in place, an awareness campaign, and educational tools including quick reference cards were developed. Falls We continue to aim for zero falls. We have improved our documentation of patient care assessments to better identify those at risk of falls, moving from 83 per cent of patients assessed in 2016/17 to 93 per cent in 2017/18. Medication Southern DHB reported two serious adverse events relating to medication this year. Both have been reviewed with corrective actions put in place. Clinical administration Delay and failure to follow up has resulted in 10 adverse events. This needs to be a major area of focus for the coming year and is an important driver behind a comprehensive programme of clinical service redesign initiatives, aimed at valuing patients’ time. This will consider a range of administration processes and clinical practices to improve patient journeys through our health system. Always Report & Review (ARR) We have reported 18 events as per a new policy process to report particular events, such as incorrect details on a referral to radiology, regardless of the outcome.Immediate actions have been put in place with policy, procedures and ‘Safety Signpost Alerts’, and further analysis of individual events. Ophthalmology In 2016 we carried out an external review as we sought to ensure the safety and sustainability of this service. We have either implemented or made progress on most of the recommendations from the external review. The number of those waiting for longer than 1.5 times the recommended timeframe has now been reduced to zero at Southland Hospital for several months, and significantly reduced at Dunedin Hospital, reaching zero on occasions. We still need to finalise a sustainable model so we can cope with the ongoing increase in demand for this service. |
