Spotted in The Conversation this week – an interesting opinion piece by Ross Lawrenson from University of Waikato – take a read and see if you agree?

https://theconversation.com/new-zealands-reliance-on-foreign-doctors-to-plug-gaps-highlights-the-need-for-another-medical-school-204668

Check out this lovely piece from this weeks Farmers Weekly on Dr Keith Buswell and his wife Dr Elly Kroef, long-serving GP’s in Te Kuiti.

https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/people/rural-gp-practice-delivers-joys-and-trials/?fbclid=IwAR0stjMenwgWQxfBWD3D81VndtB0tNATMVDhuzRS-jOTzfIQ0nkBaGL_mwk

Celebrations to Dr Koko Lwin and Dr Te Ariki Faireka on their University of Otago postgraduate success.  At a recent ceremony in Rarotonga Dr Koko Lwin graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Rural & Provincial Hospital Practice which he completed in 2021, as well as a Postgraduate Certificate of Clinician Performed Ultrasonography completed in 2022.  Dr Te Ariki Faireka graduated with a Cook Islands Fellowship in General Practice. Present for the ceremony was Otago’s Pacific Island Nation Liaison (Va’a o Tautai) Dr Kati Blattner.

Read the full story here

Katharina Blattner, Lynne Clay, Rory Miller, Garry Nixon, Sue Crengle, Lauralie Richard, Ray Anton, Tim Stokes

OPEN ACCESS Journal of Primary Health Care https://doi.org/10.1071/HC22072 Published online: 18 August 2022

In 2021 I had the opportunity to work with Dr Kati Blattner on a project to explore the place of rural hospitals in Aotearoa, NZ.  My eyes were opened to the uniqueness of each and everyone of our rural hospitals and the challenges faced to provide equitable healthcare.  This short report presents one aspect of the research – a snapshot of how rural hospital leaders perceived the role of their hospital in a time of coronavirus and upcoming major change in the national health system. (L.C)

Abstract

Introduction. There is a gap in our knowledge of the place and contribution of rural hospitals in the New Zealand health system. There is no current description of rural hospital services, no national policies and little published research regarding their value. Aim. To explore rural hospital leader perspectives of the role of rural hospitals. Methods. An on-line survey of rural hospital leaders conducted to capture perspectives on areas including facility nomenclature; access and equity; funding and the health reforms. Results. Fifty-five rural hospital leaders representing 19/24 rural hospitals responded. ‘Rural Hospital’ was the most common term used to describe facilities with 80% of respondents indicating this as their preferred term. Other descriptive terms varied widely from primary through to secondary care. Respondents indicated that the loss of rural hospital in-patient beds would be unacceptable to communities (median 0, IQR 0, 1). Scores on questions about ‘range of services’ (median 7, IQR 6, 8), ‘accessibility’ (median 7, IQR 6, 8) and how rural hospitals were addressing health equity (median 6, IQR 5, 7) were variable. The process for allocating funds to rural hospitals was perceived as lacking transparency (median 3, IQR 2, 5). National strategy and ‘local governance and control’ were both rated as important (median 9, IQR 7, 10 and median 9, IQR, 8, 10) for a rural hospital’s future. Discussion. By capturing a collective national rural hospital leadership voice, this study facilitates the understanding of the rural hospital concept. The findings inform subsequent research needed to gain a clearer picture of New Zealand rural hospital provision.

HONORARY FELLOWSHIPS

Ma pango ma whero, ka oti te mahi (by black and red together the work is done).

Congratulations to Marara Koroheke-Rogers and Hone Taimona recognised with Honorary Fellowships to the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. Ngā mihi nui ki a koe – huge gratitude to you on behalf of your Otago colleagues and the numerous rural medicine trainees and experienced doctors who have learned from you through our rural postgraduate papers, in partnership with Hauora Hokianga (@hokiangahealth).

In 2006, the Dunedin School of Medicine shifted the teaching of the rural context and Hauora Māori components of our rural postgraduate programme out of a Dunedin classroom and onto the Pa-te-Aroha Marae at Whirinaki in the South Hokianga. This was not just a change in location but a change in direction for the entire programme.

Marara and Hone, with Hauora Hokianga, have been partners since those early days. They occupy crucial roles that link the local health service, the community and the teaching.  Marara and Hone have also been active members of research teams and co-authors on publications.

“Marara and Hone are pioneers in delivering this type of postgraduate medical education. The knowledge they bring needs to be at the centre of all our rural health teaching and research” Associate Professor Garry Nixon, Department of General Practice and Rural Health.

DISTINGUISHED FELLOWSHIPS

Congratulations to Dr Jeremy Webber and Dr Sean Hanna who were honoured with Distinguished Fellowship awards. The Fellowship is awarded to GPs who have demonstrated sustained contributions to general practice, medicine, or the health and wellbeing of the community.

The next generation steps up. Dr Jeremy Webber was the first person to get a Fellowship in Rural Hospital Medicine the proper way, that is by doing the training programme and he has now turned that into a FDRHMNZ (Dist.)  Jeremy expanded his world view by spending time working in Australia before returning home and almost immediately taking on some important leadership roles, at Taupō hospital, in the Division of Rural Hospital Medicine as Chair of the Board of Studies and the first Clinical Director Rural Health for Hauora Taiwhenua. Thanks for your efforts Jeremy and the great way you approach the people and issues you deal with.  Jeremy is also the packhorse in any Godzone Team and the powerhouse in any packraft. Ngā mihi

Dr Sean Hanna is a Wellington-based general practitioner, who has been the medical educator for Otago’s Rural Medical Immersion Programme since its early days. He is highly respected for his work as a specialist general practitioner in Takapūwāhia Porirua, his commitment to delivering health care to young people, his advocacy for equity in healthcare and his contribution to education. He has also made a significant contribution to rural health both in his RMIP role and as a rural doctor in the Hokianga.

ERIC ELDER MEDAL

The Eric Elder Medal is awarded in honour of Dr Eric Elder, who was an inspired rural GP affectionately known as the grandfather of vocational training in New Zealand. The medal is generally awarded to a rural general practitioner.  This year the award has gone to Dr Nina Stupples – congratulations Nina!

Dr Nina Stupples has worked in her Westport community for 13 years, providing consistent and quality care to her patients and ensuring they have access to high quality hospital care when required. She has been instrumental in the developing Rural Hospital Medicine in New Zealand, being the Chair of the Rural Hospital Division from 2010 until 2014, laying the foundation for the first truly generalist training programme in the country. The key feature of this programme was combining both Rural Hospital Medicine and Rural General Practice into a single training programme, with dual fellowship being an option in both vocational scopes of practice.

Nina has mentored many registrars in Westport, alongside her day-to-day practice and involvement with the Division, and she also teaches students in the Rural postgraduate programme and Rural Medical Immersion Programme at the University of Otago.  New Zealand rural health has benefitted from Nina’s hard work and dedication to the profession.