Celebrating teamwork

An unwavering vision and some hands-on gusto has led to a replenished workspace for the Dunedin Main Operating Theatre team.

In 2012, the team instigated The Productive Operating Theatre (TPOT) quality project, encouraging staff members to come up with ideas and make changes to increase productivity and boost staff morale.

A key issue was patient corridors becoming a storeroom for sterile items and equipment and how this frustrated staff and hindered productivity.

The solution became clear – they needed a new sterile storeroom. Following a consultation period with their leaders, the team got the go ahead to work with an architect to see the project through.

“The success of this project highlights how successful a full team involvement to a problem can be and how easy it is to raise staff morale through a better and safer work environment,” said Southern DHB Perioperative Nurse Educator Nancy Sweeney.

The one-stop shop has led to an improvement in overall efficiency and cost savings.

Congratulations to the Operating Theatre team!

Māori Health Directorate embrace values and behaviours

The Māori Health Directorate team, comprised of the four services – Te Korowai Hou Ora, Te Oranga Tonu Tanga, Te Ara Hauora and Te Huinga Tahi – attended a wananga at Clutha Health First in late July. Staff members were excited to meet together and welcome new staff to the team as the day commenced with Whanaungatanga.

The Kaiwhakahaere Hauora Māori (Executive Director of Māori Health) Pania Coote provided an update on the direction of the Māori Health Directorate, and recently appointed District Manager Māori Health Nancy Todd focused on the importance of the Māori Health Plan in making a difference to the health outcomes for Māori.

Key staff involved with the Southern Future programme included Jane Wilson and Mel Green, who both attended the afternoon session. Jane, Mel, Pania and Nancy led the staff discussion on the seven patient and seven staff priorities. 

The team concluded the day by committing to a project for inclusion in the Southern Future Innovation Challenge.

“The Māori Health Directorate challenges all other staff across the DHB to come together in their teams, embrace the values and behaviours and work together to ensure Southern DHB is the best in terms of staff relationships and patient care,” said the Kaiwhakahaere Hauora Māori Pania Coote, who has asked all staff to live the values: Kind – Manaakitanga, Open – Pono, Positive – Whaiwhakaaro, Community – Whanaungatanga.

Maori Directorate at values workshop 

Welcome to Ward 9c

Following feedback from staff, patients and their families, three Ward 9c staff members have come up with some simple ideas to make the ward more welcoming.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Steve Paddock, Associate Charge Nurse Manager, Sue Johnson and Registered Nurse Anna Millar (now working in Emergency Psychiatric Services) used the Skills for Change programme to come up with some solutions.

“The configuration of the ward means that the nurses’ station is a significant distance from the door with visitors often going straight to the patient rather than checking in with the ward staff,” says Steve.​

“We got together and realised that we could start off by doing a few easy things to make the ward entrance more welcoming and to improve both our patients and visitors experience.”

So far they’ve put up temporary reception and ward 9c signage, a request has been placed for the main door into the ward to have a window placed in it, and a desk roster is in progress so that two staff members at a time will work in the reception area so that visitors are greeted and the ward is more welcoming.

“It’s great to see that Steve and Sue are making things happen so Ward 9c is more welcoming, they’re really embracing our values by improving our patient experience,” said Southern DHB General Manager, Mental Health, Addictions and Intellectual Disability Directorate, Louise Travers.

Steve and Sue say that they’ve got lots more ideas not just about the entrance to the ward but other initiatives to make a difference to our patients. We’ll be looking forward to them sharing these with us!

To access the 7 Priorities for Patients click here.

Empowering change

Teams on Skills for Change use a pizza shop simulation to study the flow, capacity and demand.

Since 2013 the ‘Skills for Change’ programme has given Southern DHB staff the tools to make changes to improve their own services.

Nearly 70 teams have already completed the programme, covering a wide range of topics from standardising hand hygiene education in early childhood centres to the management of chronic heart failure across primary and secondary care.

Southern DHB Deputy Commissioner Graham Crombie is delighted with the success of the programme.

“We’re seeing some fantastic ideas, and it’s great to see the programme having the dual purpose of training teams in the use of improvement tools and making improvements in their own service,” he said.​

New cohorts start the programme every month.  A expanded version of the programme has just been launched which comprises of three full day sessions four weeks apart, finishing with a short presentation to the Executive team and Senior Managers. Each day covers a part of the problem solving process and topics covered include methodology; mapping; data analysis; capacity and visual management and innovation.

If you’ve got an idea for improvements within your service no matter how large or small, then ‘Skills for Change’ is for you.

To access the 7 Priorities for Staff click here​.