MHAS Transformation Phase III - April Pānui

April 2022

MINISTER ANDREW LITTLE VISITS IPMHA SERVICES AT PAPAMOA PINES

Minister of Health Andrew Little visited IPMHA Services at Papamoa Pines to meet the Integrated Primary Mental Health and Addiction (IPMHA) services team on Thursday 24 March 2022. During the visit, Minister Little met with Practice staff including in-house Health Improvement Practitioner - Margie Proposch-Bacon, Health Coach - Adam Bettridge and Bharat Mahajan Western Bay of Plenty PHO IPMHA Programme Lead.

“It was a real opportunity for the Minister of Health to engage with Papamoa Pines Practice staff and hear about the difference the IPMHA service is making within the GP Practice and to the lives of patients. The Minster of Health was very engaging and took the time to chat and listen to the experiences of staff. Staff were very happy to talk about the benefits of the IPMHA service - no waiting list, appointments available on the same day and the opportunity to come back as often as needed. The minister was also very happy to know about the hybrid model that enables health coaches to see patients in the community, hence removing barriers and increasing access,” says Bharat Mahajan.

Papamoa Pines was one of the first GP Practices in the Western Bay of Plenty to roll out on the new IPMHA services in November 2021. The purpose of the new IPMHA services are to expand access to, and choice of, primary mental health and addiction responses enabling people with mild to moderate needs to access free and immediate mental wellbeing advice and support, when and where they need it. IPMHA services are being rolled out across Western and Eastern Bay of Plenty between November 2021 and January 2023.
IPMHA services are available at these GP Practices across the Western and Eastern Bay of Plenty:

Western Bay of Plenty

Te Ara Oranga - a methamphetamine harm reduction service

The Te Ara Oranga project continues to gain momentum with the focus now refined towards launching a trial service in Murupara and the surrounding area. Discussions are underway with local Iwi and provider Te Ika Whenua, both of whom are very enthusiastic and excited by the prospect of driving real change in reducing the harm caused by Methamphetamine.

A large body of work is planned for April and May with the aim of making some key appointments by the end of May. The prospect of a ministerial visit early June to acknowledge this important development remains a key consideration.

CHIRP - Child Health Integrated Response Pathway

Phase 1 – Reduce the Waitlist (Sep – July 2022)
Phase 2 – Paediatrics, Child mental Health and Child Development Services operate an integrated model (May – Oct 2022)
Phase 3 – A clear pathway to assessment, diagnosis and support that is timely, responsive, and easy to access for all whānau and referrers (October – Dec 2022)

The primary purpose of Phase 1 is to identify the areas of longest wait across all services and try and reduce this significantly before testing a more integrated model across services. Temporary ‘hump’ funding has been sourced for this utilising a recruitment underspend across the services. Phase 1 will also be testing a different approach within Triage and Multi-Disciplinary Meetings, and we will be reporting in detail on these change over the next few months.

To read more about the project achievements and upcoming plans follow this link.

Keep up to date with the latest National Mental Health & Addiction newsletter from the Ministry of Health.
In this edition:

• Real mental health and addiction nurses onscreen in new recruitment campaign
• More online and digital tools available to support wellbeing
• COVID-19 Vaccine and Immunisation – Peer Support Fund
• Can you help us test and refine proposals for new mental health legislation?
• Surging the health workforce during the Omicron response
• Have your say on how the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission monitors the mental health and addiction system
• COVID-19 wellbeing video
• Last chance to apply for the forensic workforce development grant

Check out the full newsletter here.

April Introductions
Meet this months Toroa Leadership Group members.

Bronwyn Anstis
Chief Operating Officer
Bay of Plenty DHB

Bronwyn has over 15 years' experience in senior health care management holding various positions at the BOPDHB including Business Leader for Surgery, Anaesthesia and Radiology Services, Change Manager for the Tauranga Hospital Redevelopment Project, and Operations Manager for Medicine and Surgery.

She is responsible for collaboratively working with staff to ensure that high quality, cost effective and integrated care is planned, developed, and provided for patients while being accountable for the operational oversight that ensures the balance between operational, financial, staff wellbeing and administrative performance aligns with the strategic vision and values of the BOPDHB.

Rutu Swinton
Community Services Manager
Ngā Kākano Foundation
BOPDHB Rūnanga Representative

Rutu is actively involved in the development and provision of kaupapa Māori community based mental health addiction services including screening and assessment frameworks to improve the delivery of early intervention, community based kaupapa Māori services to whānau, hapū and iwi.

She is currently the Tapuika representative on the Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Te Moana ā Toi Rūnanga and was a significant contributor to the development and launching of Te Toi Ahorangi.

Her background in Mental Health Addictions began with initiating the purchasing of Māori workforce development training through the Central Institute of Technology Wellington and her extensive career has also contributed as:

• Founding member of Te Whānau Poutirirangiora a Papa, Te Tatau Pounamu, the first regional Māori heatlh authority
• Development of the Māori Health Strategy He Korowai Oranga
• Registered Dapaanz Addiction Practitioner and Quit Smoking Coach