Seminars to launch the 'Improving Patient Flow Toolkit'

The National Health Board, Electives team is holding three seminars to launch the 'Improving Patient Flow Toolkit'.  The Toolkit is designed to support Clinicians and DHBs to reduce waiting times and improve access and quality of Elective care by providing ten evidence based service improvement strategies.

Who should attend?

Hospital specialists from any elective service, clinical champions,  anaesthetists, specialist nurses, GPs, General Practitioner Liaisons, PHO clinical leaders,  Allied health professionals, elective services managers, planning and funding portfolio managers, change managers, other senior managers, and anyone else who wants to support elective service improvement in their locality.

What does it involve?

Each seminar consists of six presentations by innovative clinical leaders and DHB staff that have been successful in adopting improvements and can share their experience with the health sector. 

As part of the seminars, interactive workshops will be held where participants can learn from clinical leaders and others who have implemented the changes and learnt valuable lessons.

Key Speakers 

Professor Andrew Hill - research interests are in improving outcomes from major abdominal surgery and medical education. He has published over 100 peer reviewed papers in these areas.  Andrew leads the Auckland Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) group that is an interdisciplinary research group aiming to improve patient outcomes after major surgery. This group runs a once yearly international symposium on enhancing recovery.

Dr Helen Frith - has been a Consultant Anaesthetist at Middlemore Hospital for the past 25 years and Clinical Head of Anaesthesia for the last four years.  As HOD, she has had the rewarding opportunity to work with managers, nurses and allied staff to develop systems to treat both patients and those who care for them well.

Dr Michael Lorimer - has been a Consultant Anaesthetist at Counties Manukau DHB (CMDHB) since 1999 with an interest in medical optimisation of surgical patients.  Michael is involved in liaison with surgical services on a regular basis to continually improve the service and is currently lead clinician in the 'Enhanced Pre admission Steering Group' at CMDHB.

Dr Anna Ranta  - is currently running a Health Research Council funded multi-centre randomised controlled trial assessing a TIA/Stroke electronic decision support tool for GPs; one of her various innovations to improve access to elective services in neurology and stroke at MidCentral DHB. Anna is a member of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as well as a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Sarah Boyes - has worked for 20 years in health in New Zealand in both the hospital and community setting as nurse and nurse manager. For the last six years Sarah has worked in operational management within the hospital setting. Her predominant focus has been women's and children's and general outpatient services. Last year Sarah added surgical services to her portfolio of management responsibilities. Currently Sarah is the Service Manager for the Women and Children's Health Service at Hutt Valley DHB.

Dawn Livesey - has worked for 10 years in administration roles within the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS). Her work has focussed on data quality and implementing administration change processes. Over the last five years Dawn has worked at Capital and Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs. Currently Dawn is employed as Data Quality Manager / U Book Project Coordinator at Hutt Valley DHB.

Greg Vandergoot - has been instrumental in supporting the establishment of the quality and clinical governance model within surgical services and strongly believes that the partnership between clinical and management is key to progressing developments in health. Greg currently holds the position of Surgery & Elective Services Manager at Lakes DHB

Dr Martin Thomas -has an interest in management, quality and clinical governance, he has been involved in developing a model for the surgical service and organisation.  Martin is the chair of the Theatre Management Group and involved in a number of initiatives to improve theatre efficiency, the peri-operative process and quality of care.  Having recently completed an MBA, he is currently on the accelerated pathway towards Fellowship of the Royal College of Medical Administrators.

Mr Andrew Connolly - has served on the Ministerial Advisory Group responsible for the 'In Good Hands' document.  In addition, he has served on various DHB and national committees including the National Guidelines Group for the screening of those with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.  Andrew also has a strong interest in surgical education and training, delivery of services, and acute surgical care, as well as an active role in surgical research into enhanced recovery.   Andrew is the Deputy Chair of the New Zealand Medical Council.

Dr Karyn Johnson - has been working as a GP Liaison (GPL) for Women's Health at Canterbury DHB for the past three years.  During this time she has been involved with the implementation of internet based pathways, a single gateway for triage of referrals to the gynaecology department and an electronic referral system. These and other initiatives have transformed the way Canterbury patients receive care in both the primary and secondary care systems.

 Dr Andrew Hamer - is part of the National Cardiac Surgical Clinical Network and the New Zealand Cardiac Network which is tasked to ensure the implementation of the Cardiac Surgery Service Development Group (CSSDG) report. Dr Hamer is also on the steering group of the Quality Improvement Plan for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease and he is actively involved with the National Heart Foundation as a member of the Cardiac Care Committee.

Jane Waite - is an active Board Member of the Women's Hospitals Australasia Organisation, and has been the past Chair of the New Zealand Women's Health Managers Group.  In her capacity as an experienced Women's Health Service Manager she was recently seconded to work with other health professionals to set the national standards for termination services in New Zealand. She has also been actively involved in the working group updating the Ministry of Health service specifications for Maternity care and the Maternity Quality Framework.

What you will gain from the seminar

Participants at the seminars will gain valuable knowledge and skills to help them transform Elective services in their DHB. If attendees are unable to attend a seminar in their region, or if the date is more convenient to attend a seminar in another region, places are available through early booking.

The seminars are held at:

How to register

Please complete a registration form and submit it to elective_services@moh.govt.nz to reserve a space or if you have any questions.

Wellington Agenda (PDF, 118KB)

Auckland Agenda (PDF, 96KB)

Dunedin Agenda (PDF, 96KB)

Registration Form (Word, 732KB)