North Shore (09) 486 8900
Waitakere (09) 839 0000

Public Consultations

When we formally consult with the community we aim to:

  • acknowledge the Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) based relationship with iwi and our relationships with Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua and Te Whanau o Waipareira
  • provide the community with a genuine opportunity to influence the outcome of decisions
  • recognise that the community is ethnically and demographically diverse and that different approaches may be needed to ensure everyone is able to participate in a way that is appropriate to them
  • provide clear, comprehensive and balanced information. Use simple language and avoid jargon
  • communicate the outcome of the consultation back to the community on how the feedback has been considered during the decision-making process.

Child Health Information Link (CHIL) Hub Proposal for Change Survey Results

This proposal outlined Auckland and Waitematā DHBs’ plan to implement a shared coordination service, the Child Health Information Link (CHIL) Hub, to support the National Child Health Information Platform (NCHIP). A survey was developed to gain an understanding from providers of the universal child health milestone services about how the proposed change will enhance service provision, help inform implementation plans and minimise unintended consequences. A total of 36 responses to the survey was received. The consultation period was extended from four to six weeks, following stakeholder requests for more time. Ten new and two revised responses were received in the extension period.

Further opportunities for feedback were held with two groups whose service would be most impacted by this proposal for change – Primary Health Care Organisations and Te Puna Manawa HealthWEST.

In alignment with the purpose of the consultation, the results will help to inform implementation plans and enhance service provision. Survey results can be read here and a summary is available here.


Evaluation of hospital cafes

To inform a programme of work reviewing the different café and food retailers available at North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals, Waitematā DHB circulated a survey that asked for staff and hospital visitors’ experience of buying food or drinks at the hospital. The survey was circulated during late August and early September 2018 and received almost 600 responses.

In response to a question on how to improve food and drinks options that are available, frequent suggestions were:

  •  More healthy food and ready-made options with the ability to create sandwiches, salads or poke bowls
  • Ethnically diverse options and a greater focus on those with dietary needs eg vegetarian and vegan food, lower carbohydrate meals, gluten free options
  • Better coffee in the staff cafes and at the Waitakere Hospital cafe

 In addition, most of the cafés were felt to be difficult to navigate comfortably in a wheelchair or with a pushchair and were not well set up for people with disabilities in terms of lighting and ability to read menus from a wheelchair.

Community report 

One page report 


Enhanced residential care pharmacy services

We want to expand opportunities for community pharmacists to work as part of an integrated team of health professionals to achieve the best health outcomes for people living in residential care facilities (‘Facilities’) – including both age-related residential care and community residential care.  

We are consulting with residents and their families, pharmacists, residential care providers, other health professionals and communities on the proposed changes to how pharmacy services are delivered to people living in residential care facilities.

The enhanced service model aims to achieve consistency for all patients through holistic, patient-centred medication reviews that ensure prescribed medicines are clinically appropriate, safe and beneficial to patients.  Furthermore, it is proposed that a limited number of community pharmacy providers will be selected with exclusive right to provide the service and Facilities will only be able to receive funded pharmacy services from one of the selected providers. See the proposal here


GP transparency

 A survey was circulated through online mailing lists and networks in Auckland, Counties Manukau and Waitematā DHB areas to gain an understanding of how people find information about general practices (GPs). It was open for feedback between 15 August and 10 September 2018 and received 334 responses. The survey results will be used to identify improvements in the content and way that information is communicated.  

 The information that was found to be most useful by survey participants was:

  • Opening hours  91%
  • Communication skills of staff      90%
  • How well they manage referrals, eg to a specialist            85%
  • How easy they are to deal with eg to book appointments, get access to results or repeat prescriptions   84%
  • The model of care eg do you see the same GP every time            84%
  • Prevention services available eg flu vaccinations, screening programmes              81%

Accessing health information online

Auckland and Waitematā District Health Boards (DHBs) have been considering the best way of providing high-quality online information on common health conditions and healthy lifestyles for patients and their families. The DHBs are keen to ensure that information is also culturally appropriate and presented in a user-friendly way. This survey asked where people looked for health information, how they accessed that information and what helped them to feel that the information was reliable.

One page summary
Community report


Youth health in Kaipātiki

Children and youth within the Kaipātiki Local Board area were asked for their perspectives on health. The survey asked what health meant to them, where they found information on being healthy and what one thing would help them to be healthier. A total of 11 schools and youth groups participated including the Kaipātiki local youth board and an alternative education group. A total of 216 responses were received from students from year 6 to year 13.

Summary report


 South Kaipara Health Care

Community and stakeholder engagement took place from late August to late November 2017 to gather local community, health provider and stakeholder perspectives on current and future health services and health needs for South Kaipara that would inform facilities planning for Alison McKenzie House.

Visit helensvilledistricthealthtrust.co.nzfor more information and to stay informed as this work is progressed.


Waitematā DHB/Auckland DHB Disability Strategy Implementation Plan 2016-2026

Waitematā DHB and Auckland DHB are developing a joint plan for the implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy 2016-2026. During the 2017 consultation we heard from 112 people, who shared a wealth of knowledge and experience. From this consultation work, the plan for the implementation of the NZ Disability Strategy 2016-2026 will be completed.

Consultation report
Implementation plan


Wayfinding

Waitematā District Health Board is trying to make it easier for people to find their way around the hospital sites. In October and November 2016, members of the community were invited to help us identify where some of the problems were at North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals to help us improve walkways, signage and the accessibility of both hospitals.

The community identified a number of issues which the DHB is now exploring in detail. Some initial improvements to signage around the hospital grounds is expected to take place later this year.

Thanks to everyone who participated - access the feedback report.


Waitematā DHB Primary Birthing Unit Consultation

In order to understand the needs of the community, the level of support for primary birthing units and to further understand which delivery models would be most acceptable to the community, consultation took place in Waitematā DHB between 18 January - 7 March 2016.
We received a positive response from the community to consultation, and would like to thank all those who took the time to participate.
Analysis of the feedback has now been completed to inform the DHB Board as to the communities’ views, and on 29th June this was tabled for consideration at the Waitematā DHB Board meeting.
The Board was pleased with the consultation and interested in the report findings. They have requested that a business case be developed by the DHB on all four of the options presented to the community. We look forward to bringing you more information on outcomes of this process in the future.
The findings for the Waitematā DHB Primary Birthing Consultation are available through the following links:

Newsletter (summary of findings)
Research report (detailed analysis of the findings)


Better health services for transgender communities

The Northern Region district health boards (DHBs), Northland, Waitematā , Auckland and Counties Manukau are working on a proposal to develop a better health service for people in the region’s transgender communities.
Visit Auckland DHB’s website for further information or contact the Project Manager.


Other health-related consultations