Health NZ - Lakes

31/07/2025

“People stay in the Special Care Baby Unit so long because it’s a beautiful place to work.

“Who can say they love their job for so long? I’ve never had a moment I’ve not enjoyed.

“I’m going to miss the babies but I’m really going to miss my colleagues. It’s a home away from home.”

Thank you Sue Ratahi for your amazing 62 years of serving the Lakes community – 55 of those on night shift.

Sue started at Rotorua Hospital as a hospital aide, she trained as an enrolled nurse in 1963 and then an obstetric nurse in 1965. Sue completed her bridging course to become a registered nurse in 1995, aged 49.

29/07/2025

Today: Nurses, healthcare assistants and some midwives at public hospitals and health services are on strike for 24 hours, from 9am today to 9am on Thursday 31 July.

Patient safety will be our priority:

✅ Anyone in hospital will get the care and support they need.
✅ Our hospitals and emergency departments will stay open, but please keep ED for emergencies.
✅ Maternity services for women in labour, inpatient and birth services will continue.
✅ Visiting hours will stay the same.
✅ To maintain patient safety, most clinics will be closed, and appointments will need to be rescheduled.
✅ If you have an appointment on the day of the strike, come to your appointment unless we have contacted you directly.
✅ Any appointments that are deferred will be rescheduled for the next available time.
✅ Anyone needing it will receive emergency care.

To find out more, visit: tewhatuora.govt.nz/industrial-action

28/07/2025

Tomorrow: Nurses, healthcare assistants and some midwives at public hospitals and health services are planning to strike for 24 hours. Strike starts from 9am on Wednesday 30 July to 9am on Thursday 31 July.

Patient safety will be our priority:

✅ Anyone in hospital will get the care and support they need.
✅ Our hospitals and emergency departments will stay open, but ED must be kept for emergencies.
✅ Maternity services for women in labour, inpatient and birth services will continue.
✅ Visiting hours will stay the same.
✅ To maintain patient safety, most clinics will be closed, and appointments will need to be rescheduled.
✅ If you have an appointment on the day of the strike, come to your appointment unless we have contacted you directly.
✅ Any appointments that are deferred will be rescheduled for the next available time.
✅ Anyone in need of emergency care will receive it.

We value the hard work and dedication of our staff. To find out more, visit: tewhatuora.govt.nz/industrial-action

24/07/2025

We’ve got an extra ward open at Rotorua Hospital to ensure all patients who need hospital admission get it.

Bridgman North Ward is above the Birthing unit and is for patients who need a hospital stay but require minimal intervention.

Visiting hours are the same.

24/07/2025

Nurses, healthcare assistants and some midwives at public hospitals and health services are planning to strike for 24 hours, from 9am on Wednesday 30 July to 9am on Thursday 31 July.

Patient safety will be our priority:

✅ Anyone in hospital will get the care and support they need.
✅ Our hospitals and emergency departments will stay open.
✅ Maternity services for women in labour, inpatient and birth services will continue.
✅ Visiting hours will stay the same.
✅ To maintain patient safety, most clinics will be closed, and appointments will need to be rescheduled.
✅ If you have an appointment on the day of the strike, come to your appointment unless we have contacted you directly.
✅ Any appointments that are deferred will be rescheduled for the next available time.
✅ Anyone needing it will receive emergency care.

We value the hard work and dedication of our staff. To find out more, visit: tewhatuora.govt.nz/industrial-action

23/07/2025

A big thank you to Kindness Collective Foundation for their amazing Lego donation.

This means our Child Development Team can get started on Lego therapy sessions this term.

Lego therapy can be used with a range of children who need extra help with physical and behavioural challenges by helping with fine motor skills, problem solving and turn-taking.

“With Lego therapy we can give them fundamental skills they can transfer to school,” says Melany Eason, one of the of the team’s occupational therapists.

“We’re so grateful to the Kindness Collective for their incredible donation. It was like Christmas and has made this therapy so much more real.”

To get the therapy sessions started the CDT team will work with patients one-on-one before setting up small groups.

Among the activities planned are mini-figure challenges, set building and free play.

23/07/2025

Taupō nurse Jane McAneney is truly a first class nurse.

The cardiac Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) has been awarded first class honours for her Master of Nursing degree.

Jane had previously completed a post graduate diploma, and her nurse prescriber papers. To complete her masters she had one more paper to fulfil.

“I was not too bothered about completing my masters, but I’ve had lots of encouragement and support throughout my journey,” Jane said.

“It has taken me a while to get here, and getting first class honours wasn’t on my radar, but I’m quite proud of this achievement. As nurses, we are constantly learning."

Jane has been a nurse at Taupō Hospital for 25 years and a CNS since 2017. She says she’s enjoyed working with cardiac patents since she started nursing.

“The cardiovascular system is complex, and I think the heart is an amazing organ, so have always been drawn to working in this area.

"I enjoy having the opportunity to provide education to empower people with their health, an important part of this role is building a rapport with people, so they feel supported while they adjust to their condition."

21/07/2025

Unlike organ donation, which is always facilitated in an intensive care unit, tissue donation is possible in almost all circumstances when a person dies.

This means there is a far greater number of potential tissue donation opportunities.

This week, 21-25 July, is Eye Tissue Donation Awareness Week in Aotearoa. We're raising awareness about the impact that eye tissue donation can have, and sharing some interesting eye tissue facts over the week.

Did you know that donated corneas can be transplanted to restore vision for two people? Donated sclerae are used in reconstructive surgery, restoring normal eye function for as many as eight people.

16/07/2025

Congratulations to Rotorua Hospital HCAs Craig and Caitlynne Elphick who have had their service to Hato Hone St John recognised at a special awards ceremony.

Craig is HCA in ICU and CCU. He received his second bar for 20 years of service.

His daughter Caitlynne, who is an HCA in the Renal Dialysis Unit, received her 10 year service medal.

Craig says some of the kids he’s taught have gone on to careers involving health, but learning when and how to give CPR is something everything should know.

Thank you both for serving your community in this way.

15/07/2025

We've welcomed five more graduate nurses to Rotorua Hospital.

Four join us for our Nurse Entry to Practice programme (NETP) and one on the Nurse Entry to Specialist Practice in this midyear intake.

The programme enables its participants to focus on integrating into the nursing profession from a student to a Registered Nurse.

They are offered new clinical experiences in a supportive environment to help grow confidence, knowledge, skills, and career as well as a day out of their unit.

As well as the clinical nurse educators the nurses will also learn from preceptors – other nurses – on the floor.

Welcome to (from left) Ramanjeet Kaur (Emergency Department), Eilish Brydie (Surgical), Nipin Pappan Chacko (Mental Health), Angeline Riley (Older Persons’ and Rehabilitation Service) and Olivia Moloney (ICU/CCU).

13/07/2025

I came to work in Taupō Hospital for the outdoor lifestyle and the close-knit community, and I’m currently loving it here!

We have a fantastic team and I like that it‘s small enough to really get to know everyone.

Outside of work I enjoy running by the lake, mountain biking, and playing hockey. I’ve recently signed up for the 2026 Half Ironman and am looking forward to the challenge ahead.

Before moving to Taupō I spent a few years working in Palmerston North Hospital and most recently as a travel nurse in rural Australia.

While travel nursing I worked in eight different hospitals in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. It was a great opportunity to learn new skills and see different practices and healthcare systems.

It was a challenge travelling out of a backpack for two years, going from one location to the next, but the experience was amazing. I’m now excited to be back in NZ and to bring my skills to Taupō Hospital.

- Renee Allan, Taupō Hospital inpatient unit nurse

11/07/2025

🧬 Wondering if you're immune to measles? Here's how to find out. 👇🏽

If you were born or lived in NZ before 1969 you are likely immune to measles. This is because before this time there were no measles vaccines. Most people were infected with measles during childhood. If this isn’t you, there are several other ways to check your measles immunity:

✅ Ask your doctor – They may have records of your immunisations or blood test results. You can also check your online patient portal (like Manage My Health or My Indici).

✅ Check My Health Record – This secure site holds immunisation records from 2005 onwards. You can request a copy or ask your doctor to update it.

✅ Check your Well Child or Plunket book.

✅ Call your local lab – If you've had a measles immunity test before, you can request a free printed copy of your results.

✅ Contact travel clinics or overseas providers – if you were immunised abroad or through a travel clinic, ask for your records.

Not sure what your records mean? Talk to your healthcare provider to confirm your immunity. If you can’t find any records, get immunised. It is safe to have another dose of the vaccine even if you are immune.

Try our helpful immunity checker tool: https://info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/about-measles/measles-immunity -to-find-medical-records-to-check-your-immunity-5745