Communication role for health volunteers

The public has a new voice at Northland District Health Board with the creation of the Northland Health Consumer Council.

The 10-member volunteer council had its first meeting in mid-December in an effort to create a stronger partnership between the DHB and consumers, or patients.

Northland DHB's clinical director for Health of Older People and Clinical Support, Dr Alan Davis, said the value of the group had already been made apparent to DHB leadership.

"Over recent years, it has been increasingly recognised that healthcare is more effective when consumers are fully involved with decision making."

The members are a cross-section of the community and include representatives from Maori health, women's health, child health, long-term conditions, mental health and disability.

Dr Davis said the DHB's Patient and Family Centred Care programme, of which the council is a key part, was by far the most important quality improvement activity the DHB had ever done.

While the DHB had a governance board of senior clinicians, there had not been the same level of input from consumers before now, he said.

The functions of the council include, but are not limited to: Ensuring and enabling consumer participation, advising on issues requiring consumer or community consultation, ensure regular communication between DHB and community, and working with special interest groups as required.

The council is: Hikurangi Cherrington (Hokianga Health), Kathryn Sadgrove (Northland Down Syndrome Support Group), Marilyn Edwards (Parkinson's New Zealand), Kathy Diamond (Ngati Hine Health Trust), Liz Cassidy-Nelson (Manaia PHO), Chelsea Edmonds (Northland lactation consultant), Tania Moriarty (Ringa Atawhai Trust), Kevin Salmon (Alzheimers Society Northland), Debbie Walker (Diabetes New Zealand) and Brian Vickers (Northland DHB mental health consumer advisor).