Waikato Primary Health

Waikato Primary Health promotes the coordination of health care for people in Waikato communities. We work with health providers who look after people enrolled with us. Those providers include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, Maori health workers and health promotion workers – working in the community to give you and your family a better health service. Read more...

Health Improvement

Learning to Cook Could Save Your Life

Two new healthy lifestyle programmes ‘Get Cooking’ and ‘Community Health Coaches (CHC)’ are being launched by Waikato Primary Health to help improve the nutritional and lifestyle behaviours of Waikato residents.

Get Cooking is delivered over six practical workshops with each session packed with healthy lifestyle information, fun activities and hands on cooking. To view the press release please Click Here, for more information please contact Nicki Martin

Community Health Coach provider picks up TrustPower Community Award Te Awamutu Safer Communities Charitable Trust has won the Health & WellBeing Award in the TrustPower Community Awards for the Waipa District. The awards recognise and reward volunteers for their passion and efforts in local communities. This year the Kihikihi-based Trust won the award for the work it is doing delivering the Community Health Coaches program and voluntary Safer Patrols work.

100 Healthy Smiles Evaluation Just Released

The Ministry of Social Development, Work & Income, Waikato Primary Health and the Hillcrest Dental Centre collaborated on a successful 100 Healthy Smiles project by funding 170 clients (70% higher than target) and still making savings.

The financial analysis shows significant savings ($77,387) to Government benefits as a direct outcome of the programme. In total $342,237 worth of dentistry was performed for $129,566. The project has raised awareness of the significance of having good oral health among Work & Income clients and the impact it has on their physical and economic wellbeing with 12.5% finding employment following their treatment. It also shows funding the serious dental work makes it easier for people to get into regular dental check ups. For more information please contact Erica Amon

HealthRight Co-ordinators Going The Extra Mile

Thinking outside the square has been key for some Waikato health workers to ensure people with long-term conditions can access health and social services. To view the HealthRight press release please Click Here

George Wiringi, co-ordinator of the Taumarunui based site provided by Hinengakau Maatua Whangai Iwi Social Services, said trying to motivate people to be proactive toward looking after their own health was a challenge but he decided to dig his toes in. To view the full press release please Click Here, to view the Ruapehu Press article please Click Here

Margaret Reed, co-ordinator of the Te Kuiti and Otorohanga based sites provided by Ngāti Maniapoto Marae Pact Trust, said being able to react to individual need is both effective and rewarding for health workers and community members, but is not without its challenges. To view the full press release please Click Here, to view the Waitamo News article please Click Here

For more information on the HealthRight project please contact Trish Wright

Map of Socioeconomic Deprivation in New Zealand

The purpose of the Atlas of Socioeconomic Deprivation in New Zealand NZDep2006 is to reveal the socioeconomic landscape generated by the New Zealand Index of Deprivation 2006 (NZDep2006). This atlas provides a mapped version of NZDep2006, and updates the first and second editions of the deprivation atlas (Crampton et al 2000b; Crampton et al 2004). The term ‘NZDep’ is used throughout the atlas as a generic term to refer to the indexes of socioeconomic deprivation for 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006 (respectively, NZDep91, NZDep96, NZDep2001 and NZDep2006.

To view the full map please Click Here

For further information please go to the Ministry of Health Web Site: Click Here

High School Health Workers

Equipped to Deal With Students Hurting Themselves

A New Zealand first pilot scheme has been developed to support General Practitioners, school nurses and counsellors working in central North Island high schools concerned by escalating numbers of students presenting self harm behaviours. To view the full press release please Click Here

National First

In a national first, six nursing graduates in Waikato will enter straight into paid primary health care internships early this year. In the past, nurses had to start their careers in hospitals as there was no systematic transition to primary health care.

The innovative new scheme is funded by Waikato Primary Health, working with the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec), who provide academic resources and clinical support.

To view the media release please Click Here