Some important developments have occurred on key BayBuzz issues …
Cranford Hospice
If you’ve seen or heard any other media in the last 24 hours, you know that the DHB has launched a “clinical review” of care-giving at Cranford. Here’s DHB’s media release, as well as a statement from Presbyterian Support “welcoming” the review. DHB says it is responding to a formal complaint made to the Health and Disability Commissioner.
Perhaps. The fact that our BayBuzz article has already been viewed online by almost 2,000 readers since Sunday, with 10,000 BayBuzz Digest newspapers featuring the story yet to hit the streets, is — I guess — pure coincidence!
Critical issues going forward:
- The genuine “independence” of DHB’s review;
- Its actual scope of inquiry (e.g., in terms of focus and individuals to be interviewed);
- The manner in which it will be conducted (e.g., will present Cranford staff be guaranteed confidentiality vis-a-vis management?);
- The composition of the review team (e.g. all clinicians, all from outside Hawke’s Bay, is not the answer); and,
- The extent of public disclosure of findings and recommendations.
This matter is far from being resolved. Be assured, BayBuzz will remain on the case.
Not so publicized is the resignation Wednesday of Cranford’s Medical Director, Michael Harris. Here is Cranford Director Barry Keane’s memo to staff on that development, indicating that Dr. Harris signaled his intention to leave back in December.
Tukituki Development
In a much quieter development, Andy Coltart and Garth Paterson, applicants seeking a resource consent for intensive development on the banks on the Tuki, have requested and been granted an indefinite postponement of their scheduled hearing before the Hastings Council Hearings Committee.
Apparently the HDC staff recommendation that the consent be denied has left the applicants a bit groggy.
So, you can take next Thursday’s (the 18th) canceled hearing off your calendar. BayBuzz will keep you posted on this item too.
Tom Belford
Well done to Bay Buzz! I’ve been watching developments from Whanganui and what has been unfolding is trully concerning!
I would hazard a guess that Hawkes Bay Today would have published little more than the Media Releases, Hawkes Bay should be thankful that atleast there is one intelligent source of news in the Bay!
Cranford Hospice, although funded by the people of HB, was set up originally and is owned by PSEC.
The well researched article gives a good picture of recent changes, and resulting problems.
The people ultimately responsible for Cranford are the PSEC Board. The board members through the first 25 years of Cranford, although providing a “hands-off” approach to management, kept in close touch with the constant developments and changes, and provided great support, as did many from the community. Decisions they had to make were from a position of intimate knowledge. Checking the website, it appears few if any of the current Board members have or have had any close connection with Cranford, and Cranford is only one small part of the organisation for which they are responsible.
Perhaps it is time for them to consider handing Cranford to the community which has funded its development, or at least setting up a separate Board of people who have been involved throughout the years, with Cranford as it's only responsibility. The concerned people who set up the public meeting with management folllowing the restructure would be good contenders.
Trust is built up over many years, and once trust has been destroyed, it is hard to see how it could be restored without a change of personnel at the top, regardless of any number of communications courses, mediation and the like. The NZ Palliative Care community is a small one, and experienced staff are less likely to apply for positions when they are aware that such able and experienced people as Dr Lum and the clinical pharmacists Anne Denton and Sue Watson have been sidelined.
It is good to see all sides welcoming an audit. Much will depend on the questions asked . We can hope it looks at whether or not the standard of care has changed – and why – rather than just if the standard of care is adequate.
Cranford was well known internationally for its effective, innovative treatments, as evidenced by the inclusion of Dr Lum (prior to restructuring) on an international panel of top Palliative Care Specialists worldwide reviewing medicines used in end-of-life care; and the clinical Pharmacists part of a world-wide research programme on drug combinations. The previous clinical structure allowed such innovation; drawing on the knowledge and experience of the whole team. The current more hierarchical structure stays with standard treatments, albeit “current best practice.” Having experienced the previous system and results, it must be extremely difficult for staff who have worked under a flat team structure to continue when feeling undervalued and not listened to. The staff need to be thanked for providing the good and dedicated care which they do, under such difficult circumstances.
A photograph in the HB Today on Thursday 11th February has "accidently" shown us the dirty side of the forestry industry.
Its all very well to protest long and hard about "dirty dairying" well how about "filthy forestry"
The disgraceful mess on Waikare beach can be laid at the feet of both the forestry Industry and the Regional Council.
This effluent ,and it "is" effluent has been allowed to lay on the ground and around hauler sites only to be swept away by a sudden wet spell such as we have just experienced.
Locals tell of there being a 5-10 acre "raft" of logs and slash floating off the mouth of the Waikare river only to be washed ashore in a giant jumble as shown in the photo.
What are the requirements placed on loggers regarding the disposal of slash etc on log making sites?
Do the Regional Coiuncil police these matters?
By the look of Waikare Beach it seems to be OK to leave Forestry Effluent on the ground and then wait for nature to wash it down and destroy our beaches.
Oh yes I forgot, they gain carbon credits so the industry can do what it likes!