What’s New

The School Health Services team at Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation, including Te Puke High School nurse Natasha Harris (front, second from right). Pastoral care in schools is increasingly growing and the school health nurse is playing a key role in looking after student health and wellbeing, even going so far as screening for emotional distress. The Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation’s 10 school health nurses tend to a multitude of health needs, ranging from skin... Read more

Kohanga Reo in Tauranga are going head to head to get as many women as possible to undergo breast and cervical screening for the chance to win prizes. Klash of the Kohanga Reo will see 18 Māori early childhood education centres encouraging their wāhine mā to undergo life-saving screening. The challenge is being run by the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation’s Support to Screening team which has been successful in using kaupapa Māori initiatives such as this one... Read more

A formal sit-down consult with your GP may be on the way out for some in the Western Bay of Plenty as GPs look for more efficient ways to care for patients. Dr Heath Sumpton, owner of one of Tauranga’s new medical centres, Healthcare on Fifteenth, says people want healthcare that is both convenient and affordable. “The demographics in Tauranga are changing and people want to see a doctor when they want to see a doctor. They don’t want to... Read more

Dr Claire Isham, the new WBOPPHO Clinical Director. Two familiar faces from the Tauranga healthcare community have joined the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation in new roles established to support both GPs and those working to improve Māori health outcomes. After 11 years working as a GP for Ngāti Kahu Hauora in Bethlehem, Dr Claire Isham has joined the PHO as its new Clinical Director. Kiri Peita, formerly Senior Portfolio Manager for the Māori Health Planning and Funding team... Read more

WBOP PHO Support to Screening coordinator Joanne Tuhakaraina, centre, has joined with the team at Waipu Hauora - Helen Te Kani, Keriana Hoko-Smith, Riria Gibbons and Hutiao Dickson – to organise mammograms for a group of Matapihi women as part of a Pink Ribbon Breakfast event this month. A group of wahine Māori from Matapihi will be having a mammogram this month as part of a novel Pink Ribbon Breakfast event. Pink Ribbon Breakfast is Breast Cancer Foundation NZ’s biggest... Read more

Social agencies are working together in a new pilot project offering wraparound services to families in some of Tauranga’s most deprived communities to help improve their health and wellbeing. He Kokonga Ngākau Whānau Support Service is led by Te Runanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Trust and supported by social housing provider Accessible Properties, the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation and the Ministry of Social Development. Te Runanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Trust contracts manager Emily Gudsell... Read more

The Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation Board has appointed Lindsey Webber as its new Chief Executive Officer. Lindsey will join the PHO at the end of May from the Waikato-based Hauraki Primary Health Organisation where she was initially clinical services manager and, since 2016, deputy CEO. Board co-chairs Luke Bradford and Paora Stanley say they are excited to have Lindsey at the helm. “With a special interest in primary healthcare initiatives that focus on reducing inequities and empowering... Read more

Cheaper doctors’ visits for Community Service Card holders came into effect on 1 December 2018. Most general practices under the umbrella of the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation are charging lower fees for enrolled patients with a Community Services Card, and their dependents. (more…) Read more

Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation school health nurses Waihi Tunbridge-Ross and Tricia Tyrrell were on hand to offer health advice and support to Western Bay of Plenty youth over the recent school holidays. (more…) Read more