Avoid slip-sliding into winter injuries: ACC
ODT GRAPHIC
Winter has arrived and with it come the inevitable hazardous conditions that cause injury.
During the 2024 winter season, more than 11,800 Otago residents made claims to the Accident Compensation Corporation for injuries that occurred around their homes and a further 4458 Southlanders also claimed, costing a total of nearly $20 million to help them recover.
ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker said as temperatures dropped outside, New Zealanders started to spend more time inside.
But ACC statistics showed people were more likely to get injured around their home than anywhere else.
"This is because we spend a lot of time at home and are probably more laid back than we might be in a work environment, which probably has a lot of safety measures in place."
Winter conditions were also more hazardous, he said.
Nationwide last year, ACC received 237,007 claims for injuries that occurred around the home during winter, costing $290 million to help people recover.
Most injury claims in 2024 were from people aged 50-64.
"It's important to be extra cautious around any potentially icy or slippery surfaces outside.
"A nasty fall can have serious implications on your own physical and mental health, as well as on those around you.
"If you hurt yourself slipping over, you might not be able to be as involved with your kids or grandchildren and your workmates may need to take on some of your tasks."
Mr Whitaker said the most prevalent accident cause last winter was loss of balance/personal control (65,310), followed by lifting/carrying/strain (45,365), and slipping and skidding on foot (18,618).
Most injury claims were for soft tissue injuries (150,738), followed by lacerations/punctures/stings (42,667) and fractures/dislocations (14,541).
"The second-biggest danger in the home is moving stuff around — lifting, carrying and straining account for around 18% of all home-related injuries.
"Too often we're trying to lift things that are way too heavy, way too bulky and awkward and we're doing it in ways that hurt.
"Think — is this the best way to carry in my firewood? Could I do it in a few smaller loads or with a wheelbarrow to stay injury free?
"The same goes with washing. Moving a few lighter loads is far better than piling everything into a basket all at once.
"Regardless of what you're moving, have a nice straight back, avoid twisting and try to keep it as light as possible."
john.lewis@odt.co.nz
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Stage 3 Of Major Auckland Hospital Upgrade Funded
Minister of Health Health Minister Simeon Brown has today announced a major investment to strengthen critical infrastructure at Auckland City Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre, as part of the third tranche of the Facilities Infrastructure Remediation Programme. 'This Government is committed to investing in and upgrading critical infrastructure that supports our health system – and that includes ensuring the hospitals we rely on every day are safe, modern, and fit for purpose,' Mr Brown says. 'Over the next three years, tranche three of the Facilities Infrastructure Remediation Programme in Auckland will fund critical upgrades and replacements to the power, heating, building management, and safety systems that support clinical services at Auckland City Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre. 'These upgrades are about ensuring Auckland Hospital is able to deliver reliable care for patients and has increased resilience through upgraded systems.' This third investment tranche is part of the Government's $1 billion Budget 2025 hospital infrastructure investment includes: Upgrades to the high voltage power supply to improve power security at Auckland City Hospital. Replacement of the ageing steam heating system to boost reliability and reduce utility costs. Improvements to electrical monitoring and building management systems at both sites. Design work for the next stage of the Auckland hot water pipes replacement project, with construction on the first stage already underway. 'Replacing the hot water pipe system in the main building of Auckland City Hospital is a priority within the Health Infrastructure Plan, and this investment will help speed up delivery by funding the design work for the next stage of this project. Getting ahead on the design work now will mean we can fast-track the next stage by eight months.' This tranche builds on the first two stages of the remediation programme, which addressed the most urgent infrastructure issues at these sites and are scheduled for completion by the end of 2025. Health New Zealand is carefully managing this work to minimise any disruption to clinical services, and ensure patients and staff are not impacted as this vital infrastructure is upgraded. 'This is about investing in the future of Auckland's health services – getting the basics right so frontline teams can keep delivering high-quality care to New Zealanders. 'As we continue to invest in hospitals across the country, projects like this are key to ensuring our infrastructure can keep pace with growing demand and support better health outcomes over the long term,' Mr Brown says. The Facilities Infrastructure Remediation Programme is a rolling Auckland district programme to identify, upgrade, and replace infrastructure that poses the greatest risk to our largest hospital operations. Tranche three sets out work to be delivered through to 2027, with planning for a fourth tranche already underway.
Otago Daily Times
3 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Hospices warn critical services under threat amid funding crisis
By Ruth Hill of RNZ Hospices are warning that critical services for the dying are under threat, with nothing for palliative care providers in the Budget. Hospice NZ says government funding only covers about half of what it costs to run New Zealand's 28 publicly funded hospices, but if services collapse, it will end up costing taxpayers millions of dollars more. Jen Nolan, whose younger brother Matt died at Te Omanga Hospice in Lower Hutt in 2019, said she dreaded to think how those final days would have gone without that "incredible, wrap-around care". The weeks following Matt Nolan's diagnosis with stage four melanoma were brutal: brain surgery, radiation, immunotherapy - nothing worked. It was a devastating blow when doctors said there was nothing more they could do - but Matt Nolan's admission to Te Omanga offered a different kind of healing. "When we walked in, I turned to one of my sisters and said 'God, it's like we've left Hell and we're in Heaven's waiting room'." Her brother's seizures and complex pain needs made it impossible for him to be at home, but Te Omanga became their home. "We could come and we could bring our dogs, he had a lovely room that opened out to the garden. His friends could come. "I walked in one day, and there he was, fast asleep, with two of his buddies also asleep in chairs. They were having a little nap together." Matt Nolan died in July 2019, three months after diagnosis. He had just turned 49. Six years on, Jen Nolan said it was heartbreaking that hospice services were only available to one in three New Zealanders who were dying. "If you face the death of a loved one, and you haven't got the option to go into hospice care, I think that would be a bloody grim place to be. "It was the most supportive and gentle place for us all to be with him. The care he received was outstanding. And I feel what we were shown as we navigated this incredibly difficult time was the best humans can be for each other." It cost $226 million to run the country's hospice services last year, with just half of that provided by the government. Hospice New Zealand chief executive Wayne Naylor said it was disappointing to not even rate a mention in the Budget - especially coming on top of the scuttling of the pay equity claim for hospice nurses. They are currently paid up to 35% less than Health NZ nurses. "That was a real out-of-the-blue sideswipe for hospices and hospice nurses in particular, to have our pay equity claim, which was almost completed, just stop." Indications that the government would not be covering future pay equity settlements for the funded sector were "very problematic". "That then falls back on community to provide more money to support their local hospice. "The alternative is that hospices have to make some staff redundant so that they can increase the salaries of other staff, and that leads to a reduction in services." Health NZ has enough money - Health Minister Health Minister Simeon Brown said the government "values the work of hospices", but he said it was up to Health NZ to do its own negotiations with providers. "This Budget has provided $1.37b to Health NZ to not only deliver an increase in investment for those front-line hospital and specialist services, but also an uplift in investment to that funded sector, which includes primary care, which includes aged care, which includes palliative care." However, Naylor was not optimistic following meetings with Health NZ officials, the most recent one this week. "They told us they had no more funding, that they have no contingency that they can call upon, and the people with whom we met said they had no authority to allocate funding from anywhere else. "So essentially it's a no to funding from Health NZ right now." Assisted dying services receive about $11m a year from Health NZ, in order to ensure equitable access. "Which is fine for the fewer than 1% of people who seek it," Naylor said. "But for the 99% of people who die from an expected illness, only about a third can access hospice care. So there still remains that inequity that needs to be addressed." For dying children, access to specialist palliative care services were even worse. A recent MartinJenkins report found New Zealand's 28 publicly-funded hospices are returning at least $1.59 in health benefits for every dollar of taxpayer money received, including fewer ED and hospital admissions or rest home stays. Add to that the clinical services they directly fund themselves, the public benefit is even higher. Most patients under hospice care are able to stay in their own homes, with brief admissions to hospice for respite or to adjust pain medication. Government 'exploiting' good will - nurses Nelson-Tasman Hospice nurse Donna Burnett loves her work, which is why she has stayed in the job for 36 years. However, the Nurses Organisation delegate said that good-will was being taken for granted by the government, and the end result for many was "burnout". "We can't keep giving the way we are. "Often we're short-staffed. We keep that patient centred care going, but it's coming at a cost. "We can't keep giving like we are and working understaffed because that has an impact on your wellbeing." In a written response, Health NZ said it would shortly begin seeking feedback from the public and the sector on a model of care proposal for adult palliative care. It plans to finalise both the paediatric and adult models of care by the end of the year.
Otago Daily Times
6 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Avoid slip-sliding into winter injuries: ACC
ODT GRAPHIC Winter has arrived and with it come the inevitable hazardous conditions that cause injury. During the 2024 winter season, more than 11,800 Otago residents made claims to the Accident Compensation Corporation for injuries that occurred around their homes and a further 4458 Southlanders also claimed, costing a total of nearly $20 million to help them recover. ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker said as temperatures dropped outside, New Zealanders started to spend more time inside. But ACC statistics showed people were more likely to get injured around their home than anywhere else. "This is because we spend a lot of time at home and are probably more laid back than we might be in a work environment, which probably has a lot of safety measures in place." Winter conditions were also more hazardous, he said. Nationwide last year, ACC received 237,007 claims for injuries that occurred around the home during winter, costing $290 million to help people recover. Most injury claims in 2024 were from people aged 50-64. "It's important to be extra cautious around any potentially icy or slippery surfaces outside. "A nasty fall can have serious implications on your own physical and mental health, as well as on those around you. "If you hurt yourself slipping over, you might not be able to be as involved with your kids or grandchildren and your workmates may need to take on some of your tasks." Mr Whitaker said the most prevalent accident cause last winter was loss of balance/personal control (65,310), followed by lifting/carrying/strain (45,365), and slipping and skidding on foot (18,618). Most injury claims were for soft tissue injuries (150,738), followed by lacerations/punctures/stings (42,667) and fractures/dislocations (14,541). "The second-biggest danger in the home is moving stuff around — lifting, carrying and straining account for around 18% of all home-related injuries. "Too often we're trying to lift things that are way too heavy, way too bulky and awkward and we're doing it in ways that hurt. "Think — is this the best way to carry in my firewood? Could I do it in a few smaller loads or with a wheelbarrow to stay injury free? "The same goes with washing. Moving a few lighter loads is far better than piling everything into a basket all at once. "Regardless of what you're moving, have a nice straight back, avoid twisting and try to keep it as light as possible."
