Latest news with #DenisePiper
NZ Herald
05-08-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Health NZ scrambles for parking at Whangārei Hospital as complaints soar
Patients, visitors and staff have to drive around and around the Whangārei Hospital campus to get a park, resulting in a spike in complaints. Photo / Denise Piper Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. Patients, visitors and staff have to drive around and around the Whangārei Hospital campus to get a park, resulting in a spike in complaints. Photo / Denise Piper A year's worth of complaints about the lack of car parking at Whangārei Hospital was received by Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora in just one month, as tensions rise about the lack of available spaces. Now Health NZ is scrambling to get new parks in place before more construction starts on the hospital rebuild, fearing more patients will miss appointments and staff morale will drop if it does nothing. In May, the Northern Advocate highlighted how patients were missing appointments and staff were having to arrive hours before their shifts, because of the parking problems. While demand for parking at the hospital has always been high, work on the $35 million child health unit, Tira Ora, has exacerbated the problem by removing 123 parks. Now information released under the Official Information Act shows how the lack of parking is having an impact, with complaints soaring in 2025.
NZ Herald
04-08-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Whangārei trust wants to offer supermarket alternative, cheaper butter
Taimahi Trust also has a long-term aim of making everything in the store available online, so customers can place orders whenever it suits them, and receive them through delivery or click-and-collect. Delivery areas cover greater Whangārei including Hikurangi, Te Kamo, Maunu and Onerahi, with plans to deliver to hubs as demand grows. Chairwoman and chief executive Rachel Hill is even looking at expanding the store's range, so it will eventually sell some cheeses and butter. With the price of butter being a hot topic at the moment, she hopes to be able to sell it for cheaper than supermarkets, while still making a small margin. 'Even though we're a charity we still want to be business-like and we also want to be cheaper than other places. It helps people with their budget and people who might be food insecure.' But Hill is conscious of working on one step at a time. Taimahi Trust operations administrator Troy Robertson, back left, and admin trainee Anton Herbert have found their calling with the trust. Photo / Denise Piper The trust previously delivered vege boxes but had to retrench this during the post-Covid downturn, before branching out again thanks to grants from the likes of the Ministry of Social Development. Resilience and fortitude are part of the story of the trust, which began as a coffee cart in 2017. Hill and Alison Faithful started the enterprise for their sons, who both have Down syndrome, and were struggling to find training and work opportunities - like many with intellectual disabilities. It has now developed into a groundbreaking training model for young people with intellectual or learning disabilities, creating a community for them, Hill said. Trainee Jordan Jennings carefully cuts ginger in Taimahi Trust's commercial kitchen, where a wide range of goodies are made. Photo / Denise Piper Taimahi Trust currently has 12 staff and 20 trainees, who often surpass what is expected of them, she said. Some have moved into supervisory roles, while others have gained paid work or further training, Hill said. 'They come here quite helpless because people have done things for them all the time - we turn it around,' she said. Hill's son Nathan is still a trainee and she, like many parents of the trainees, has noticed large changes due to the trust's holistic approach. Trainees Sweetie Loeak and Te Wairere Tepania work happily in Taimahi Trust's greenhouses. Strategic development manager James Ibell-Roberts said every time someone comes into the store or buys a product, it helps empower and upskill the trainees. 'For us, the more people coming into the store and engaging with our trainees is breaking down the social barriers or isolation that our trainees experience.' Taimahi Trust works with social enterprise Foodtogether to get affordable fresh produce, he said. 'We're about making affordable and nutritious kai - many of it grown by our trainees - making it accessible either at people's door or in store.' The store is also less overwhelming for customers who might struggle with sensory overload in a supermarket, Ibell-Roberts said. Further long-term plans include providing accommodation for trainees from wider Northland and branching out with different microenterprises. The Taimahi Fresh+ store is available at 19 Bank St or for online orders. Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
NZ Herald
28-07-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Health NZ apologises: Whangārei Hospital patient starved 16 hours a day for six days waiting for surgery
Emsley began to feel unwell on June 6 when she noticed her toe was very sore and felt bruised. Over the next few days, it became more painful, making walking difficult. On June 9, Emsley's GP thought she had gout and prescribed a steroid treatment. Despite the steroids, she felt very unwell and, the next morning, was so mumbled and confused when talking to her daughter on the phone, her daughter called an ambulance. Emsley was rushed to Whangārei Hospital with low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, a high temperature and confusion. It took all day for her to be stabilised with intravenous fluids, antibiotics and pain killers. 'My toe was pulsating with pain - it was like a red hot poker and I was almost screaming in pain.' Heather Emsley, 66, is still batting the infection in her toe and believes the delay for surgery prolonged her recovery. Photo / Denise Piper Once stabilised, Emsley was admitted to a ward, where doctors began trying to diagnose her illness, including her being prepared on and off for surgery. An ultrasound eventually identified a problematic pin, inserted into her toe about 25 years ago as a treatment for her rheumatoid arthritis. 'Somewhere along the line, bacteria decided to hone in on that one pin and cause a major infection, which then went through my body.' A specialist decided Emsley needed surgery to remove the pin and debridement of the wound to clear the infection. The wait for surgery meant she was unable to eat or drink anything from 2am until about 6pm, however, her operation did not proceed. This happened for six consecutive days, causing Emsley stress and emotional strain. Emsley said her situation highlighted the hospital's staff shortage, and poor communication between the theatre and her ward. Despite breaking down in tears one day, it was another day before Emsley got her surgery, about 7.45pm on June 22. She was later told she should have had surgery within 24 hours, not the 140 hours she waited. 'It wasn't the right process - it was cruel and, from my point of view, Third World. It's just not something you expect from a modern hospital.' Emsley's fight against her infection continued after her surgery, including on-going intravenous antibiotics and wound treatment. She was discharged from hospital on July 2 but still walks with a moonboot and walking stick. Health NZ Te Tai Tokerau group director of operations Alex Pimm says some patients expecting surgery need to be deferred for more urgent cases. Photo / Denise Piper Emsley and her daughter made formal complaints about her treatment, in the hope no other patient would have to go through the same torturous wait. 'I would like to see that no other patient goes through what I went through, in terms of having to wait so long and having to be starved, basically, for that length of time.' Emsley received a six-page response, with Health NZ apologising for her treatment and outlining plans for improvement. It confirmed someone in her category should have surgery within six to 24 hours. 'It sounds like, by us complaining, it helped them look into what's wrong,' she said. Alex Pimm told the Northern Advocate: 'We have empathy for Ms Emsley on her health journey and are sorry for her experience at Whangārei Hospital'. However, Pimm said the acute theatre list is prioritised based on patient need and clinical urgency. 'Unfortunately, this means that on occasion some patients who were expecting surgery are deferred to enable somebody with a more urgent condition to receive treatment.' Pimm did not answer questions about whether strike action also caused delays, instead encouraging patients to talk with the hospital directly if they have any questions or concerns. Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
NZ Herald
30-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Iwi-led initiative to restore Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe Ninety Mile Beach
On the Up is an initiative by NZME to share stories of Kiwi success, inspiration and possibilities. Reporter Denise Piper speaks with Lisa McNab about a project given new funding to help restore the health of Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe Ninety Mile Beach: arguably one of New Zealand's most iconic beaches. Lisa
