News Releases
Here's the latest news from WellSouth.
Questions or comments? Contact us at communications@wellsouth.org.nz
Or contact Frederique Gulcher, WellSouth Communications and Engagement Manager, 021 854 734.
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New tech for community health
Monday 23 September 2024
WellSouth Primary Health Network has been working with Pacific community healthcare providers in Otago and Southland to help improve their services.
The primary health organisation for the southern region has customised a computerised practice management system (PMS) – Medtech Evolution – to supported providers’ patient administration.
This system has been installed...
Cervical Screening Awareness Month - what's our Southern story
Wednesday 18 September 2024
With the one-year anniversary of the launch of Aotearoa’s cervical screening self-swab and Cervical Screening Awareness Month, we take the opportunity to review the low rates of screening for Pasifika and Māori in Southern.
Our Southern Pasifika women have the lowest cervical screening rates in our region (compared to...
When the solution becomes a problem
Wednesday 04 September 2024WellSouth Primary Health Network CEO Andrew Swanson-Dobbs
Over the years, we have seen telehealth become a viable solution to enhancing primary care services.
The conditions of COVID spurred and normalised telehealth, providing much-needed care and advice between clinicians and patients when face-to-face consultations were unavailable.
I too, have often talked about telehealth as...
New health report makes recommendations to support rural primary healthcare
Thursday 22 August 2024A new report about rural primary care identifies inequities in service provision, major pressures on funding and workforce, unsustainably high levels of clinical risk, and barriers for patients to access care when and where they need it.
The Rural Services Review Report recommends that funders, planners, advisers, and community...
WellSouth and Dunedin Needle Exchange GP clinic partner for PMS
Wednesday 21 August 2024WellSouth has been working with the South Island Needle Exchange Programme (DISC) to provide access to a customised PMS – Medtech Evolution – to support the Dunedin clinic’s patient administration, moving them from a paper-based filing cabinet system to an automated, real-time, access-anywhere solution.
The Dunedin branch, DIVO, was unique...
World Breastfeeding Week - Closing the Gap
Monday 29 July 2024Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All
World Breastfeeding Week, from 1-7 August, celebrates and aims to normalise breastfeeding every year.
WellSouth Primary Health Network is key to this supporting expectant and breastfeeding mothers and their family in Otago and Southland. The WellSouth Health Promotion team facilitate training volunteer peer supporters across...
Capitation Confirmation
Friday 26 July 2024No Further Uplift
Despite the resounding rejection and multiple concerns put forward at the 17 July PHO Services Agreement Amendment Protocol (PSAAP) meeting, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has finalised the capitation increase. The main elements will be implemented via a compulsory variation, while some other elements...
WellSouth Unaffected by Recent CrowdStrike Issue
Sunday 21 July 2024WellSouth Service Status Statement
We can confirm that WellSouth Primary Health Network systems have not been impacted by the CrowdStrike product IT issue currently evolving globally.
We also suspect that most practices within our network also do not utilise CrowdStrike, and if you do, you are likely already in contact with...
Long term success for long-term conditions
Thursday 18 July 2024Toitū Takata, the WellSouth long-term conditions programme, was launched earlier this year across many general practices in our Southern health district. Nurse-led, it is empowering clients to self-manage, it is breaking down barriers to accessing care and it is offering an integrated model that will have greater long-term success for...
New local diabetes programme launched
Wednesday 12 June 2024WellSouth Primary Health Network is piloting a new programme to help more people across Otago and Southland self-manage their type 2 diabetes.
Take control of your diabetes is an evidence-based programme developed by WellSouth long-term conditions (LTC) nurses to empower patients in Otago and Southland to self-manage their diabetes diagnosis, with...