Introducing Canterbury DHB Consumer Council

‘Nothing about us, without us’, is the slogan adopted by The Canterbury District Health Board’s new Consumer Council.

The council of 16 consumer representatives represent family health, mental health, chronic conditions, people with disabilities, older people, rural communities, Maori, Pacific people, refugee and migrants and Primary Health Organisation consumers.

The committee meets monthly to discuss how it can best provide a strong voice for the community and consumers, on how health services are planned and delivered in Canterbury.

The committee has been familiarising itself with the role of the CDHB and has responded to several requests to provide consumer input into policy and development of initiatives related to the provision of health care.

It has also decided and agreed on its terms of reference with regards to its form and function. 'Nothing About Us Without Us' is a well known saying meaning that policy should be decided with the full and direct participation of members the group(s) affected by that policy. This is what the council aims to achieve on behalf of the people of Canterbury.

CDHB CEO David Meates believes it is important that consumers participated at a high level and are close to where the important decision making occurs.  Participation in planning Canterbury’s health services should be a partnership between the CDHB and consumers at all levels. Our Consumer Council is taking an active role in influencing CDHB policy to better reflect consumer needs and provide input from their own experiences into how services are developed and delivered.

CDHB Chief Medical Officer Nigel Millar said committee members had diverse backgrounds and experiences and understandings of public health care.  “Together the committee will be able to bring their collective experiences as consumers in the broad group,” he said.
“The committee will also help to assist the CDHB in understanding what information the community needs, how the community can communicate effectively with the CDHB and how the CDHB can better communicate with the Canterbury community.”

The Consumer Council aims to:

The first Consumer Council members were nominated following a 6 month process involving many health consumer focused organisations. The nomination process has been established to be independent and ensure a balance of people fulfilling the roles. Following recommendations to the Canterbury DHB’s CEO, invitations are forward to successful nominees.

The Canterbury DHB's Consumer Council Committee members are (Photo):

Keith Gibb

Keith is a retired GP and fulfils the role for  Older Persons. He has been affiliated with Eldercare Canterbury for13 years and is currently Consumer Group Chair. Keith is the chairperson of the Consumer Council. Keith is involved in the Facilities Development Project, through the Clinical Services User Group.

Jill Waldron

Jill’s experience includes practice nursing in rural and urban areas, midwifery, counselling, training in health and disability; rest home management, dementia, quality assurance and accreditation processes.  Jill’s Consumer Council role is with physical disabilities and has associations with CCS Disability Action Canterbury West Coast, Neuromuscular Alliance (Muscular Dystrophy Association), NZ Spinal Trust, Brain Injury Association, Waimakariri Access Group, Alzheimer’s Association and the Waimakariri Health Advisory Group.  Jill is the deputy-chairperson for the Consumer Council. Jill has been part of the End of Life working group, and has now been asked to provide a consumer perspective on the National working group for Advanced Care Planning.

Beth McIlveen Nobes

Beth is manager of the Psychiatric Consumer Trust, who provide a peer support drop incentre and advocacy service, and is a committed advocate for consumer run organisations and consumer input into policy development. Beth has links with the Canterbury Mental Health Consumer Network, Schizophrenia Fellowship Pegasus Bay, Schizophrenia Fellowship Cant. Inc and Te Awa o Te Ora - a Maori psychiatric consumer support group for people who have experienced mental health problems.

Donald Pettitt

Donald is a social worker and manager of the Canterbury Men's Centre. His area of interest lies in family and men’s health and wellbeing. Donald has associations with the Father and Child Trust, Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust, MensTrust and MensLine.

Elizabeth Miller

Elizabeth is a support worker at Brackenridge Estate and has a particular interest in child and family health, with an ongoing association with the Royal NZ Plunket Society.

Gloria Weeks

Gloria represents people with sensory disabilities. She has affiliations with the Association of Blind Citizens NZ, Disabled Persons Assembly (NZ) Inc (DPA), Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, Deafblind, Disabled Persons Centre, Christchurch City Council, Deaf Association, St Chads Parish of Linwood Vestry and Synod member, Anglican Association of Women.  She represents ABC on CCC Disability Advisory Group, CCC Urban Development Strategic Partners Forum and the Total Mobility Committee at Environment Canterbury.

Gythlian Loveday

Gythlian joined the Consumer Council in the role of women’s health. As a social worker she has experience in many aspects of health care and currently works in child health area. Gythlian is a survivor of breast cancer.

Jackie Girvan

Jackie represents rural health and is affiliated with Presbyterian Support, Ashburton which she has managed for five years. She is a mother, registered nurse and has worked as a health promoter in the past.

June Shaw

June is an active member of the Christchurch Kidney Society (Inc), with a wide range of personal experience as a Canterbury DHB consumer. June is a registered nurse and has had a variety of nursing roles that include tutoring and advanced nursing with Family Planning. June has spent 14 years as an accredited lifeline counsellor and has been a consumer in the recent “Making time for caring” initiative in the Christchurch hospital’s wards.  She ably fills the role of chronic conditions on the Consumer Council and is a consumer representative on the CDHB Complaints Managers group.

Marc Beecroft

Marc has just joined the Consumer Council in the role of Mental Health Alcohol and Drug. Marc is a peer support with Alcohol and Drug Association New Zealand, and has personal experience of the impact of alcohol and drug. Marc is a consumer representative on the CDHB Complaints Managers group.

Marian Hussen

Marian is a health promoter with the African Communities and has a particular interest in and role with the New Zealand AIDS Foundation. Marian brings her broad refugee and migrant experience to the Council.

Maureen Arthurs

Maureen is of Ngai Tahu decent. She is a registered nurse working as a district nurse with Ali’s Home Help and sitting her midwifery practicing certificate. Maureen has an affiliation with He Oranga Pounamu and brings a Maori health perspective to the Council through both her professional and personal experiences.

Michael McEvedy

Richard represents the Canterbury Primary Health Organisation (PHO) consumers on the Council.  Michael is a past mayor of the Selwyn District Council and past chair of Partnership Health PHO. Michael is a rural person with a broad understanding of community and health issues; and has an affiliation with St John Ambulance. Michael is a member of the Canterbury Initiative Governance Group.

Neelu Memon

Neelu represents family and youth health. She is currently studying at university and works in the Disability Awareness and Education at CCS Disability Action. Neelu was acutely unwell at the age of 16, which required a lengthy rehabilitation period, which is still part of her daily life.

Seulata Fui-Moagutuuli

Seulata has worked in advocacy and peer support in Christchurch and is a dedicated consumer representative for the Pacific community. She has associations with Pacific Trust Canterbury, Canterbury Mental Health Consumer Network, Disabled Persons Assembly (NZ) Inc, Psychiatric Consumers Trust and Schizophrenia Fellowship Canterbury Inc.

 

The Consumer Council supports Canterbury DHB’s vision and values and will operate as follows by:

The Council Committee members can be contacted by emailing hsp@cdhb.govt.nz
or by telephoning (03) 337 8647.