The Health Centre at HBHS is an amazing purpose-built facility that is staffed by experienced and qualified health professionals. As well as a large three bay bed area, the Health Centre also has three consulting rooms that are utilised by the Registered Nurses and the onsite Physiotherapist.
Our team is led by Mrs Astwood, Senior School Registered Nurse who oversees the day to day running and co-ordination of the Health Centre. This includes two experienced Registered Nurses Mrs Hallett and Ms Saunders, who alternate days during the week. We were fortunate to welcome Ms Saunders at the beginning of 2022.
Mrs Astwood is a registered nurse with 18 years of nursing experience. Mrs Astwood went into community nursing straight out of completing her nursing degree, with some years working alongside specialists in Oncology and Fertility. Her wealth of experience in primary health care, triaging, comprehensive assessment, knowledge and skills across the life span bring a richness to the team at the Health Centre of HBHS. Alongside her working week, Mrs Astwood is undertaking a postgraduate diploma in Nursing and working towards her Masters in Nursing to qualify as a Nurse Practitioner.
Mrs Hallett is an asset to the Health centre team as she also brings 18 years of community nursing to the Health Centre. Her background is in community mental health, specialising in psychiatric disorders, depression, anxiety, addictions, eating disorders, nutrition and comprehensive assessment skills. In addition to working at HBHS, Mrs Hallett works part time for plastic surgeons, specialising in minor surgery and wound care management. Her knowledge and skills are key to the team, the students and the community of HBHS.
Ms Saunders brings 13 years of experience in pediatrics, burns & plastics, emergency and prison nursing. Ms Saunders also spent two years as a clinical tutor at WINTEC assisting with simulation training. Her experience in paediatrics and ENT led training clinics is critical within the scope of school nursing. Ms Saunders has travelled and nursed in three countries, which adds to the specific skill set she brings to the team.
We are a multidisciplinary team and work in collaboration with various other health professionals and codes of service, such as Counsellors, Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Youth Intact, District Nurses, Specialist Wound Care Nurses, Ngaa Ringa Awhina, Public Health Unit, and Family Planning.
Over the course of the year we have attended to and treated over 3000 students at the Health Centre. On average we see anywhere between 20 to 40 students each day. Our facilities cater for students and staff that become unwell, managing students and staff with long term conditions, ensuring health care plans for anaphylaxis, asthma and diabetes are up to date, liaising with outside support services such as Asthma Waikato, off-site Doctors and Waikato Regional Diabetes Services. The Nurses also treat ongoing medical conditions and illness, respond to any on-site accidents and emergencies, and liaise with ambulance staff if required. The students that are seen are able to be treated and managed in the Health Centre with 70% of students returning to class and the remainder redirected home, back to the Hostel, Guidance, or off to GP or urgent care for follow up.
At the Health Centre, the Nurses actively encourage students to be proactive and responsible for their own health. If students learn and are able to conceptualise this, then the goal is that in the future they will become capable young men that will prioritise their health and wellbeing. The Registered Nurses work in collaboration with supporting students and their whānau who experience ongoing long term conditions. In some cases, students will be referred to other services to ensure they are getting the most appropriate follow-up treatment and care.
2022 has been a year affected by the remnants of COVID over the past three years. We have continued to work within the recommendations from both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education. This ensures our treatment and assessment of clients, students and staff during all alert levels positions their health and safety at the forefront. There have been many changes and adaptations made this year, with the staff and students of HBHS being incredibly resilient and positive throughout the year.
This year the Heath Centre has also had the opportunity to host student nurses from WINTEC for their ongoing clinical placements. This has been a great way to introduce nursing students to the community of HBHS and to promote community/primary healthcare nursing in a school setting. The feedback from nursing students is that this is a positive way nurses can be involved in community nursing and journey alongside young people and their whānau, and the wider community, and make such a positive impact.
The Nursing Team attended the annual School Nurse Symposium in October which was held in Waikato. This is an exceptional conference that is well run and as health professionals we anticipate attending each year. The ongoing professional development, knowledge and networking is invaluable to guide best nursing practice within the Health Centre.
The Health Centre met with the B.O.T. for an annual meeting to discuss and share a report on the Health Centre in terms of statistics, trends and future initiatives. The Nurses organised and led a trial health session for the ladies on staff during a Teacher Only Day. This was well received and the feedback was very positive. The Health Centre looks forward to being able to provide more invaluable health knowledge and education for all staff in the future.
We would like to thank Hillcrest Physiotherapy for the many years of service for the students and staff at HBHS. We are very grateful for their professionalism, clinical skills, knowledge and experience. We wish them well for the future. Physiotherapy at HBHS will continue in 2023 with Foundation Sports & Rehabilitation Clinic.
It has been wonderful getting to know the parents and wider community of HBHS. The team feels very privileged to journey alongside your sons and to be part of their health and wellbeing. Our door is always open and we are available via phone or email.
Wishing you and your families a wonderful Christmas break and summer. We look forward to seeing you all back in 2023 for a year of new beginnings.
Regards from the Health Centre, Mrs Diana Astwood, Mrs Raewyn Hallett and Ms Leah Saunders.