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Half-Century of Health Work Lauded

Posted on: Friday, 1 July 2005, 15:00 CDT

MASSEY University's founding professor of nursing Nan Kinross won the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the MidCentral District Health Board's first primary health awards celebration last night.

Professor Kinross received the top honour from Health Minister Annette King after 53 years of service to the New Zealand health system.

She was active in primary health care since the 1950s, in a career that led her from North Canterbury and Southland before moving to Palmerston North. A nurse, charge nurse and tutor, she worked to have family health included in the nursing curriculum.

Later, she worked with Plunket and St John Ambulance, and in the 1990s was a member of the Health Research Council.

In the 1980s, as a member of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, and the later area health board, she campaigned to ensure community participation was a key feature throughout changes in the health system. She has been on the board of the Brightwater Centre for more than 20 years, and is now its patron. From 1989 until 2004 she chaired the Mash Trust for sheltered housing, and since 2002 has been a member of MidCentral's primary healthcare reference group.

Vice-president of the Manawatu County Club and president of Palmerston North SeniorNet, she promotes issues reflecting a long- held concern for the elderly.

She said MidCentral's effort as the second health board in the country to honour primary health workers had made for a great occasion.

"I have dreamed about primary health care for a very long time, and have taken so much pleasure watching all sorts of people receive awards -- it has been absolutely tremendous."

The other major winner last night was Whakapai Hauroa. The Maori health service received the Vision 2014 award, and the primary health team of the year award, for its commitment to teamwork and vision for creating an outstanding system of healthcare within the next decade.

Announcing the awards last night, board community and public health committee chairman Di Anderson said the 60 entries to the awards showed a tremendous amount of quality healthcare happening in communities around the region.

"By sharing knowledge and excellent practice these awards are a key step in developing the primary health sector -- from GPs to midwives, mental health practitioners to dentists and rest homes. We knew that excellence was out there, and by encouraging networking, communication and recognition among practitioners we hope to continue our drive to be at the forefront of primary healthcare in New Zealand."

Other winners were:

* Mash Trust, for innovation in mental health in a primary setting through its community and residential treatment service for people with both mental health and alcohol and drug problems.

* Palmerston North Women's Refuge, for addressing inequalities in providing free community services for women.

* Central Pharmacy, for excellence in provider collaboration and integration through its project to dispose of unused medicines.

* Rose A Lea Rest Home, for excellence in services for older people including residential, day care, convalescent and respite care.

* Horowhenua Primary Health Organisation, for excellence in a structured care programme for a chronic condition, for its diabetes programme.

* Kere Kere Healthy Communities Network, for excellence in community partnership, acting as a catalyst to build health services for 8000 people in Foxton, Foxton Beach, Himatangi Beach and Shannon.

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Source: Evening Standard; Palmerston North, New Zealand

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