Demystifying the fragmented health system

If you know your way around our local library, you probably value literacy – but just how good is your health literacy?

A mini health and well-being expo will help to build on your knowledge, as well as providing some immediate value with the offer of certain health checks. The free drop-in event has been organised as part of Wellness Month and is hosted by Te Noninga Kumu-Motueka Library.

The expo is to be held this Wednesday afternoon and is organised by Nelson Bays Primary Health’s Tonia Talbot and Renee Hamilton, as well as Motueka branch librarian Janine Gillions.

Anyone and everyone is welcome to drop in and get some free advice and basic health checks, says Tonia, who works as a health promotion manager.

“We’re trying to make it as simple as possible. It doesn’t matter what doctor you go to,” she says – or, in fact, whether you are enrolled with a doctor at all.

Health improvement practitioner Renee says the health system can be a minefield and its myriad services and criteria complicated, “so getting familiar with how to access information and services is key”.

“Unless you know the pathways, it’s quite tricky.”

However, the organisers are eager to help the community in demystifying the health system.

They hope that the expo helps to remove barriers, allowing people to chat directly with the professionals who can give immediate advice about diet and nutrition, diabetes, cervical screening, skin cancer, Alzheimer’s, respiratory support and smoking cessation.

“It’s about giving people evidence-based and good quality information,” Tonia explains.

She says that there are a lot of free services out there, but people may not even know they exist.

One such service is Green Prescription, an individualised programme which encourages healthy eating and increased physical activity.

People will also be able to receive free blood pressure checks, as well as advice on what their results mean and what to do next.

Nurses will even be able to provide childhood immunisations on the day, with the ability to check children’s vaccination status.

In her role as health improvement practitioner, Renee says that they can give advice on services – such as hers – that can be accessed via self-referral, rather than only via the doctor.

Motueka librarian Janine is thrilled that after weeks of planning, the expo is coming to fruition, as she is passionate about well-being in all forms.

She acknowledges the many health professionals who have put their hands up to be part of the upcoming event, saying that she is full of admiration for those who spend their lives caring for the community.

The library is offering a whole month of well-being activities alongside the expo for body and mind.

These include a qigong workshop (Monday, 21 October from 1pm-2pm), a bargello bookmark stitching session (Tuesday, 22 October from 2pm-3.30pm), a brain health seminar (Thursday, 24 October from 1pm-2pm), and creating a wellness journal (Friday, 25 October from 1.30pm-3pm).

The mini health and wellness expo is being held in the community room at Te Noninga Kumu-Motueka Library on Wednesday 23 October, from 1pm-4pm. Light refreshments will be provided.