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The Population Health and Access SLC was disestablished in August 2023. 

The overarching purpose of the Population Health & Access Service Level Alliance is to monitor population level health (outcomes) and to provide advice and recommendations (to the system through ALT) on innovative and integrative ways of providing care and ways to enable a health promoting health system (to continuously and equitably improve those outcomes).

The Population Health and Access Service Level Alliance was established in December 2017 to elevate the population health work in Canterbury to extend beyond the focus of PHO funded health promotion activities, to initiatives and approaches supporting improved health outcomes across the Canterbury health system and across partner agencies. 

Previously a population health work group sat under the Flexible Funding Pool SLA. The SLA’s role was to develop and prioritise population health services that support people to take greater responsibility for their own health and making healthy choices, with a focus on improving access to primary health care for populations with higher health needs.

Through the new Population Health & Access SLA there is an opportunity to develop the Canterbury Health System’s approach to addressing our population's determinants of health, and enabling the vision of a ‘health promoting health system’. 

Latest News
09Aug

Protecting your baby by becoming smokefree

09 Aug, 2019 | Return|

Amy Savelkoel was about nine when she first puffed on a cigarette. This was behind her parents’ backs of course and she went on to start smoking full-time during high school.

A decade or so later and about to become a first time mum, it was no longer just about her own health.

“I decided to quit smoking now, because of my son. I didn’t want him to get sick. Smoking is horrible and once you start it’s so hard to give up. It’s just not worth it,” says Amy.

“Babies are so vulnerable and they can’t protect themselves. When you’re pregnant you are the one protecting them. Smoking was not protecting my baby, so I had to quit.”

Amy called Quitline and was put onto Te Hā - Waitaha, which is a free stop smoking service open to all Cantabrians. While the service offers support for all, there is a focus on Māori, Pacific, pregnant women and other high risk groups.

Quit coaches are based across Canterbury and provide support face-to-face, via phone or text, in a group, or individually.

Amy tried going cold turkey, but her mental and physical health started to deteriorate.

“I got the shakes and wasn’t feeling very well from the lack of nicotine. I had to reach out and get some help.

“You shouldn’t be embarrassed to ask for help. Sometimes, it can feel defeating, but it’s out there, so why not take it,” says Amy.

“I used the nicotine replacement spray. I found having the patches and spray on hand and just having someone to talk to really helped.”

Amy met her quit coach Christine regularly. They just sat down and talked.

“It was very open and she was really non-judgemental. Christine came to me mostly, which was convenient. It took away the stress by having her come to me, especially when you’re trying to quit.”

Amy’s advice to people who want to give up smoking, is to not hesitate, especially if you are pregnant.

 “It’s worth the cravings and mood swings. You’re pregnant anyway, so you get all that sort of stuff.

“Just do it. You have to do what’s good for your wee one. It may not feel good at the time, but it will make a world of difference to them. Do it, sooner rather than later.”

The Te Hā – Waitaha quit coaches work with people who want to quit and their whānau to find ways to make becoming smokefree easier. They offer ongoing support, free nicotine replacement products like patches, gum and lozenges and advice on ways to beat the cravings.

The service also offers incentives for pregnant women to celebrate smokefree milestones.

Phone 0800 425 700 or register online at www.stopsmokingcanterbury.co.nz if you or someone you know would like help to quit. 

Watch Amy's story.

Amy'sstoryvideo

About the Author

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Useful resources

Work Plan 2021-22

For Population Health SLA. Read full CCN work plan.

Health in all policies toolkit

Tools and tips to support a health in all policies approach.

Interpreter Services

Best Practice Guidelines for interpreter services for Canterbury health system.

Case study - Te Hā Waitaha

A case study about working together towards equity.

The Te Ha - Waitaha journey

A video of the journey to Canterbury's collaborative stop smoking service.

Te Hā - Waitaha

Offers free stop smoking support to anyone in Canterbury.

Alcohol-related harm

Outlines rationale and vision for the strategy.