Click on the image above to play the video or click here. 

A courageous wāhine called Lynda Maaka is helping to spread an important message about the value of kōrero between healthcare teams and their patients.

Sixty-year-old Lynda who was born in Whakatāne and has lived in her Aranui home in Christchurch for the last 17 years, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2005 and completed treatment over two years, but the cancer returned with complications. 

Her journey has often been confusing and some of the healthcare team have not taken the time to kōrero (talk/discuss). 

“Some of them seemed to have an attitude that I wouldn’t understand and treated me like I was illiterate, but I’m not that stupid. It was happening to my body and it was happening to me, so I needed to understand,” says Lynda.  

Lynda also needed to understand, so she could explain to her two children, particularly her 14-year-old son who at the time was also confused. 

“Not knowing made me want to go out and find someone who did know, who would talk to me and tell me what was going on. I found them, but it took a lot of looking.”

Lynda believes health professionals need to make the time to sit and listen and answer the questions of their patients.  

At one point, some doctors were speaking over her and using technical medical terms, so she started speaking te reo Māori to them. 

“It made them all look at me, confused. I said, ‘now you know how it feels to be me. I don’t understand a thing you are all saying, so please talk to me,’ which they did from then on.”

“We all had a laugh about it, and that is how I made my doctors and nurses understand me.”

Now, when she visits hospital she knows the staff by their first names and they know her name. 

“They talk to me and not at me.”

Lynda has a close relationship with her local pharmacist Canterbury Clinical Network (CCN) Alliance Leadership Team Deputy Chair Simon Church and his team from Eastern Pharmacy Aranui, who are like whānau to her. 

“They also know me by name and when I get my medicines each week all the staff say hello, just like my local dairy owners.”

“I sometimes ask Simon for advice if I’m not able to see my doctor. The team are all beautiful, they are there to do a job and are very informative. If they haven’t heard from me to pick up my medicines, they call to check on me.”

Another key message from Lynda for health professionals is to be attentive and watch for body language. 

“Talk about other things, like whānau, say kia ora and ask how has your day been.”

“If you’re a patient, don’t be afraid to ask questions to your doctors and nurses. They are not miracle workers, but they are there to answer your questions. Even having a kōrero with your neighbour in their hospital bed helps.” 

Lynda’s journey has been rough and painful at times, but it has become better. 

“I have the love and support of my children and the gift of my grandchildren.” 

Watch Lynda’s video here - https://youtu.be/HDLAPCTY0-I