Long-standing volunteer’s extraordinary contribution acknowledged

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The CCN Consumer Caucus was disestablished in March 2023. Caucus members, and the wider network of Canterbury's consumer groups, will remain connected with the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Consumer and Whānau Voice Team.

Most CCN groups have at least one consumer perspective, including the Alliance Leadership Team (ALT.)

Consumers are chosen because they have been a user of specific, relevant health services and have the knowledge and understanding to contribute to service design and review.

Our consumers work with other CCN group members, focusing on providing practical recommendations to improve service delivery. They attend meetings and actively participate in group discussions.

Consumers don't act as advocates but rather concentrate and provide insight into the broader systemic issues such as common themes, social and economic context. When considering new ways of delivering services, the CCN group will often ask the consumer ‘how do you think this would be for the people using this service?’ and it's the consumers role to use their experience and knowledge to reflect on the effects and implications of the current services and any proposed changes.

Long-standing volunteer’s extraordinary contribution acknowledged

Long-standing Community Respiratory Service volunteer Pauline Mohi was acknowledged by the respiratory clinical governance team last month.

The clinicians nominate two people, one from within the Respiratory Department and one external to the department, each month to acknowledge and thank them for their work and dedication.

Dr Michael Maze made the announcement at the Better Breathing Working Group, which he said was a pleasure and lovely to see how much it meant to Pauline.

“Pauline was nominated due to her extraordinary work with the community exercise groups and the Better Breathing programme. This has been such a large effort over such a prolonged period,” says Michael.

Pauline said it was stunning and a lovely surprise to be told by the respiratory clinicians that the work she does is appreciated and is helping to make a difference.

Integrated Services Programme Manager Deborah Callahan says Pauline works tirelessly for the Community Respiratory Service and their programme participants with breathing issues, including helping with service design, reviewing patient resources, running coffee and exercise groups, and is a member of the Better Breathing Pulmonary Rehabilitation Working Group, as well as the Better Breathing Consumer Group.

“She has helped literally hundreds of people improve their social connections and exercise fitness and is a valuable consumer member of the integrated respiratory service,” says Deborah.

Pauline says: “I’m involved with the respiratory service because I have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), so I need to exercise and learn about my condition. It makes sense to pass on my knowledge and help others.

“It’s also about looking after our mental health, so the social aspects of the coffee and exercise groups is also important. I love what I do, so it just makes sense.”

Pauline also wants to acknowledge Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialist Louise Weatherall who helped to bring consumers of the pulmonary rehabilitation service together nine years ago, which is how she got involved.

Find out more about the groups here.