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Raewyn Andrew, a nurse in the Orthopaedic Outpatients Department at Whangārei Hospital noticed that some parents who accompanied their tamariki to appointments received an overwhelming amount of verbal information between visits to the consultant, physiotherapist and specialised clinical nurses. As a parent of a disabled child, Raewyn knew how overloaded parents could feel after specialist visits, and was concerned about this gap in support.  

She got together with the team in the Orthopaedic Outpatients and came up with the idea of a gift pack for tamariki, which included extra information for whānau. With some funding from Health Fund PLUS to cover the costs of the bags, the staff filled them with resources and information for whānau whose children are undergoing procedures for complex foot conditions, particularly serial casting.  

Raewyn said, “While we offered excellent written resources for our clubfoot families, we had no equivalent materials for those starting serial casting for other complex foot conditions, particularly toe walking and contractures. After discussing this gap with our consultants, we agreed there was a clear need for a pamphlet that could be given to families at the beginning of their child’s serial casting journey”. The team developed the resources that give a brief overview of the condition, explain why casting is used, outline what the process involves, and address common questions raised by families. They also developed a cast care sheet highlighting key dos and don’ts, along with guidance on managing concerns while the casts are in place with the aim of creating a reassuring, easy-to-follow guide that parents could refer back to throughout the treatment process.

Raewyn explained that many tamariki will shower at the hospital when the casts are changed, which sparked the idea of a tote bag for the information packs. The bags can be used to transport shower gear during treatment, and as a beach or swimming bag once treatment is complete. The team worked with Essity, the manufacturer of the casting products, who supplied body wash and skincare sachets, and the immunisation team from the hospital also provided information for the families. The team expressed gratitude for the funding from Health Fund PLUS which has helped make it easier for tamariki and whānau to be better informed with knowledge around the procedure.

Health Fund PLUS is a partnership between Northland Community Foundation and Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau, focusing on managing donations from our community and raising funds for projects beyond government funding. If you’d like to give back, and support initiatives like this one, get in touch with our Community Engagement Manager Jane Stearns on 021 558 224.