New digital tool provides public access to our health profile

Southern Health has launched a new digital tool which allows the public, clinicians, and researchers to access information important to understanding the health needs of our population.

The new website, Tō Tātou Pūkete, captures and explores data of Southern Health’s communities and whanau. There is a focus on four key areas: Demography - Who lives in Southern?; Health Drivers – What keeps us healthy?; Health Status – How well are we?; and Health Services – Where and how do we get healthcare?

The Tō Tātou Pūkete team worked with multiple stakeholders including the University of Otago, WellSouth Primary Health Network, Māori Health Directorate, Rūnaka, Community Health Council and others to bring this project to fruition.

Dr Susan Jack, Medical Officer of Health, says “Tō Tātou Pūkete moves away from traditional methods of publishing public health data and provides easy access to important health information for a wide audience.

The Tō Tātou Pūkete datasets enhance planning not only for the health service, but for the wider community – councils, non-government organisations, and primary care.

“Tō Tātou Pūkete is a big part of the Southern DHB’s support for Aotearoa/New Zealand’s digital transformation, health reforms, and transition to Hauora Aotearoa/Health NZ.”

The information can be used by health planners, researchers and clinicians to better understand what people need most from their health care services.

Members of the public are also invited to explore Tō Tātou Pūkete to increase their awareness of what is happening in health in their region and to equip communities to identify and develop new health related initiatives.

The datasets look at a wide range of information; from characteristics of a population (e.g. numbers of people, births and deaths) to specific questions like rates of breastfeeding, smoking and bowel screening.

Sarah Martin Pou Whakatere, Public Health South says we really enjoyed the korero and partnership during the development of the Tō Tātou Pūkete. This health profile has significant data in relation to our community.

Dr Susan Jack says, “importantly Tō Tātou Pūkete offers an opportunity to empower the communities of Southern to participate in health and lead change. It is readily available to anyone with web access.”