Dunstan Hospital charge nurse district nursing Olivia A’Court said she and two district nurses — Jo Calder and Monique Anderson — attended a wound healing conference in Dunedin with funding from the Tim and Marilyn Fleming Education Trust.
The trust paid for their conference fees, travel and accommodation.
"One huge thing for us is that sometimes in these smaller areas of work you can feel a bit isolated so it was nice to get out and network with others and also to confirm that your practice is aligned with what others are doing," Mrs A’Court said.
There were two days of keynote speakers from New Zealand, Australia and Portugal and workshops.
Companies offering medical supplies, devices and equipment were also there showing the latest innovations, which meant the nurses could come back to Dunstan and share the latest information and education about products, she said.
"For me in a management role, the connecting with others and forming relationships was hugely important and what a great space to do it with 300 nurses."
Without funding from the trust they would not have been able to go to the conference, she said.
Dunstan staff were emailed about the trust and the application process was easy, especially as everyone involved was at the hospital, Mrs A’Court said.
"We are able to come back to our team and educate and inform them of what exciting new things are happening in health.
We are also able to benefit our community by having fresh, new ideas that are forming in the industry, therefore improving health outcomes."
TM Fleming Trust chairwoman Tracey Reid said support from the Flemings, who lived locally, provided the money to establish the trust two years ago.
A cardiac specialist, Mr Fleming did not work at Dunstan but did spend time there with staff, Ms Reid said.
The trust was to fund education for nursing and allied staff.
The trustees were two nurses, three doctors and a physiotherapist who reviewed applications for funding and made decisions about what they could support.
When the staff returned to Dunstan they were expected to share what they had learned with the other staff.
As well as allied health staff doing specialist courses, the trust was also supporting a nurse doing a master’s degree, Ms Reid said.
Alexandra Rotary had contributed $10,000 after Dr Fleming spoke to them about heart health.
Medical staff at Dunstan had also contributed to the trust and donations and bequests could be made by contacting tmflemingeducationtrust@gmail.com
