Welcome to issue 41 of Handover which, like Santa’s elves, we’ve wrapped up and delivered to you just in time for Christmas.  

Wow what a year 2017 has been with mental health and addiction services receiving an unprecedented level of media attention in a context where there was, and still is, an increasing demand for services. A Government proposed review of services and reinstatement of the Mental Health Commission in 2018 will hopefully provide solutions to address the unrelenting pressure on services, many of which are delivered by nurses. 

In this issue you will read about the Surfing the Waves conference of Te Ao Māramatanga - New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses, nurse practitioners, findings on variations in seclusion rates and the use of sensory modulation in DHBs. 

We hope you enjoy this issue and really appreciate you taking the time to read it.  

Noho āhuru mai rā i tēnei wāhanga o te tau – Peace and comfort to you at this time of the year.

 
Ngā mihi
Suzette Poole and Caro Swanson