Linda Alexander

Specialty Clinical Nurse, Te Whatu Ora - Hawke's Bay

I am a registered nurse who has been nursing for 45 years. I have a background in general nursing but now have specialised in ENT. I have been working in the ENT specialty since 2004. I have specialized in Ear Nursing and am one of four specialty ear nurses at the Hawkes Bay Hospital. I work for both Te Whatu Ora/Health NZ and the private ENT clinic. I am also the team leader for the ENT Nursing team in outpatients. 
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Fast-Tracking the OME Pathway: Improving Timely Access to ENT Surgery for Grommets 

Persistent Middle ear effusion (OME) is a common cause of hearing loss in children, and can often require surgical intervention. In 2023 at Health New Zealand, Te Matau a Māui, Hawkes Bay, a review of our existing OME referral pathway identified significant delays leading to many children experiencing extended waits before surgery. In response, we implemented a redesigned pathway utilising the skills of Ear Nurse Specialists and Audiologists which allowed children to be assessed and when appropriate listed for surgery. Early outcomes have shown a marked reduction in wait times, though the clinical results remain variable. This presentation explores the development, implementation and lessons learned from introducing this collaborative model of care.