2015 Amazing work rewarded - Ministry of Health

To submit a story contact the Media Unit on 9828 6848 or [email protected]

The District and community thanked our nurses and midwives in May for the amazing work they do year-round.SWSLHD’s Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Jacqui Cross, said International Nurses and Midwives Day provided an opportunity to reflect on the invaluable contribution made by nurses and midwives.“It also gives nurses and midwives the opportunity to reflect on their achievements and feel proud to contribute to such a highly-valued and noble profession,” she said.Celebrations across the District included

award ceremonies, breakfasts and BBQ lunches, fashion parades, an amazing race and dress up theme days.Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital nurses and midwives were also awarded a total of $50,000 worth of scholarships thanks to the enormous generosity of Bankstown Sports Club and Bankstown Trotting Club.International Nurses Day is officially held on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale who is recognised as the founder of modern nursing. The theme for this year’s event was Nurses: A Force for Change – for a better tomorrow.

June 2015

SOUTH WESTERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT

Nurses at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital competed in an Amazing Race on International Nurses Day.

Amazing work rewarded

Congratulations to those who received Queens Birthday Honours this year.Professor Ian Harris, Clinical Director of our Surgical Specialties stream was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to medicine, particularly in the field of orthopaedics as a clinician, to education and research, and to professional bodies.Professor Annemarie Hennessy, Dean of Medicine at UWS was also appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to tertiary education, and to medical research, particularly in the area of clinical hypertension and maternal health.Dr Colin Macarthur, former General Manager of Liverpool Hospital, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to medicine as a clinician, and to medical administration.It is a remarkable honour to be recognised in this way and testament to the high level of staff working in SWSLHD.

It is wonderful to see the work of our dedicated nurses and midwives celebrated on International Nurses and Midwives Day.Nurses and midwives are an integral part of our health system, providing care in hospitals and the community across the District.The Board and the Minister recently visited Oran Park, an area experiencing population growth and increased demand for health services. Over the next 30 years the South West Growth Centre, which includes Oran Park, will be progressively developed with the capacity for around 110,000 new dwellings for 300,000 people. We visited the Integrated Primary Care Centre at Oran Park to see first-hand how this new model of care will help meet demand for health services in this region.NSW Premier Mike Baird visited Liverpool Hospital to announce that the University of Western Sydney will establish a state-

of-the-art Higher Education Centre in Liverpool next year.Along with the Hospital, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research and the TAFE, this new Centre will further cement Liverpool as a health, research and education hub.Finally, it gives me great pleasure to welcome Glenda Dingwall to the District executive team as the Director of Workforce and Development. Glenda has significant experience with a focus on human resources, workforce development and leadership. I’m sure you’ll join me in making her feel welcome.

2 | South Western Sydney Local Health District

June 2015

Message from the Chair

- Prof. Phil Harris, Chair

Last month the Liverpool Hospital Cancer Therapy Centre held a Gala Dinner to celebrate 20 years of caring for patients living with cancer.Over the past two decades, the Centre has grown to provide world-class cancer services including chemotherapy, medical oncology, radiation oncology, palliative care, gynaecology oncology and haematology to more than 60,000 patients.

Humanitarian efforts

Congratulations to NSW Refugee Health Service Director Dr Mitchell Smith and Liverpool Hospital ED Nurse Practitioner Rima Mohamed who were presented with a Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal last month.They received the medal for their work in Samoa following a tsunami in 2009. Mitchell worked with a Rapid Response and Assessment team to assess food and shelter needs and help local authorities ensure they were adequately prepared. Rima travelled to villages to assess and treat injured residents and provided nursing support to local hospitals.

Narelle Barnett, Eugene Moylan and Robynne Cooke at the gala dinner.

Nurse Practitioner Rima Mohamed and Dr Mitchell Smith.

Minister Skinner and Prof. Phil Harris at Oran Park.

Cancer Centre turns 20

3 | South Western Sydney Local Health District

June 2015

Locals were given a behind the scenes look at the workings of Fairfield Hospital during a Community Open Day.The Open Day included guided tours of the Hospital, health information, stalls, demonstrations and a free BBQ lunch.Fairfield Hospital General Manager Arnold Tammekand said the Open Day was an opportunity for people to learn more about their local hospital and the services it provided.

Open for everyone

Staff members manned information stalls and met with local high school students at the Open Day.

With new outdoor dining smoking bans starting across NSW in July, World No Tobacco Day offered people a great opportunity to start thinking about quitting for good.New laws under the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000 come into effect on 6 July 2015 when smoking will not be permitted in commercial outdoor dining areas.SWSLHD Health Promotion Service Director Mandy Williams, said the best thing smokers could do for their health was to quit, regardless of how long they had been smoking.Did you know:• More than 22 per cent of men and almost 14 per cent of women in south western Sydney are smokers • The smoking rate in south western Sydney is 17.7 per cent, compared to the NSW prevalence of 16.5 per cent.

Know your kidneys

South western Sydney has one of the highest rates of kidney disease in Australia, so staff from Liverpool Hospital’s Renal Unit got out and about to encourage people to ‘meet their kidneys’ during Kidney Health Week (25 to 31 May).Staff held an information stall and performed free blood pressure checks. For more information about kidney disease and its associated risks factors, visit www.kidney.org.au.

Local heroes thankedThe amazing work performed by local palliative care volunteers was highlighted during National Palliative Care Week, with the District congratulating 15 recent graduates of a Palliative Care Volunteer Program.Campbelltown resident Elizabeth-Ann Rullis graduated from the program after moving to the area from the South Coast. Elizabeth is a Diversional Therapist who has worked in aged care for 23 years. “The best thing you can do for patients and their families is to give them your time and just be there to listen to them,” Ms Rullis said.For more information on becoming a Palliative Care Volunteer call 8738 9755. For more information about advance care planning visit www.palliativecare.org.au.

No better time to quit

Aboriginal Tobacco Project team members Sinead McElduff and Kerry Welsh promote the health benfits of quitting.

Palliative Care Volunteer Program graduates (clockwise from left) Elizabeth-Ann Rullis, Heidi Hodder and Lawson Ung with Coordinator Arlene Roache.

Dr Tim Spicer, Robynne Cooke and Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun with Renal Unit staff members during Kidney Health Week.

Our new crib

4 | South Western Sydney Local Health District

June 2015Q

uick

new

s

Symposium

Printed on 100% recycled paper

Knowledge sharedSpecialists from the Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre opened their doors to local GPs to share information about treatment options for cancer patients.The Oncology Education Evening in May was part of the national Targeting Cancer campaign run by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) to educate GPs about what their patients may experience while they are receiving cancer treatment.

Teens targetedYoung people were the focus of Responsible Gambling Awareness Week recently, with a campaign to reduce the impact of gambling promotion.During the week, interactive awareness sessions were held with local youth groups and a new booklet, Talking to Teens about Gambling, was launched.Visit www.gamblinghelp.nsw.gov.au or call the SWSLHD Gambling Help Service on 9616 4060 for a copy of the booklet.

Time for wellnessLiverpool Hospital’s Cancer Wellness Centre has launched a new timetable of activities to help patients, survivors and carers during their cancer journey.The Wellness Centre, on Level One above the Cancer Therapy Centre, offers non-clinical support to help provide a holistic approach to cancer care.For more information on the Wellness Centre or for a copy of the timetable visit www.swslhd.nsw.gov.au/cancer/support.

The Southern Highlands community has banded together and donated generously to support babies who are treated in Bowral & District Hospital’s Maternity Unit.A new humidicrib worth almost $27,000 was purchased by the Hospital, thanks to funds raised by the Hospital’s Auxiliary, volunteers at the Bowral Antique Fair and Milton Park Garden’s open day during Tulip Time.

Luke’s ride

Staff lined Liverpool Hospital’s concourse to cheer Luke ‘Stono’ Stojanovic on for the final leg of his 10 day, 180km journey.

More than 400 consumers, clinicians and managers came together at the NSW Patient Experience Symposium recently to share their passion for consumer driven improvements in healthcare, and learn more about how to use patient experience to design and promote better healthcare. Delegates heard from experts in the field, shared local innovations in improving patient experience and learned about Patient Reported Outcome Measures. Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner launched the event at Rydges World Square during ‘Patient Experience Week’, held annually to celebrate healthcare staff positively impacting patient experience every day. The event was targeted at NSW Local Health District and Specialty Network staff and their consumer advisors.

Auxiliary treasurer Peggy Harvey with midwifery unit manager Mila McDonald and the new humidicrib.

In 2012, Luke ‘Stono’ Stojanovic, was a young, fearless motocross rider, until a serious accident left him in a coma and with a brain injury.He spent nine months recovering at Liverpool Hospital’s Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, where his long road to recovery would begin, including learning to walk and communicate.Three years later Luke returned triumphant,

having conquered the Luke Stono’s Never Give Up Ride from Nowra to Liverpool, to raise money for the Hospital’s Brain Injury Unit.Hundreds of staff members lined the Hospital’s concourse to cheer Luke on for the final leg of his 10 day, 180km journey, with Luke raising more than $75,000 for the Unit. For details visit www.facebook.com/LukeStono.

Manager, SWSLHD Multicultural Services, Balwinder Sidhu presented a session on Community partnerships– CALD pain project at the Symposium.