October 2015 Pulse - WSLHD

Pulsethe October 2015

www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au

Check out the Western Sydney Local Health District Quality Award winners: P14-19

Westmead Hospital general manager Andrew Newton, Health Infrastructure project director David Ballantyne, NSW Minister for Health Jillian Skinner, Health Infrastructure chief executive Sam Sangster, SCHN Board chair Christine Bennett, WMI executive director Tony Cunningham, WSLHD chief executive Danny O’Connor, SCHN chief executive Michael Brydon and The University of Sydney Dean of Dentistry Professor Christopher Peck.

Interactive walk-through brain shows the community about dementia: P7

Transcultural Mental Health staff celebrated Mental Health Month: P12

Westmead reno Designs unveiled for new-look hospital: P2

The Pulse October 2015 2

Strong organisations value and respect their people. Organisations can demonstrate this in practical ways by providing a safe working environment, through ongoing education and training, and by helping create strong career paths.

If the organisation nurtures and supports staff, staff are always willing to give a 100% in return. Generally, this return involves people doing a good days work and using their core skills to best advantage.

In September, this basic transaction between WSLHD and its staff took on a whole new dimension. In that month I had the pleasure of speaking at Westmead Hospital during the launch of a series of War on Waste roadshows across our major hospitals.

Staff were encouraged to contribute ideas on how to cut waste, reduce duplication and improve efficiency.

In the opening War on Waste phase, cash incentives were given to departments responsible for the best ideas. Westmead mailroom staff won $10k, a Blacktown Mt Druitt hospitals nursing team won $10k for stock management, and Auburn hospital won $10k for a laptop pilot. There were other smaller prizes and many staff contributed ideas in writing.

Some sample ideas put forward were: switch off the lights and computers when not in use, print on both sides of the paper, compost uneaten food for bagging and selling, a single screen assessment tool for allied health, do not make bulk stock purchases a default, backfill for clerical staff to avoid clinical staff picking up admin duties, social workers to do discharge planning with the assistance of AHA’s, and update the global address book with phone numbers for all staff to avoid constant searching. There were plenty of others.

The ideas to combat waste are now being collated and examined by the Organisational Effectiveness Directorate and will afterwards pass to the Project Management Office for the best to be implemented.

Ideas have tremendous currency in the WSLHD, an organisation that prizes innovation. The quality of the ideas generated by these roadshows and the level of creative, lateral and analytical thinking from staff was outstanding. Some were a bit left field, others spoke to the necessity of not letting bureaucracy blind common sense.

It was clear evidence that while we are all aware of the multimillion dollar capital works underway in our LHD, we must never lose sight of how valuable our human capital is.

Danny O’Connor

Chief Executive

Board Chair Emeritus Professor Stephen Leeder.

Chief Executive Danny O’Connor.

There were two highlights we celebrated this month.

The first was the October 6 media announcement by the Premier Mike Baird and the NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner of the new concept design for the first stage of the new Westmead precinct.

The launch was held in the delightful surroundings of the Westmead Millennium Institute and we were extremely grateful for their hospitality.

The new building will be situated between Westmead Hospital and the Children’s Hospital at Westmead and will house the new emergency departments together with state-of-the-art operating theatres and extra in-patient beds.

Several major diagnostic services will be there and it will unite the acute care activities of the two principal players in the provision of acute care in the precinct.

Health Infrastructure, the planning and construction arm of the NSW Ministry of Health, continues to do a valiant job designing the new venture with the Westmead Redevelopment team and the LHD deserves warm congratulations in getting the project to this stage.

It was a happy morning that

attracted wide media attention, thanks to our Corporate Communications team.

The second great event was our Annual Public Meeting, which was held at Blacktown earlier this month.

More than 150 people attended and the highlight was the presentation of 11 quality awards to teams of LHD staff, who have done great work in innovating, creating projects like care for patients needing post-op knee physio, a home app to manage their dialysis and falls prevention and many more.

Speaking after the event with Dr Mary Foley, the Secretary of the NSW Health Ministry, I know how much she enjoyed and was stimulated by the afternoon. Congratulations to everyone.

Stephen Leeder Board Chair

From the

chief executive

From the Board Chair

Executive Update

Future of health care in WSLHD


News from across WSLHD

Western Sydney Local Health District congratulates heart surgeon Dr Ian Nicholson on becoming a finalist for the 2016 NSW Australian of the Year.

Dr Nicholson is one of Australia’s leading cardiothoracic surgeons and is known to have a heart of gold.

A regular volunteer with Open Heart International since his first trip to Fiji in 1994. Ian has travelled throughout the Pacific and Africa to give people in developing countries the lifesaving surgery

Westmead Hospital’s cardiologist Dr Ian Nicholson.

Westmead Hospital’s Dr Ian Nicholson nominated for 2016 NSW Australian of the Year

they deserve yet cannot afford.

Each year, Ian lands in places like Papua New Guinea, Rwanda and Cambodia to run a ‘patient production line’ that treats both children and adults suffering from a range of treatable conditions – from congenital heart defects to rheumatic heart disease.

With selfless generosity, Ian has mentored medical teams in developing countries for two decades, passing on his skills and knowledge to help them gain self-sufficiency.

Donating countless hours and immeasurable expertise, Ian gives many people, both young and old, a second chance at life.

The NSW Australian of the Year will be announced on Monday 16 November at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney.

The NSW Award recipient will then join recipients from all other States and Territories as finalists for the national Awards, which will be held in Canberra on 25 January 2016.


NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Health Jillian Skinner has revealed the concept design for Stage 1 of the $900 million Westmead Hospital redevelopment and precinct earlier this month.

They were joined by Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) chief executive Danny O’Connor, WSLHD board chair Stephen Leeder, Westmead Hospital general manager Andrew Newton and representatives from The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney and Westmead Millennium Research Institute.

The new-look hospital will include a new acute services building, which will house complex and critical care services in a multi-storey facility, along with new state-of-the-art operating theatres, extra in-patient beds and a new emergency department.

Minister Skinner said centralising services in the acute services building would improve treatment for critically ill, trauma and surgical patients.

“The completed project will provide greater integration, particularly between the two hospitals and the two major research institutes,” she said.

“Westmead precinct partners have worked together to ensure better approaches to service and facility planning, precinct access, transport and car parking.”

The first works are now underway on-site, with critical upgrades to power, water, gas and other essential services.

Work will soon begin on the first stage of new car parking for patients, visitors and staff.

For further information about the redevelopment visit: www.westmeadproject.health.nsw.gov.au

World-class care by 2020

Welcome our new NUMsWestern Sydney Local Health District chief executive Danny O’Connor announces the future of health care in western Sydney.

Westmead Hospital welcomed two new nursing unit managers (NUMs) in October.

Claire MacBean joined the team on ward B3C after working at Royal North Shire Hospital while former Nepean Hospital NUM Frances Hoult joined ward B5A.

Welcome to Westmead ladies.

Welcome Frances Hoult NUM West-mead Hospital ward B5A and Claire MacBean NUM ward B3C.


At our Annual Public Meeting, we heard 2000 research projects are in progress across our facilities, with 400 new projects in 2013-14 and $28 million received in research grants (an increase of 9.2 per cent on the previous year).

In mid-2014, after more than a decade of fundraising and planning, the Westmead Millennium Institute moved into its new $110 million building, designed to enhance research collaboration.

Ten centres of research, previously scattered across six different locations in the Westmead Hospital precinct, were brought together under one roof. Generously funded by the Federal and State governments, the new complex was officially opened by Prime Minister Tony Abbott

Research is big business

Emeritus Professor Stephen Leeder Director, WSLHD Research & Education Network

Internet: http://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Research---EducationIntranet: http://wslhdintranet.wsahs.nsw.gov.au/Research-and-Education-Network/REN-home

and NSW Premier Mike Baird on October 9 2014.

Another major achievement of 2014-2015 was the recognition by the NHMRC of Sydney Health Partners (SHP) as an Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre (AHRTC).

SHP comprises Northern Sydney, Sydney and Western Sydney Local Health Districts, the Children’s Hospital Network (Westmead), the University of Sydney and their affiliated research institutions.

The recognition celebrates demonstrated excellence in research, the translation of evidence into patient care outcomes and a strong focus on research and translation in the education of health professionals.

So that’s enough good news for one year!

Research & Education

Nancy Lord was renowned for refining the skills of new ward clerks via the “Westmead Way” or “Nancy’s Finishing School”.

She provided assistance to ward clerks working in the old Parramatta Hospital and Westmead Hospital’s B5A.

Nancy is missed by many people since her recent retirement from Westmead.

Her lengthy career started at Westmead in 1978, where she excelled in wards A5A/B, B3B/B3C, Respiratory Infectious Disease and finally, B5A.

On behalf of all Nancy’s colleagues and friends, we wish her all the very best in her well-deserved retirement.

Bye ‘Westmead Way’

Nancy is farewelled by Westmead Hospital’s Division of Critical Care and Medicine Operations director Jude Constable and director of Nursing Kate Hackett.

Congratulations to Dr Sophie Liang who was awarded the Group Troup Prize for her scientific presentation at the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) and New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists (NZSA) Combined Scientific Conference in Darwin by Dr Richard Grutzner past president of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists.

http://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Research---Education

http://wslhdintranet.wsahs.nsw.gov.au/Research-and-Education-Network/REN-home


Hevington House staff and local carers celebrate and enjoy the day out at Doyles Seafood Restaurant at the Sydney Fish Markets.

Huge thanks to our carersCarers from across the Western Sydney Local Health District were thanked for their generosity during National Carers Week 2015 (October 12 – 17) and received pamper sessions, morning tea and free medical tests at Auburn Hospital.

Carers who help patients in Westmead Hospital’s eye clinic, geriatric day hospital and the oncology ward were treated to complimentary beauty treatments on October 12, receiving mini-facials, hand manicures and relaxing massages.

An information stand, providing resources for carers, was also on display in the hospital’s main foyer for the week while the McBeath Pharmacy provided free carer blood pressure and blood glucose tests.

Staff at Blacktown Hospital also received some free pampering while Auburn Hospital’s staff carers were treated to a special morning tea on October 15.

Patient and Carer Experience officer Wendy Edmonds said Carers Week was a good time for all Australians to recognise, celebrate and thank carers in the community.

“There are more than 2.7 million carers in Australia providing unpaid care and support to family members or friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail or aged,” she said.

“Some carers spend the majority of their time and energy supporting others and can sometimes forget about their own well-being; this is a chance for them to have a little time-out”.

A huge thank you to all our wonderful carers – we greatly appreciate everything you do. Auburn Hospital’s staff carers Sylvia Vell, Marilyn and Dianna Kubrak.


Auburn’s Hevington House celebrated Carers’ Week in style, feasting on a delightful selection of seafood at Doyles Seafood Restaurant at the Sydney Fish Market while enjoying the breathtaking views of Blackwater Bay.

Carers from Bondi and Caringbah joined the staff allowing them to socialise and

Crustaceans for carers

consume mouth-watering succulents from the sea.

Hevington House acting nurse manger Vilma Pacheco said everyone enjoyed the lunch and the weather was perfect.

“Enjoy the little things in life one day you may look back and realise they were the big things,” she said.

The luncheon was funded by NSW Carers on behalf of the NSW Department of Family & Community Services.

If you would like to know more about Hevington House Dementia- Specific Aged Day Service, contact 9649 2583.

Referrals can be made through My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.


Spring into wisteria

More than 2000 people flocked to the annual Wisteria Festival on the grounds of Cumberland Hospital during September.

Cumberland Hospital’s Wisteria Festival Committee chair Margaret Bannister said she was delighted with the gardens, atmosphere and entertainment including Ruhi (The Voice Kids), Viraasat Folk Academy, Ray Barrone, Romeo’s Girls, the Parramatta RSL Caledonian Pipe Band and our resident DJ Luke.

More than 400 chicken kebab sticks, 480 burgers and 670 scones with Devonshire tea were consumed over the four-day festival

Sophie Moessis, Heidi Cootes, YoungHee Reimeyer, Reena Uthappa, Margaret Bannister, Zelijko Mabic, Fiona Bannister, Violet Griffin and Kim Dobson.

Super-sized interactive brain attracts the Blacktown community.

President Newton thanks the students.

WSLHD showed off Australia’s first brainarium during Dementia Awareness Month (September) and gave the community a unique insight into life for dementia sufferers.

The interactive exhibit was on show at the Living Well with Dementia forum, which was hosted by WSLHD, WentWest, Alzheimer’s Australia and Blacktown Council.

More than 150 carers, consumers, community members and healthcare workers took part.

Topics discussed included environmental impacts on people with dementia, legal considerations and psychological symptoms.

WSLHD clinical nurse consultant Clare Drew said dementia was now the second leading cause of death behind heart disease.

“It was important that WSLHD and its partners came together to promote dementia awareness in the community and across health care services as our population is ageing and this disease is on the rise,” she said.

Clare and fellow nurse consultant Katie Conciatore who are both passionate about dementia education, used the “brainarium” to take people on a journey through the brain of a person living with dementia.

A number of dementia awareness activities were also held at Blacktown and Mount

Super-sized inflatable brainariumNews from across WSLHD

along with corn on a stick, bacon and egg rolls, steak sandwiches and 80 serves of Hokkien Noodles.

“The fete has been a popular family fun day for more than 85 years, raising more than $12,000 for patients,” Margaret said.

“Patients can use this money to buy Christmas presents for their families or for entertainment such as The Royal Easter Show or other activities.”

“On behalf of the Wisteria Festival Organising Committee and volunteers, I would like to thank everyone for their time and energy in ensuring another successful Wisteria Fete.”

Little heroes

These adorable Year 5 and 6 girls from Villawood East Public School raised a very sweet $55 because they wanted to support Westmead’s Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre Westmead.

General Manager Andrew Newton (known by the kids as “Mr President”) visited the school to collect the donation.

What a beautiful gesture by the young ladies.

Druitt hospitals to educate people about the illness. Information was provided to people who live with dementia themselves, and to those who care for loved ones suffering from the illness.

Activities included a poster competition for staff featuring topics about dementia.



Auburn Hospital’s medical ward celebrated Multicultural Week during September where staff wore their national traditional costume and shared delicious cuisine.

The ward’s staff come from diverse cultural backgrounds, from Australia to Zimbabwe.

The lunches comprised of a multicultural feast incorporating sweet and savoury international delicacies.

The staff appreciated the opportunity to bond and share stories with their colleagues and peers.

Auburn Hospital’s Mylene Tungul, registered nurse Rassidatou Diallo, registered nurse Sangita Khatri Chhetri, registered nurse Roshni Kumar, ward clerk Sangita Chand, registered nurse Saras Elete, clinical nurse educator and Dianne Ford (seated).

One of Westmead Hospital’s courtyards turned pink earlier this month, to pay tribute to those affected by breast cancer.

Staff from the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute (BCI) held a Mini-Field of Women event planting 100 Pink Lady silhouettes in the garden in a show of support for women suffering breast cancer.

Mini-field of Pink Ladies Gemma is picture perfect

Auburn celebrates with colour

Westmead Hospital’s Breast Cancer Institute cancer survivors and supporters celebrate by plating Pink Lady silhouettes in the garden at Westmead Hospital.

Oil canvas of Westmead Hospital neurosurgeon Dr Gemma Olsson.

The community was invited to participate in the event, leaving personal messages of support on the silhouettes and joining staff for morning tea.

Men also got a look-in on the day, with a single Blue Man silhouette also on display.The event was part of BCI’s regular Best Breast Friends support group.

Sydney artist Michael Simms recently created a powerful portrait of Westmead Hospital neurosurgeon Dr Gemma Olsson.

Michael, who struck up a friendship with the busy clinician through mutual friends, created the oil-on-canvas image of Gemma as a gift.

It is now set to take pride of place in her Balmain home.

Michael has since been commissioned to create portraits of other Westmead Hospital staff.

Nice work Michael – hopefully we can snag a painting for our walls!


Welcome to the Family and Community Services nurses to Western Sydney Local Health District.

WSLHD consumer and community engagement manager Dr Coralie Wales with the award winning poster and medal.

Placement program for FACS nursesA group of Family and Community Services (FACS) nurses arrived at Westmead Hospital on October 12, ready to learn a new set of skills.

The nurses, who have previously worked at FACS care residences, have been given the chance to retrain, gaining skills in acute nursing, via a new work placement course.

The course, which kicked off with corporate orientation at Westmead Hospital, will see the nine registered and enrolled nurses work within various units at Westmead, Blacktown and Cumberland hospitals.

The program is a collaboration between Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD )and FACS and is a great opportunity for these valuable nurses to retrain.

Good luck guys and welcome to the LHD.


Award for consumer poster Congratulations to the Blacktown Mount Druitt Hospital (BMDH) Expansion Project which won best poster in the prestigious co-design category for their community engagement poster at the prestigious APAC forum, Asia Pacific’s premier healthcare conference held in New Zealand.

Western Sydney Local Health District consumer and community engagement manager Dr Coralie Wales said it was an unexpected win as their poster was by far the smallest.

“The feedback from the Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospital expansion project consumer engagement effort has been positive and has strengthened the trust relationship between staff and consumers,” she said.

“Now I hear often from some of those consumers who were involved that they feel they ‘own’ the new hospital.

Congratulations to Dr Coralie Wales and co-authors Emma Clarke, Dr Kim Hill and Peter Rophail, in showcasing the excellent work being undertaken with consumers in Western Sydney.


Western Sydney Local Health District’s Health Care Interpreter Service professional development co-ordinator Anna Kenny was recently commended for her role in the production of the Working with Interpreters training DVD.

The DVD is a statewide resource, which will be utilised and shared across many local health districts for the training of interpreters.

“I am very touched and appreciative of the recognition I have received by the WSLHD executive and from my colleagues across NSW Health Care Interpreter Services for my contribution to the DVD production,” Anna said.

“I want to acknowledge NSW Health Care Interpreters and the Transcultural Mental Health Centre, who assisted me with this project.

“Without their dedication and commitment, producing this resource would not have been possible.”

WSLHD staff who require a free copy of this DVD can contact Anna Kenny on phone 9912 3818 or email [email protected]

Blacktown Mount Druitt Hospital (BMDH) Project’s innovative Paper-Lite has been selected as finalist in this year’s NSW Health Awards.

The prestigious awards recognise innovation and excellence in the delivery of health programs and services to the communities of NSW throughout the public health system.

Paper-Lite is a clinician-led transition from written notes to electronic documentation for the majority of inpatient records at Blacktown Hospital. The project will roll out at Mount Druitt Hospital in late 2015.

BMDH Project was also nominated for a WSLHD Quality Award in the arts health category.

Transition Manager Peter Rophail said the team was thrilled to be nominated.

“The nominations recognise two very different aspects of our project but at the heart of it they’re both about consultation, communication and partnerships.

“Paper-Lite was very strongly staff led and involved hundreds of staff members and agency partners working together to create something that had never been done before – to make Blacktown Hospital the first major public hospital in NSW with

Dietitian Bronwyn and CNE Surinder at the launch of Paper-Lite in 2014. The project has now been nominated for a NSW Health Award.

WSLHD Health Care Interpreter Service professional development co-ordinator Anna Kenny.

Building the future

Exceptional staff produced quality DVD

Double honour for BMDH in NSW Health Awards

electronic hospital records.

“It was so successful and so well-accepted that the initial implementation timeframe went from 30 months to just three months.”

The project was also recognised at the local WSLHD awards in a new arts health category for its arts and culture program which includes a mosaic seat created by local Chinese, Africa and Baha’i communities with staff, children and women from the local Mount Druitt Wash House.

Other projects include a meeting place in the new clinical services building, play area for the new ante-natal clinics, a mural for the Mount Druitt Hospital foyer and an

iconic sculpture for the new main entry depicting the journey of the local glass eels.

The NSW Health Award winners will be announced in early November.

In brief

• Blacktown Hospital departments are gearing up for the move to the new clinical service building in early 2016. The move will happen in two stages with clinics and lower levels due to move in February and the wards to follow about 10 weeks later.

• The Admin Building at Blacktown is now being refurbished for the Regional Renal Dialysis Centre


Meet the teamCorporate Communciations

Mathew Nott, Corporate Communications director I have been the director Corporate Communications for almost four months and the discovery phase continues.Corporate Communications mitigates risk, maximises opportunities, and is committed to pumping information through our internal structures.

As a unit we contribute to communities by generating information which helps people understand what WSLHD does and how our outstanding teams can assist them.

Internally, we focus on keeping our staff better informed so we run as a well-oiled machine in delivering health services. In the coming editions, all members of the Corporate Communications team will use this space to introduce themselves and describe the specialised services they offer.

We look forward to working with you.


Congratulations Carrie Marr

Danish students explore cancer nursing at Westmead

Westmead Hospital’s Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre (CPMCC) welcomed two nursing exchange students from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, as part of an international fellowship program.

CPMCC director Professor Paul Harnett said he was delighted to have the nurses on board as part of the centre’s ongoing relationship with the University Hospital.

“It was great to have Anja Schwabach and Malene Baekhaard Lei at Westmead Hospital where they studied nursing as observers,” he said.

“Anja and Malene had the opportunity to learn from, and interact, with our top class nursing staff in a high-volume cancer centre in western Sydney,”

Westmead Hospital’s nursing unit manager Noeline Rozanc visited Denmark’s Aarhus University Hospital last year, after securing a

It’s been a great couple of weeks on social media for WSLHD. Read on to see what our lovely followers tweeting about us:

• Ea Mendoza @eamendoza5 Dad had a heart attack and we are still blessed that he survived the operation. Thanks to Dr Jason of blacktown hospital.

• Katie Maree @KatieMaree_88 Blacktown hospital is building carer zones. people can stay & support people while they’re in hospital. Supportive of mental health #qanda

• Nine News Sydney @9NewsSyd Westmead hospital will be transformed into a world-class health campus for western Sydney. #9News pic.twitter.com/HupB3HgGK2

WesternSydneyHealth

@WestSydHealth

With Sia Anthopoulos

Sweet Tweets

Malene Lei, Danish nursing student, Noeline Rozanc, nursing unit manager Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Anja Schwabach, nursing student and Deirdre D’Souza, clinical co-ordinator, CPMCC.

Western Sydney Local Health District’s Executive Director of Organisational Effectiveness Carrie Marr has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC), effective October 26.

Carrie has been a valued member of the executive team and the WSLHD board over the past two years.

“It has been a privilege to work with everyone and I hope our paths will continue to cross in my new role at CEC,” she said.

Best wishes Carrie for your new role at the Clinical Excellence Commission.

Farewell and thank you to Western Sydney Local Health District Executive Director Organisational Effectiveness Carrie Marr.

two-week fellowship.

“I was able to observe oncology nursing and care in a different environment and share my Australian experience with my Danish colleagues,” she said.

“We can both learn from each other to improve both process and outcomes.”

The recipient of Westmead Hospital’s 2016 travelling fellowship will be announced in October.

A palliative care nurse will spend two weeks in Denmark.

Westmead was the first cancer centre in NSW and the second in Australia to receive international accreditation as a Designated Centre of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care by the European Society for Medical Oncology.


Spread the newsThe Pulse is a great way to share your project, initiative or event. Our publication is distributed to more than 10,000 staff in Western Sydney Local Health District and our many stakeholders. To submit your story for consideration, phone 8890 4564 or email [email protected] Publication is at the discretion of the editor and chief executive. Items may be edited for length, style and quality.

October edition Graphic design: Joshua Said Editorial co-ordinator: Jenny Harrison


Follow-up service provides exceptional care for Aboriginal patients

Minds matter month

Front row left to right: Maria Cassaniti, Chamboramy Var, Lefkothea Maria Grigoratos, Hanh Nguyen, Katrina Elias. Second row: Anthony Arestakesians, Gabriela Salabert, Mona Alforque, Anu Bobby, Katherine Ingham, Sepideh Kahangi, Soojin Park, Amandah Nkomba, Chandrani Kannangaran.Back row: Ian Koh, Simon Winya, Dora Onesemo, Michele Sapucci, Debbie Draybi.

The community was encouraged to make their mind a priority during Mental Health month in October. The theme for this year’s Mental Health month was “Value Your Mind”, encouraging people to reflect on their own mental health and make caring for their mind a priority. Western Sydney Local Health District’s Transcultural Mental Health Centre works with people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, while partnering with health professionals and other organisations to support good

Western Sydney Local Health District is improving the health of Aboriginal patients with chronic disease by providing a 48-hour follow-up service for patients after discharge from hospital.

This discharge service is co-ordinated by a chronic care worker, who calls the patient at home.

The service provides advice about medications and health and well-being.

mental health.

Throughout October, the centre held a variety of activities to challenge stero- types and false assumptions about mental illness.

This was achieved by activities including walking along the banks of the Parramatta River, entertainment, child well-being and health seminars, and workshops targeted to the Arabic and Indian communities. For more information, visit: http://www.dhi.health.nsw.gov.au/Transcultural-Mental-Health-Centre/Programs-and-Campaigns/Mental-Health-Month/Community-Events-2015/default.aspx

Connecting Care co-ordinator Jillian Reade, Follow-Up Service Aboriginal Health Education officer Lynette Miene and Connecting Care coordinator Kelly Hardy.

The chronic care worker can complete referrals to other agencies and arrange transport requirements for more specialised appointments.

They also provide links to General Prac-titioners, Aboriginal Medical Service or specialists and other services.

For more information contact Katia Joseph (Connecting Care Program) on 0407436310.

mailto:wslhd-corporatecomms%40health.nsw.gov.au?subject=The%20Pulse

mailto:wslhd-corporatecomms%40health.nsw.gov.au?subject=The%20Pulse



Westmead Medical Research Foundation Belinda Szfraniec, Westmead Hospital cardiologist Eddy Kizana and Arab Bank Australia chief executive officer Joseph Rizk.

Staff from Arab Bank Australia teed off for a good cause on Friday, September 25, holding their inaugural charity golf day at Twin Creeks Golf and Country Club to raise funds for Westmead Hospital.

Money made from the golf day is set to be donated to My Westmead, a fundraising initiative of the Westmead Medical Research Foundation, supporting health care and research.

Westmead Hospital cardiologist and researcher Dr Eddy Kizana, who is conducting gene research into a heart rhythm disorder, was the guest speaker at the golf day luncheon

Arab Bank Australia has been supporting medical research at Westmead for more than 20 years and has contributed funds to equipment and refurbishment of wards within the hospital.

Bank staff tee off for matters of the heart

Cultivating cannabis for better health across NSW

Federal Minister for Health Sussan Ley tours the ICPMR laboratories at Westmead Hospital.

Recently the Federal Minister for Health Sussan Ley visited Westmead Hospital to announce a plan to allow the controlled cultivation of medicinal marijuana across Australia.

Controlled cannabis has a range of benefits for people in chronic pain who currently cannot get pain relief, as well for children who have a type of epilepsy for where cannabis has demonstrated and proven positive effects.

“The states are conducting clinical trials and eligible patients will have access through their doctor’s treatment program,” Ms Ley said.

“The drug will go through the TGA process and will be closely managed from the farm to the pharmacy”.


Quality winners recognised


Westmead Hospital’s midwives Lydia Hamid and Michelle Underwood.

Every child deserves the best when they enter the world and the midwives at Westmead Hospital are ensuring their newborns are getting the ideal start in life.

Skin-to-skin contact between a mother and baby is a vital time to help the infant adapt at birth especially breastfeeding.

But babies delivered through a caesarean section had been missing out on immediate breastfeeding until Westmead Hospital initiated a special program to give these infants the same advantage as those born normally.

Westmead Hospital’s project lead and clinical midwife consultant Gwen Moody, said within five minutes of the baby being delivered in the operating theatre the bub was placed on the mother’s chest.

“A skin-to-skin midwife remains with the mother when she is moved to recovery where the first breastfeed can take place,” Gwen said.

“It is natural for a newborn to look for their mother’s breast, use touch and skin-to-skin contact promotes this instinct.”

Previously women who underwent a caesarean section were separated for two hours from their baby until they were reunited on the ward.

Westmead Hospital delivers more than 5300 babies each year of these, 27 per cent are through caesarean section.

“Now, more than 1400 of our caesarean babies will be able to breastfeed within the hour,” Gwen said.

“The first 60 minutes of life outside the womb is a special time when a baby meets

his or her parents and a family is formed and nutured.’’

Skin-to-skin promotes greater respiratory temperature and glucose stability, and significantly less crying, indicating decreased stress.

The benefits for mothers who hold their

Patients as partners: mothers and babies together – skin to skin

newborns skin-to-skin have increased maternal behaviours, show more confidence in caring for their babies and breastfeed for longer durations.

Being skin-to-skin with mother protects the newborn from the well-documented negative effects of separation and supports optimal brain development.

The Western Sydney Local Health District was proud to announce the winners of the 2015 Quality Awards on Tuesday, October 15. The awards recognised innovation in healthcare that benefit carers, families, staff and the community across the region. Congratulations to all the winners!

Here are the winners:



A unique exercise partnership is set to help reduce injury and death in our elderly due to falls and allow them to live independently at home for longer.

Western Sydney Local Health District Health Promotion has developed the Healthy Older People Partnership, a strength and balance program training 1289 staff and linking with 35 aged care organisations, including multicultural services in western Sydney.

No other single injury cause, including road trauma, costs the NSW health system more than a fall.

Falls are a leading cause of unintentional injury-related death and disability in older adults.

There are 84,742 people who are 65 years and older living in the WSLHD catchment.

WSLHD falls prevention co-ordinator Kitty Kaur said HOPP had seen a 43 per cent increase in services running the exercises, including at-home carers.

“The fear of falling can affect an older person’s participation in every day life which affects their wellbeing,” she said.

“Strength and balance exercises decrease the risk but many older people reduce their exercise as they age.” WSLHD Health Promotion’s Kitty Kaur, and Trish Nove.

One of the biggest challenges for staff in Westmead Hospital’s Neuroscience Unit is watching for patients who may fall.

Clinical nurse consultant Diane Lear said the nature of the patient’s injury or illness makes them prone to falling and potentially further injury.

“We had more than 2000 admissions last year and many have head injuries, cognitive impairment or are unsteady on their feet which leads to falls,” Diane said.

“To reduce the likelihood of toppling over we assess every patient weekly.

“We have allocated a special room with beds that can be lowered to the ground with a concave mattresses so it is harder for the patient to roll out.

“These rooms are staffed by a nurse 24 hours a day.

“Immediately we are seeing the results, with less of our patients taking a tumble,” she said.

Westmead Hospital clinical coordinator Vicki Bourke and neuroscience clinical nurse consultant Diane Lear

Preventive health: HOPP together to reduce falls

Local solutions: falls prevention in a challenging neurosciences unit



Blacktown City Mental Health Service is taking a unique approach to looking after the health of their clients by placing them in skilled employment.

A formal partnership with Commonwealth accredited disability employment service WISE Employment is seeing those with mental illness find purpose and independence in jobs like chefs, IT and childcare.

WSLHD Mental Health vocational consultant Catherine Skate said there were up to 50 western Sydney mental health clients gainfully employed on award wages.

“We were the first mental health service in Sydney to introduce the program and the results have been outstanding,” she said.

“The employment service works with clinicians to ensure the client is appropriately placed into a suitable job and is supported.”

“These clients are integrated into the communities.”

They have quality of life, have a better choice of accommodation, can afford to go on holidays with families or friends, can go shopping and most importantly they have an identity.”

Westmead Hospital vocational consultant Catherine Skate and senior occupational therapist Dhiraj Kishnani Commission Dr Nigel Lyons.

Keeping a newborn baby warm is paramount, but when the infant arrives prematurely, it becomes critical.

Ann-Maree Padernia, clinical nurse educator in Westmead Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), has devised new practices to keep these tiny bubs at the optimum temperature of between 36.5C and 37.5C.

“We call it the golden hour where babies born less than 32 weeks are at their most vulnerable in the first hour of life,” Ann-Maree said.

“Every 1C decrease in temperature on admission to the NICU increases late on-set sepsis by 11 per cent and the risk of death by 28 per cent.

“Strategies developed to maintain thermal stability include a new method of wrapping the babies in polyethylene so they can still be examined without heat loss.

“Polyethylene-lined bonnets stop heat escaping from the head.

“Specialised heat controls are used during transfer from the operating theatre or birth unit to Westmead Hospital’s Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit.”

WSLHD executive director organisational effectiveness Carrie Marr, WSLHD clinical nurse educator Ann-Maree Padernia and Acting chief executive Clinical Excellence Commission Dr Nigel Lyons.

Integrated healthcare and CE award: Integration not just colocation - full integration between mental health and disability employment services to achieve greater employment outcomes for consumers with mental illness

Innovation: How cold is too cold - thermal management of the fragile neonate


Westmead Hospital pharmacists Dr Matthew Watts and Dr Tony Lai.


Westmead Hospital senior pharmacist Tony Lai and his team are educating doctors on the appropriate use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials so patients don’t become susceptible to infections that are caused by resistant microorganisms while in hospital.

Antimicrobials kill microorganisms or keep them from multiplying or growing.

They are most commonly used to prevent or treat infections due to microorganisms.

“By using a narrow-spectrum antimicrobial we are targeting the infection without causing unwanted side effects, such as severe diarrhoea,” Tony said.

“Inappropriate use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials is associated with healthcare associated infections and the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

“Pharmacists and an infectious diseases specialist accompany doctors on ward rounds to provide advice and guidance.

“The pharmacy’s dispensing data has showed a significant decrease in broad spectrum and an increase in narrow antibiotics since our education campaign commenced in August last year.”

“As a result, there has been significant improvement in the appropriateness of antimicrobial use across the hospital.”

Blacktown Hospital is leading the way with a hospital-wide medication documentation program that will pave the way for electronic medicine management for all medical staff.

The medications reconciliation project was driven by medical, nursing and pharmacy staff, who developed six solutions to improve the quality of drug documentation with a focus on admission and discharge.

Electronic Medication Management Improvement pharmacist Annie Chong said they aimed to remove barriers to identifying accurate medication histories in the emergency department (ED) and improve the patients level of understanding about their drugs.

“The solutions included providing Emergency Departments (ED) with more information to establish the initial medication history; establish roles and responsibilities of the ED and in-patient teams; ensure the patients drugs are transferred with them to the ward in specially identifiable bags; provide every patient with a current, changed and ceased list of their medication on discharge; help them understand their medication; and empowering our patients to take control of their prescriptions.”

WSLHD executive director organisational effectiveness Carrie Marr, Westmead Hospital’s eMEDs pharmacists Annie Chong and Jimmy Chen and acting chief executive Clinical Excellence Commission Dr Nigel Lyons.

Collaborative team: old habits die hard

Harry Collins award: an antimicrobial stewardship ward rounds attacking broad spectrum antimicrobial use head on


Translational Research: A KNEEd to success - an innovative program following total knee replacement

WSLHD executive director organisational effectiveness Carrie Marr, Westmead Hospital physiotherapists Genevieve Langron and Sandhya Desai and acting chief executive Clinical Excellence Commission Dr Nigel Lyons.

Home haemodialysis (HHD) is a preferred life-sustaining treatment for end stage renal failure because it empowers patients to perform their own haemodialysis treatments at home, and it enhances health outcomes at lower healthcare costs.

Ongoing home support is best practice and essential to sustain its success, but nursing resources are often limited to visiting patients spread across many geographical locations.

Without a structured monitoring process, important aspects of care may be overlooked.

Patients may feel isolated and discouraged due to limited contact with clinical staff.

With the Home HD App, nurses can reach out to patients in multiple locations from the dialysis unit, resulting in improved efficiencies and increased patient support.

Acting chief executive Clinical Excellence Commission Dr Nigel Lyons, Blacktown Hospital clinical nurse consultant Mary Ann Nicdao, Nepean Hospital renal medicine department head, Associate Professor Kamal Sud and Emeritus Professor Stephen Leeder.

Physiotherapy is crucial within the first two weeks after a knee replacement to restore mobility and function.

It is the second most common reason a patient needs to see a physiotherapist, often delaying other patients’ treatment due to long waiting lists.

Genevieve Langron, a physiotherapist at Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals, has come up with a simple but effective solution.

She and her colleagues developed a group-based model of care where eight patients are seen together. The feedback has been overwhelming with great patient satisfaction.

“Our knee replacement patients like the group approach because they realise they are not alone and can share experiences,” Genevieve said.

“We are looking at using the time saved to educate people to exercise and lose weight before surgery to improve their recovery.”

This new approach provides high quality treatment based on current research to a greater number of people, significantly reducing waiting times for other patients.

Chair of the Board Award for innovation and excellence: REACH OUT: the home haemodialysis (HHD) app project real-time evaluation, action and communication (without leaving) home through optimal use of technology



Save the date

Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre Symposium November 20

Novotel Sydney Olympic Park

The fourth annual Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre symposium, by the Sydney West Cancer Network and Sydney West Translational Cancer Research Centre

The symposium is for clinicians, researchers, nurse and allied health staff with the aim to improve cancer outcomes through evidence and collaboration.

This year’s themes are immune-oncology: a new era in cancer medicine, integrating clinical care and research in breast cancer, communication in cancer care, multidisciplinary care and research in gastrointestinal cancer and a translational cancer research showcase.

The day also provides opportunities to network with colleagues across professional and geographical boundaries.

For further information and to register for the symposium visit: www.sydneywest.org.au/symposium

Westmead Medical Research Foundation Saving Little Lives Auction and Banquet Fund RaiserOctober 30 at 7am

Grand Royale 51-61 South Street Granville

$90 per guest

Dress up as your favourite Superhero and let’s save the day! Let’s join forces and together we can raise much needed funds for the sick and premature babies at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Westmead Hospital.

For more information of tables of 10 people visit: www.savingourlittleones.com.au

News & Events

NewsLocal editor-in-chief Kathy Lipari, Westmead Hospital deputy director pharmacy Lorraine Koller, aged care specialist pharmacist Anita Sivasubramaniam and acting chief executive Clinical Excellence Commission Dr Nigel Lyons.

Many elderly people admitted to hospitals are unsure of the exact medications they are taking, putting them at risk.

Dr Tasneem Mayat and her colleagues at Westmead Hospital developed a system to clear the air both for patients and clinicians.“We found a third of our geriatric patients did not have accurate medication histories on admission,” Dr Mayat said.

“Many have dementia, are confused or unsure of the exact strength of their prescriptions and don’t consider the

Community Choice Award: medication reconciliation in an aged care setting - a quality improvement project

inclusion of over-the-counter tablets.

“Elderly patients are twice as likely to be readmitted to hospital if their medication list is inaccurate because they could be sent home with the wrong drugs.

“We targeted pharmacists and doctors on how to take the best possible medication history we are now confident 99 per cent of our discharge summaries contain the correct medications for our geriatric patients with a copy going to the patient, their general practitioner, and the hospital.”

Documents

October 2015 Pulse - WSLHD