2019-2020 Year in Review - Ministry of Health

+ Blue Mountains

+ Hawkesbury

+ Lithgow

+ Penrith

2019-2020Year in Review

Together Achieving Better Health

Chair’s Message 2

Chief Executive’s Year in Review 3

District Highlights from 2019-2020 4

About our Community 6

Our Staff 10

Our Vision & Values 12

Our Yearly Check-Up 13

Our Strategic Directions

+ Healthy people and communities 16

+ Better patient and consumer experiences 20

+ Talented, happy and engaged workforce 24

+ Responsible governance and financial management 28

+ Hub for research and innovation 29

Service Directory 30

2019-2020

Contents

Acknowledgement of Country

The Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District would like to acknowledge the Darug, Gundungurra and Wiradjuri people as the traditional custodians of the land that the Local Health District services. We would also like to pay our respects to all Elders both past and present from the many nations we journey through, and communicate with, on a daily basis as employees of the Local Health District.

Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District is committed to providing culturally appropriate, accessible services that will improve the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our communities. We recognise that increasing our own cultural competency is a priority in order to achieve this commitment.

What an incredibly significant time in history we have been faced with. Our staff have encountered immense pressures as they battled the effects of natural disasters and a world-wide pandemic, yet continued to provide a high standard of health care against all odds.

We are bringing not only new health buildings to our community, but new models of care that improve the patient experience.

Chair’s message

Despite this upheaval to business as usual, we have continued our bold commitment to build services for the future with our $1 billion Nepean Redevelopment hitting even more milestones in 2019/20.

The cranes that dot the sky at the Nepean campus are a sign of significant change. We are bringing not only new health buildings to our community, but new models of care that improve the patient experience.

This year, we expanded Nepean Cancer Care Centre’s services. New clinic rooms doubled our treatment spaces from 15 to 30, and with the addition of more chemotherapy chairs and a third radiotherapy bunker, we can provide greater flexibility in treatment for patients.

We also officially opened our new Somerset Cottage Early Childhood Education and Care Centre. The demolition of the old centre has made way for progress on the first 14 storey clinical tower at Nepean Hospital.

Chief Executive’s Year in Review

During late 2019 and early 2020, the District experienced some of the worst bushfires to impact the region in many years. Many staff were directly affected, both as NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers, and residents risking loss of property, while other staff managed the emergency health response, supported aged care facilities to evacuate, and kept health services operating.

This camaraderie and determination of spirit continued when our COVID-19 response began in late January 2020. The pace of change throughout the first few weeks and months was extreme, and our staff quickly responded to prepare our hospitals and provide testing and care to those who needed it. Testing rates were high and positive cases low, however lives were sadly lost in an outbreak within a local residential aged care facility.

While the District, hospital and health service staff demonstrated CORE values daily during the crises, staff commitment to health care innovation and compassionate care was evident during 2019-20. This included the publication of world-leading research, new treatment spaces and equipment, and new virtual and mobile services.

The District worked with consumers to co-design new therapeutic spaces for mental health patients within the Nepean Mental Health Centre. Additionally, we launched a new mobile dental service for children from 50 local schools.

We also supported staff to increase their physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake with a ‘Get Healthy at Work’ initiative.

We thank our staff for their unwavering dedication and care under pressure and resilience during a time of personal risk, uncertainty, change and loss.

This year has been an extremely challenging one for our District, with drought, bushfires and floods, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kay Hyman Chief ExecutiveNepean Blue Mountains Local Health District

The pace of change throughout the first few weeks and months was extreme, and the team quickly responded to prepare our hospitals and provide testing and care to those who needed it.

The piloting of new studies to mobilise patients to avoid deterioration, along with our Premier’s Award winning initiative to provide concierge-like service for patients presenting to the Nepean Hospital Emergency Department, has seen our commitment to compassionate care remain at the centre of what we do.

Despite turbulent times, the dedication and innovative work of staff has seen the District continue to provide access to essential health services. We have long been a leader in telehealth provision and this year, telehealth use has been spurred on by COVID-19 with more than 3,500 telehealth calls made. Telehealth is just one way in which staff have responded in creative and flexible ways, forging opportunities for new ways of delivering care well into the future.

The Hon. Peter Collins, AM QCBoard Chair Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Board

nbmlhd.health.nsw.gov.au Together Achieving Better Health2 2019–2020 Year In Review

3

Welcome

Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District has continued to improve health outcomes for our community with a number of achievements and successes.

This year we:

Implemented a comprehensive emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic via the District’s Public Health Unit and instigated the District’s Incident Management Team. Our clinics tested 37,000 people and our ‘Hospital in the Home’ service treated 163 COVID-19 positive patients remotely.

Pre-emptively evacuated Springwood Hospital for 10 days and supported five residential aged care facilities to evacuate their facilities during the emergency bushfire response from November 2019 to January 2020. The 512,000-hectare Gospers Mountain fire entered the Lithgow area and burnt much of nearby Dargan.

Opened a new chemotherapy day ward, third radiation therapy bunker and 15 new treatment spaces for the Nepean Cancer Care Centre as part of Stage 1 of the Nepean Redevelopment.

Launched a mobile dental clinic to provide students from more than 50 schools in the Penrith, Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury Local Government Areas with free dental examinations, cleaning and fluoride treatments, as part of the NSW Health Primary School Mobile Dental Program.

Piloted the Get Up, Get Dressed, Get Moving! program to reduce the negative effects of prolonged bed rest and support patient recovery by helping them go home from hospital sooner. The program doubled the number of patients up, dressed and moving across three wards at Nepean Hospital.

Enhanced the therapeutic environment within the Nepean Mental Health Centre with newly designed courtyard spaces and renovated rooms co-designed with consumers and carers.

Published world-leading research by Professor Ralph Nanan at Nepean Hospital in Nature Communications indicating preeclampsia, one of the most common complications during pregnancy, may be reduced by a healthy high fibre diet.

Provided more than 3,500 telehealth consultations with patients during the COVID-19 outbreak – an increase of 377 per cent on the same period last year, and received excellent feedback from clinical staff and patients on this way of providing care.

Improved the health of staff via a Get Healthy at Work initiative. Participants increased their uptake of vegetables by 60 per cent and their physical activity by 63 per cent over the six-week challenge.

Received the 2019 NSW Premier’s Award for providing world-class service for the Patient Experience pilot project of which Nepean Hospital Emergency Department was one of the first pilot sites.

District Highlights

Top left to right:COVID-19 clinic staff

at the Nepean Hospital testing clinic; Patient

Experience Managers accepting the 2019 NSW

Premier's Award; staff increasing their fruit

and vegetable intake as part of the Get on Track

Challenge.

Bottom left to right:Helping patients go home sooner as part of the Get Up, Get Dressed, Get Moving program; enhanced therapeutic environments within the Nepean Mental Health Centre.

nbmlhd.health.nsw.gov.au Together Achieving Better Health4

5 2019–2020 Year In Review

District Highlights

Portland Tabulam Health Service

Blue Mountains

Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Regional Population Growth, Australia; Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2016; HealthStats (2017); Department of Planning, Industry and Environment 2019 population projection for the year 2036; Social Health Atlas of Australia; GP statistics from Wentworth Healthcare

Lithgow

Hawkesbury

Blue Mountains

Penrith

Nepean Principal Referral Hospital

Hawkesbury Hospital

Springwood Community Hospital

Lithgow Hospital

Lemongrove Community

Health Centre

Hawkesbury Community

Health Centre

Portland Tabulam Health Service

Cranebrook Community

Health Centre

Lawson CommunityHealth Centre

Penrith CommunityHealth Centre

St Marys Community

Health Centre

Springwood Community

Health Centre

Katoomba Community

Health Centre

Lithgow Community

Health Centre

2km

6km6km2km

25km

54km

25km

Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial Hospital

90km

115km

3km

15km3km

St Clair Community

Health Centre

10km

Over 380,000residents across 9,179km2

29%were born overseas

494GPs across 138 practices

39%

79.9 yrs

male life expectancy at birth

83.6 yrs

female life expectancy at birth

About our CommunityWe provide health services across the region through our hospitals and health facilities.

+ Our hospitals are Nepean (Penrith – tertiary referral hospital and teaching hospital of The University of Sydney), Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial (Katoomba), Springwood and Lithgow. We also operate a public/private partnership with St John of God Health Care at Hawkesbury District Health Service in Windsor.

+ We have Community Health Centres across the region that provide a range of vital services to people of all ages with chronic and complex health conditions, families and older people.

+ Oral Health and Mental Health services are provided at multiple locations across the District.

+ Portland Tabulam Health Service includes a Residential Aged Care Facility.

The projected population growth in the District from 2019

until 2036

4.2% of the Local Health District

population identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

70% of residents

overweight or obese

12% of residents with a mental health issue

3.1 mil

GP and Specialist consultations over the year

nbmlhd.health.nsw.gov.au Together Achieving Better Health

7 2019–2020 Year In Review6

About our community

Nepean RedevelopmentA $1 billion expansion and upgrade of Nepean Hospital, to be delivered in two stages, is underway and will include two community-based services.

Our brand new hospital is well on its way

Coming soon in Stage 1:

More than 2000 clinical, public

and patient rooms

18 new birthing suites, an increase

of ten

More than 12 new operating

theatres

A new neonatal intensive care

unit with additional cots

A new and expanded

Emergency Department

More than 200 additional

overnight beds

July 2019+ New multi-storey

car park opened

March 2020+ Central courtyard

sculpture design selected

July 2019+ New Katoomba Community

Dialysis Centre opened

April 2020+ Darug language consultation

for Stage 1 signage

August 2019+ Nepean Cancer Centre

expansion complete

June 2020+ New Somerset Cottage Early

Childhood Education and Care Centre construction completed

Redevelopment Milestones


As the Redevelopment rises :21,879m3 of concrete poured

(About 12 Olympic sized swimming pools worth)

1800t of reinforcement (About 1000 cars worth of steel)

418,403 equivalent hours worked

Workers onsite is >400 per day

Two cranes erected (70 metres and 85 metres)

*As at 30 June 2020

*

2019–2020 Year In Review

9

Peter Collins (Chair) Gregory Allchin Murray Austin

Gary Smith

Colin Lenton

This year we sadly lost a much respected colleague and Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Board Member, Adjunct Associate Professor Andrew Keegan.

Andrew was well known to many having practised in the region since 1988 as a gastroenterologist and hepatologist. He was an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, a former President of the NSW Australian Medical Association, a visiting medical officer at Nepean and, since 2011, an NBMLHD Board member.

As Chair of the District’s Clinical Services Subcommittee, which helps set the blueprint for future services, Andrew was instrumental in laying the foundations for the $1 billion redevelopment of Nepean Hospital. One of the most significant moments in Andrew’s professional life was the announcement in November 2016 for the Stage 1 Nepean Redevelopment which was made during his year as Chair of the NBMLHD Board.

He will be remembered for his passion for health reform and dedication to improving access to health care for people across our region.

In memory of Andrew KeeganStephen Fuller Joseph Grassi

Peta Seaton

Clarke Scott

Kath SkinnerIan Seppelt

The Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Board is responsible for overseeing the work of the District and is chaired by The Hon. Peter Collins, AM QC. The Board Members bring a wealth of experience and local knowledge to the management of our LHD.

Board Members

2019–2020 Year In Review

11

Board members

Linda McQueen Jennifer Reath

6,570Total Staff

Over seventy-one per cent of our 6,570-strong staff reside locally, either within the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District or surrounding postcodes.

Our staff

4,858Female Staff

1,712Male Staff

3,001Nursing and Midwifery

2,583Female

418Male

1,068Medical

425Female

643Male

703Allied Health

551Female

152Male

130Oral Health

104Female

26Male

23 Research/Academic

6Female

17Male

1,645 Clinical Support,

Management and Administration and Miscellaneous

1,189Female

456Male

Source: Estimates downloaded from Stafflink for period 01/07/2019 – 30/06/2020. Data includes contingent, casual, and staff on extended or unpaid leave.

10 nbmlhd.health.nsw.gov.au Together Achieving Better Health

Our staff

TogetherAchievingBetter Health

Our vision

Our values support our vision, shape our culture and reflect our principles and beliefs.

Our values

We will drive innovation and excellence in health service delivery and provide safe, equitable, high quality, accessible, timely and efficient services that are responsive to the needs of patients and the community.

NSW Health CORE Values

01Collaboration

02Openness

03Respect

04Empowerment

SAR

Safety

Agility and responsiveness

Resourceeffectiveness District

SAFER Values

EExcellence FFairness and equity

Our yearlycheck-up

In 2019-2020 the Local Health District continued to deliver services to meet a growing population amid reduced activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

9,352Elective surgeries

16.3%

8,867Emergency surgical

procedures 3.1%

274Research proposals

6.2% 79,627Admissions to

hospital 7.2%

994,474Community and

outpatient occasions of service

9.1%

4,717Babies born

6.1%

122,617Presentations to Emergency Department

6.5%

37,000COVID-19 swabs

between Mar & Jun 2020



Our vision and values Our yearly check-up

Staff spirit rises to the challengeIn late 2019 and early 2020 NBMLHD was actively involved in the emergency bushfire response affecting NSW. The LHD’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) stood up to manage and plan the local health care response to the crisis across the region.

The 512,000 hectare Gosper’s Mountain fire entered the Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and Lithgow LGAs and burnt much of Dargan, and some areas in Bilpin and Blackheath. Other towns in the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury were also threatened.

Springwood Hospital patients were evacuated to Nepean Hospital for 10 days and the LHD supported five residential aged care facilities to evacuate residents to safer locations.

Thirty LHD staff were released to fight fires with the Rural Fire Service (RFS) and health liaison officers were positioned at Regional and Local EOCs.

Drought, fire, wind and flood. It was the summer that had it all but from the adversity comes inspirational stories of survival, community spirit and leadership, including from our own staff.

Many staff took leave during the bushfires, and more recently the floods, to defend and support communities and undoubtedly save lives by volunteering for the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), NSW State Emergency Service (SES), Australian Defence Reserves and other services.

Lithgow Hospital managed extremely challenging conditions during the bushfire crisis between Christmas and New Year. Despite being geographically isolated, the Lithgow team worked closely with the EOCs and RFS. Lithgow Hospital continued to provide care to the community despite many staff unable to attend work due to fires closing roads and even threatening their own homes.

Our Community Health Nurses ensured all clients visited at home had an emergency plan in place and if not, assisted to develop such a plan, providing peace of mind for those most at risk in our community.

One staff member who took leave from her role at Nepean Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to volunteer with the RFS was Barbara Jolley, a Clinical Nurse Consultant.

Barbara joined the Silverdale Rural Fire Brigade as a volunteer fire fighter after witnessing the devastation a 40km fire front brought to her community during 2001. However in Summer 2019, as Captain of her Brigade, she faced one of the biggest firefighting challenges of her life.

One day while working on the Green Wattle Creek fire, the fire suddenly turned against Barbara and her crew in what’s called an ‘over run’. Terrifyingly, it’s when the fire front literally runs over the top of the crew fighting it. A firetruck was their only shelter.

“In the firetruck cabin designed to seat five, there was six firefighters, a local resident and his dog,” says Barbara.

“Thankfully we all made it through, including the dog.”

Barbara embodies the spirit of the many volunteers who risked their lives. She is humble. She is somewhat mystified by the attention her firefighting has generated.

“To be quite honest, being a nurse or a firefighter are not too dissimilar. Your responsibilities are one and the same. In the hospital, or on the fire ground, you need to have exceptional situational awareness, be proficient in providing quality care and lead by example.”

BARBARA'S STORY

To be quite honest, being a nurse or a fire fighter are not too dissimilar. Your responsibilities are one and the same.

News



Delivering innovative health care that meets the needs of our diverse community

This year we:

Hosted a community stakeholder forum to bring hospital clinicians, GPs and consumers together to discuss obesity services at the Nepean Blue Mountains Family Metabolic Health Service.

Installed two water refill stations at Nepean Hospital Campus to support staff, patients and visitors make healthy choices on campus.

Received a funding grant in partnership with DARE Disability to improve communication for people with a disability.

Launched an innovative Breastfeeding How-To app to support mothers to easily access breastfeeding videos and resources.

Provided 383 free influenza vaccinations to vulnerable groups at community-based pop-up clinics.

Opened a new and refurbished clinical space for Blue Mountains chronic and complex patients at Springwood Community Health Centre.

Completed the St Clair Community Health Centre HealthOne wing, offering new and expanded services for bariatric and chronic and complex care needs clients in the St Clair community.

Opened a new Aboriginal Maternity Clinic at St Marys Community Health Centre to provide antenatal and postnatal care for Aboriginal women.

Launched a mobile dental clinic to provide students from over 50 schools in the Penrith, Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury LGAs with free dental examinations, cleaning and fluoride treatments as part of the NSW Health Primary School Mobile Dental Program.

Were a recipient of funds from the $700 million funding announced for the state-wide Mental Health Infrastructure Program. NBMLHD will receive a new child and adolescent mental health centre at Nepean Hospital. Planning and focus groups with young people and carers began in late 2019 to create the patient-centred service.

Started the Respiratory Specialist Outreach service, an Integrated Care initiative that facilitates the transfer of care of patients with chronic respiratory conditions, from hospital back to their General Practitioner.

Ensured the health of new babies with our Child and Family Health Nurses completing 2,910 new baby checks in their homes.

Established a new NDIS Mental Health Access Officer position and a Towards Zero Suicides Program Manager role.

Received funding to provide a mental health care worker to accompany first responders as part of the Police, Ambulance and Clinical Early Response (PACER) program.

Provided Drug and Alcohol outreach intervention to patients in local community settings and their homes.

Ran a Strengthening Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Youth initiative with 50 people aged 14-17 to help reduce the harmful impact of substance misuse and gambling.

Opened a Postnatal and Perinatal Loss Clinic at Nepean Hospital.

Undertook a project to improve Drug and Alcohol services for refugee and CALD communities by providing culturally appropriate and responsive care.

Held the Nepean Hospital Open Day on 8 November 2019 to promote better community health and hospital services to the general public.

Celebrated the publishing of book My Ride to Life by Associate Professor Gary Leung, Senior Paediatric endocrinologist to promote children’s health.




HEALTHY PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES

COVID-19 responseThe NBMLHD Public Health Unit response to COVID-19 began in January 2020 and the LHD Incident Management Team was stood up on 9 March 2020.

Our dedicated staff responded rapidly to the pandemic, establishing walk-in and drive-through clinics where testing of 37,000 people occurred from March to June 2020.

COVID-19 positive cases in the community were supported by our Hospital in the Home service, who treated 163 patients remotely, keeping them safely out of hospital. Innovative and resourceful approaches to care saw 3,500 telehealth calls placed to these patients across the period to check on their symptoms, give them medical advice, and provide information to others isolating in their households.

Medical care and infection control support was also provided to Newmarch House to assist 37 COVID-19 positive residents of the local residential aged care facility. Sadly during this period, 19 residents lost their lives after contracting coronavirus.

It’s been a tough year for everyone but a dedicated team wearing purple vests has been doing their best to help make Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District staff’s lives a little easier.

The 15 members of COVID-19 Support Team have been visiting every corner of our District’s hospitals, services and offices helping to explain the response to COVID-19, providing clinical education support and giving wellbeing and mindful advice.

NBMLHD Education & Training Service Manager, Nicole McGreal, says the program has been so successful that staff will continue to see people in purple vests drop in for a visit long after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

“We’re forming a new Roving Support Team, still in the familiar purple vests, to provide ongoing support and feedback pathways for our staff,” says Ms McGreal.

Safety Culture Coordinator Kellie Kaczorowski says during the COVID response, the team has been listening to staff feedback and then returning, sometimes the next day, with a response.

“People really appreciate our visits – knowing someone cares and is here to listen – particularly in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when things were moving fast and it was really stressful for everyone,” says Ms Kaczorowski, who frequently dons the purple vest and visits staff.

PURPLE VESTS A WELCOME SIGHT

People really appreciate our visits – knowing someone cares and is here to listen – particularly in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when things were moving fast

News

19 2019–2020 Year In Review18 nbmlhd.health.nsw.gov.au Together Achieving Better Health

Providing person-centred, high quality health services

This year we:

Celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the Nepean Hospital Caseload Midwifery Program and the 3,250th birth since the program’s inception.

Introduced the internationally recognised Safewards program in mental health inpatient units to help minimise the rate of seclusion and restraint.

Piloted the Get Up, Get Dressed, Get Moving! initiative to reduce the negative effects of prolonged bed rest and support patient recovery by helping them go home from hospital sooner.

Opened two new isolation rooms with world-class negative air pressure ventilation systems in Nepean Hospital Emergency Department.

Opened a purpose-designed High Risk Foot Clinic as part of our Leading Better Value Care initiatives.

Improved the therapeutic environment within the Nepean Mental Health Centre with newly designed courtyard spaces and renovated rooms co-designed with consumers and carers.

Opened a new chemotherapy day ward, third radiation therapy bunker and 15 new treatment spaces for the Nepean Cancer Care Centre as part of Stage 1 of the Nepean Redevelopment.

Installed a Linear Accelerator in the third radiation therapy bunker of the Nepean Cancer Care Centre to provide greater flexibility in pin pointing patient treatments.

Installed a new 3T MRI scanner at Nepean Hospital that yields exceptional anatomic detail in less time.

Received additional funding from the McGrath Foundation for a Breast Care Nurse, expanding this important service to 2 FTE.

Established a nurse practitioner role at Blue Mountains Hospital Emergency Department to help decrease wait times.

Addressed challenging behaviours of Drug and Alcohol inpatients using a new model of care to build therapeutic relationships and reduce aggressive behaviours in the unit.

Appointed a new full-time Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia specialist nurse at Nepean Cancer Care Centre using funds raised by Dry July participants.

Started a new monthly Liver Clinic at the Hawkesbury District Health Service to deliver specialised care for patients with liver disease.

Refurbished the Blue Mountains Hospital Allied Health Centre and installed a pneumatic tube system for pathology results thanks to donations from the Leura Gardens Festival Committee.

Introduced an innovative interpreter service for Oral Health patients who use Auslan sign language by providing a smart tablet with an inbuilt camera to communicate with interpreters from the dental chair.

Introduced Pregnancy Family Meetings to address child protection issues with affected families and reduce the number of infants entering Out of Home care.

Improved nutritional status and outcomes for older, malnourished patients under a dietetic project at Blue Mountains Hospital.

Installed new signage campus-wide at Nepean Hospital to help patients and visitors easily find car parking.

Purchased a new shuttle bus and started a new volunteer shuttle service at the Nepean Hospital Campus to help move patients and visitors around the campus.

Received the 2019 NSW Premier’s Award for providing world-class service for the Patient Experience pilot project of which Nepean Hospital Emergency Department was one of the first pilot sites.

Saw 17 patients graduate from the Drug and Alcohol Services Adult Drug Court intensive treatment program – a significant achievement compared to 2018/19 with only five graduating.




BETTER PATIENT AND CONSUMER EXPERIENCES

Celebrating a decade of caseload midwifery careNepean Hospital’s caseload midwifery program turns 10 this year, with midwives and families alike celebrating a decade of this special program which has given so much to local families and its close-knit team of caseload midwives.

The caseload model of midwifery care sees women cared for and supported by the same midwife for the duration of their pregnancy, birth and early postnatal journey. This continuum of care establishes a trusting, familiar and supportive relationship between mother and midwife.

The caseload program began at Nepean Hospital in 2010 with four midwives and has now grown to include 12 midwives who provide caseload midwifery care in hospital and at the mother’s home. Each caseload midwife cares for 40 women a year, with 480 expectant mothers receiving care through the program each year.

Over the past decade, the program has seen more than 3,250 babies born under the care and expertise of the Nepean caseload midwives.

For Cindy Partridge, receiving the care of a caseload midwife during her two pregnancies was life-changing. Inspired to pursue a career change following her own experience of the program as an expectant mother, Cindy is now herself a Nepean caseload midwife.

“Being an expectant mother on the caseload program, I saw the impact caseload midwifery could have on a family and I thought ‘I’d like to be involved in that’. I wanted to give to others what I was given,” says Cindy.

Cindy describes the program as an opportunity to work with a whole family and support them for the length of their antenatal and early postnatal journey. She treasures the special bonds she forms with mothers and their families through caseload midwifery care.

“There’s a warmth to the relationship a woman has with her caseload midwife. It’s a really special bond and for a mum, it’s something you carry with you for a long time and you’re left with positive memories,” Cindy says.

I saw the impact caseload midwifery could have on a family and I thought ‘I’d like to be involved in that’

News



Building a high performing workplace culture that embeds service excellence

This year we:

Built the new Somerset Cottage Early Childhood Education and Care Centre providing care and peace of mind for staff working on the Nepean Campus.

Held a Get on Track challenge for staff to improve their health. As a result participants increased their uptake of vegetables by 60 per cent and their physical activity by 63 per cent over the six week Get Healthy at Work initiative.

Supported 27 local Year 11 and 12 students to graduate with an Assistant in Nursing qualification as part of the Hands on Health initiative.

Attended the 2019 NSW Health Nursing and Midwifery Showcase with 22 nurses and midwives representing the District.

Had three finalists in the NSW Health 2019 Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards.

Continued to build our Aboriginal workforce, welcoming seven cadets and five trainees in areas including midwifery, nursing and health administration.

Celebrated two finalists in the 2019 NSW Health Awards. The Koori Kids Futures program for high school work experience students in the Supporting Our People category; and Oral Health Service General Manager, Albert Yaacoub was a finalist in the Collaborative Leader of the Year category.

Showcased a record 53 nominations in the NBMLHD Quality Awards highlighting staff expertise, innovative practice improvement and research.

Welcomed 62 Health Inspirations students for a unique work experience program with behind the scenes and hands on activities to encourage Year 10 and 11 students consider a career in health.

Set up a self-serve SiSU health station in hospitals across the District to provide staff and visitors with measures of their blood pressure, weight, body mass index, body fat and heart rate as part of a Get Healthy at Work Steering Committee initiative.

Celebrated the achievements of 51 individuals and teams in the 2019 NBMLHD Reward and Recognition ceremony.

Acknowledged long-serving staff for their dedication and longevity at a Recognition of Service event.

Established new Safety Culture Coordinator positions to support staff to manage challenging behaviours they may experience in the workplace.

Installed a new secure bike storage facility for staff at Nepean Hospital Campus.

Refurbished staff accommodation at Blue Mountains Hospital to better accommodate visiting clinical staff.

Completed three Essentials of Care projects creating greater satisfaction for our staff by facilitating improvements in collaboration, teamwork and communication.

Celebrated culturally significant calendar dates and supported Closing the Gap initiatives with virtual and in-person events run by the District’s Aboriginal events committee.

Welcomed 122 new graduates: Registered Nurses (96), Registered Midwives (10), and Post Graduate Student Midwives (16).

Welcomed 65 new Junior Medical Officers as they commenced their internships across the District.

Celebrated 11 clinical staff completing the Clinical Excellence Commission Foundational Clinical Leadership Program.

Provided 1,361 professional development programs across 175 topics to staff throughout the District.

Supported 63 staff members to achieve a Nationally Recognised Qualification.




TALENTED, HAPPY AND ENGAGED WORKFORCE

Nepean Hospital research inspired by patientsCaring for seriously ill patients not only inspires Nepean Hospital clinicians to deliver better care today, but drives their research to push the boundaries of knowledge and shape the treatments of tomorrow.

In 2019, two Nepean Hospital teams published globally significant research in the fields of influenza, pregnancy complications and allergies.

“There are clear benefits for patients when treating clinicians are involved in research,” says Nepean Hospital researcher and paediatrician, Professor Ralph Nanan.

“You are always at the cutting edge of clinical treatment because you have the experts with the international reputation and who are actually producing new knowledge.

“If you are embedded in clinical trials for any disease your health outcomes can often be much better than if you are in routine care. There is a real patient implication.”

Professor Nanan is investigating the impact of diet on one of the most common complications in pregnancy, preeclampsia, and the longer term impact on babies’ immune systems.

“The latest scientific paper (2019) is the culmination of seven years of work, but it’s just the beginning,” says Professor Nanan, who published in international science journal, Nature Communications.

The research may explain a rise in allergies and immune system problems in those following a typical, low fibre, Western diet.

“The next phase will be a large multi-year study of increased fibre intake in one to two thousand pregnant women. The research will examine whether preeclampsia in pregnant women, and allergies and other immune problems for their babies later in the life, can be prevented.”

At the time Professor Nanan and his team first began their research, Nepean Hospital intensive care specialist Associate Professor Benjamin Tang was treating patients for swine flu during the 2009 global pandemic.

“Healthy people in the prime of their lives were ending up in our intensive care unit with the flu. It didn’t make sense and it inspired us to look deeper. To look for the mechanism that triggers mild flu to suddenly become severe and potentially deadly,” says Associate Professor Tang.

That search lead Associate Professor Tang’s group to invent the patented High-risk Influenza Screen Test (HIST) which measures ‘an early warning signal’ released by the patient’s body to ‘kick start’ the immune system’s fight against the infection.

Using a single drop of blood and a few hours the test predicts, with 91 percent accuracy, which influenza patients will develop potentially deadly secondary infections, such as pneumonia.

In 2019, Associate Professor Tang published related research in Nature Communications which revealed a possible explanation why otherwise healthy people sometimes die from the flu.

His team analysed blood and airway samples from 720 patients across 20 hospitals in Australia, Canada and Germany and found key immune cells, called neutrophils, drive an ‘over-reaction’ in some patients’ immune systems which damages their lungs.

“This causes breathing difficulty, dangerously dropping blood oxygen levels and sadly, in some cases, causing respiratory failure and death.”

While tackling very different health challenges, Associate Professor Tang and Professor Nanan still share a common inspiration - the patients they treat today at Nepean Hospital.

Tomorrow, patients of all hospitals will benefit from the new tests and treatments that flow from their research.

News

There are clear benefits for patients when treating clinicians are involved in research

27 2019–2020 Year In Review26 nbmlhd.health.nsw.gov.au Together Achieving Better Health

This year we:

Launched the 2019-2023 NBMLHD Sustainability Plan signifying our commitment to become an environmentally sustainable organisation.

Implemented the Patienteer system to improve scheduling and admission processes for elective surgery and outpatients.

Rolled out ims+ District-wide to provide a better incident management system to notify, record, investigate and resolve incidents and risks for better clinical governance.

Implemented eMeds District-wide to improve accuracy and access of patient information, enable greater patient safety and support clinical decision making.

Enhanced our telehealth service to provide over 3,500 consultations with patients since the COVID-19 outbreak (1 Mar - 31 May 2020) – an increase of 377 per cent on the same period last year.

Joined the Global Green Healthy Hospitals network of over 43,000 hospitals and health centres to support us in collectively reducing the environmental footprint of the health sector.

Established a self-serve digital kiosk in the Nepean Cancer Care Centre to make visiting and attending appointments more efficient and to improve the patient experience.

Acquired the old NSW Ambulance premises in Penrith as part of the Nepean Redevelopment Stage 1 upgrade of community health services. Consultation will be undertaken to determine the key health priorities for this exciting community redevelopment project.

Delivered a new 600 car space multistorey car park and helipad as part of Stage 1 of the Nepean Redevelopment.

Replaced 70 vehicles or 25% of our fleet with Hybrid variants achieving a total fuel saving of $41,740.04.

Maintaining robust governance, quality and safety systems


Supporting a culture of leading-edge translational research and innovation

This year we:

Published world-leading research by Professor Ralph Nanan at Nepean Hospital in Nature Communications indicating preeclampsia, one of the most common complications during pregnancy, may be reduced by a healthy high fibre diet.

Published an international study by Nepean researchers led by Associate Professor Benjamin Tang in Nature Communications revealing for the first time a possible explanation why otherwise healthy people sometimes die from the flu.

Published a study by Nepean researcher and cardiologist Professor Kazuaki Negishi in the Lancet Planetary Health which demonstrated that air pollution can increase the risk of heart attacks.

Held the Nepean Research Day featuring over 50 projects from medical students, insightful research presentations by senior clinicians and hands-on demonstrations for 34 local high school students to encourage young people to consider future careers in medicine, health and science.

Began an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Care Study to investigate the experiences of people receiving care for a life-limiting illness with Western Sydney University and in partnership with local health organisations, the Sydney Region Aboriginal Corporation and Marrin Weejali Aboriginal Corporation.

Better connected home haemodialysis patients with end stage kidney disease to their health care clinician with a new My Home Hemo dialysis support app that uses emojis to communicate their feelings in real time to their clinician.

Supported the launch of the Nepean Blue Mountains Education and Medical Research Foundation and its associated Research Prospectus at an event at Werrington House hosted by the Hon. Peter Collins AM QC.

Participated in the Western Sydney University School of Nursing and Midwifery Research Futures Forum with five nursing staff presenting PhD findings or addressing the forum.

Partnered with Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network to hold the 2019 Clinical Paediatrics Day in the Blue Mountains, attended by over 100 GPs and clinicians.

Celebrated Nepean Hospital surgeon, Dr Tony Shakeshaft who received the General Surgeons Australia Excellence in Surgical Teaching Award NSW-ACT for the 2019 training year.

HUB FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION



RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT4

Hospitals Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial Hospital Cnr Great Western Highway and Woodlands Road, Katoomba NSW 2780Main Telephone: (02) 4784 6500Emergency: (02) 4784 6534

Hawkesbury Hospital (Public/Private partnership with St John of God Health Care)2 Day Street, Windsor NSW 2756Main Telephone: (02) 4560 5555 Emergency: (02) 4560 5508

Lithgow Hospital Cnr Col Drewe Drive and Great Western Highway, Lithgow NSW 2790Main Telephone & Emergency: (02) 6350 2300

Nepean Hospital Derby Street, Kingswood NSW 2747Main Telephone: (02) 4734 2000Patient Enquiries: 1800 253 511Emergency: (02) 4734 1880

Springwood Hospital (No Emergency Department Service)7 Huntley Grange Road, Springwood NSW 2777Main Telephone and Patient Enquiries: (02) 4784 6500

Community Health Centres Cranebrook Community Health CentreCnr Laycock Street and Borrowdale Way, Cranebrook NSW 2749Telephone: (02) 4730 5100

Katoomba Community Health Centre93 Waratah Street, Katoomba NSW 2780Telephone: (02) 4782 2133

Lawson Community Health Centre8-12 Honour Avenue, Lawson NSW 2783Telephone: (02) 4759 8700

Lemongrove Community Health CentreGate 2, 13-29 Gascoigne Street, Penrith NSW 2750Telephone: (02) 4734 4800

Lithgow Community Health CentreLithgow Hospital, Col Drewe Drive, Lithgow NSW 2790Telephone: (02) 6350 2750

Penrith Community Health CentreSoper Place, Penrith NSW 2750Telephone: (02) 4732 9400

Springwood Community Health Centre288-292 Macquarie Road, Springwood NSW 2777Telephone: (02) 4751 0100

St Clair Community Health CentreBotany Lane, St Clair NSW 2759Telephone: (02) 9834 0500

St Marys Community Health Centre26 Gidley Street, St Marys NSW 2760Telephone: (02) 9833 6800

Cancer Care Services Nepean Cancer Care CentreNepean Hospital campus, Cnr Great Western Highway and Somerset Street, Kingswood NSW 2747Telephone: (02) 4734 3500

Hawkesbury Living Cancer Trust Chemotherapy CentreHawkesbury Hospital, 2 Day St, Windsor NSW 2756Telephone: (02) 4734 3500

Drug & Alcohol Services Central IntakeTelephone: 1300 661 050 (Monday – Friday 8:30am-5:00pm)

ReceptionTelephone: (02) 4734 2129 (Monday – Friday 8:30am-5:00pm)

Mental Health Services 24-hour Mental Health Line 1800 011 511If in a life threatening situation please call 000 to receive immediate help

Nepean Mental Health CentreNepean Hospital campus, Derby Street, Kingswood NSW 2747Telephone: (02) 4734 2544

Blue Mountains Mental Health Inpatient UnitBlue Mountains Hospital, Great Western Highway, Katoomba NSW 2780Telephone: (02) 4784 6750

Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS)Level 1, 606 High St, Penrith NSW 2750Telephone: (02) 4725 9800

Headspace606 High Street, Penrith, NSW 2750Telephone: (02) 4720 8800

Katoomba Community Mental Health93 Waratah St, Katoomba NSW 2780Telephone: (02) 4782 2133

Lithgow Community Mental Health Lithgow Hospital campus, Cnr Col Drewe Drive and Great Western Highway, Lithgow NSW 2790Telephone: (02) 6350 2555

Penrith Community Mental HealthSoper Pl, Penrith NSW 2750Telephone: (02) 4732 9400

Springwood Community Mental Health288-292 Macquarie Road, Springwood NSW 2777Telephone: (02) 4751 0100

St Marys Community Mental Health26 Gidley St, St Marys NSW 2760Telephone: (02) 9833 6800

Windsor Community Mental Health8 Ross St, Windsor NSW 2753 Telephone: (02) 4560 4100

Service Directory



Directory

Other Useful Numbers and Websites

You can call HealthDirect 24/7 for health advice on 1800 022 222 or visit the website www.healthdirect.gov.au

Alcohol and Drug Information ServiceTelephone: 1800 250 215

Child Protection Helpline Telephone: 132 111

National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling ServiceTelephone: 1800 737 732 (1800 RESPECT)

Health Care Interpreter Service, Western Sydney Local Health DistrictTelephone: (02) 9912 3800 (24 hours)

Kids HelplineTelephone: 1800 551 800

LifelineTelephone: 131 114

NSW Poisons Information Centre Telephone: 131 126

NSW Rape Crisis CentreTelephone: 1800 424 017 (Counselling available 24 hours, 7 days per week)

Oral Health/Dental Services Nepean Centre for Oral Health Nepean Hospital, Somerset Street, Kingswood NSW 2747(also operates services at Blue Mountains and Lithgow Hospitals)Call Centre: 1300 769 221Telephone: (02) 4734 2387

Other Health ServicesKatoomba Community Dialysis CentreBlue Mountains Hospital, Cnr Great Western Highway and Woodlands Road, Katoomba NSW 2780Telephone: (02) 4784 6691

Penrith Community Dialysis Centre satellite clinicLemongrove Community Health Centre, 13-29 Gascoigne Street, Penrith NSW 2750Telephone: (02) 4734 4800

Aboriginal Health ServiceTelephone: (02) 4734 3833

Multicultural Health ServiceTelephone: (02) 4734 1600

Needle and Syringe ProgramTelephone: 1800 354 589

Nepean Sexual Health ClinicTelephone: (02) 4734 2507

Penrith Child Protection Counselling ServiceTelephone: (02) 4734 2512

Penrith Sexual Assault Team/Integrated Violence Prevention and Response ServiceTelephone: (02) 4734 2512

Portland Tabulam Health Centre (Aged Care)29 Green Street, Portland NSW 2847Telephone: (02) 6359 2666

Disclaimer

The photos contained throughout this publication were taken throughout the 2019/20 year. Photos where physical distancing is not illustrated were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. nbmlhd.health.nsw.gov.au Together Achieving Better Health32

Directory

Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health DistrictPO Box 63Penrith NSW 2751Telephone: (02) 4734 2000Fax: (02) 4734 3737

Web: www.nbmlhd.health.nsw.gov.auEmail: [email protected] Facebook: www.facebook.com/NBMLHDTwitter: @NBMLHDYouTube: Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health DistrictLinkedIn: Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD)Instagram: @nepeanbluemountains

© Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District. This work is copyright. It may be produced in whole or in part for study or training purposes subject to the inclusion of acknowledgement of the source and no commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated requires permission from Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District.

Documents

2019-2020 Year in Review - Ministry of Health