Fairfield Hospital patient and World War II veteran Cecil Boland spoke at the Hospital’s ANZAC Day ceremony.

Mei Mei, Mark and Josephine will get the chop for Dry July.

ANZAC values honoured at services

May 2016

South Western Sydney Local Health District

Leading care, healthier communities

District news

Get your team together – it’s time to ban the booze for Dry July! Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospitals have once again been chosen as beneficiaries, so gather your gang and get thinking about how you can help.Staff members Josephine Chow, Mark Udovitch and Mei Mei Xiong have concocted a hair-raising plan to raise money by chopping off their long locks during July.

Visit dryjuly.com to register your team and stay tuned for more on how you can get involved.

Ninety year old Fairfield Hospital patient and World War II veteran Cecil Boland was the guest of honour at the hospital’s ANZAC Day ceremony.Cecil spoke about his time serving as an engineer in WWII.Paul Ryant from Fairfield RSL also spoke at the ceremony, which included 250 poppies handed out to guests.Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital commemorated the day with a service at the Hospital in conjunction with Bankstown RSL.Bankstown Hospital Acting General Manager Dr Paul Miles said the nurse’s pledge was read out to remember the healthcare workers who served for Australia in all war efforts. “The ANZAC Centenary is as much about respectfully honouring all men and women of the Australian Defence Force both past and present while creating a lasting legacy for all Australians,” Dr Miles said.

Trauma surgeon, Dr John Crozier spoke at Liverpool Hospital’s service. Dr Crozier is also a Lieutenant Colonel with the Parachute Surgical Team of

the Army Reserve, and his grandfather was deployed with the Australian Light Horse during WWI.

Hair-raising fun!

To submit a story contact the Media Unit on 8738 6848 or swsmedia@sswahs.nsw.gov.au

Josephine's healthy hair tips: • No blow dryer• No excessive UV or technology too close to hair• No coffee, alcohol or drugs to be mixed with hair• Sometime sleeps with hair still wet

We’re excited to be part of the Public Service Commission Workplace Survey - People Matter, which will help us have our say about workplace culture in the District.People Matter follows on from the YourSay survey which was completed by more than half the District’s staff last year. The survey can be accessed from the intranet and provides an opportunity for

all staff to have their say on important issues that have the biggest impact on our organisation’s culture.Last month we shone the spotlight on the experience of our patients during Patient Experience Week.We honoured our staff who impact patient experience, celebrated achievements and re-energised our efforts as a patient-centred organisation.Over the years we’ve made significant progress in terms of patient care, safety and quality for our health service.While we’ve made some great inroads, staff and patient feedback tells us there are opportunities for improvement.That’s why we’ve embarked on Transforming Your Experience. Through Transforming Your Experience we aim to provide consistent, high quality

patient care, strengthen quality and safety, nurture and value good leadership and engage staff, patients and communities.Two of our Executive Staff have recently been appointed to prestigious positions at the NSW Ministry of Health. I’d like to congratulate District Director Operations Graeme Loy on his new position as Executive Director, System Management at the Ministry.I’d also like to congratulate District Director Nursing and Midwifery Jacqui Cross who has been appointed to the state’s top nursing job - Chief Nurse at the Ministry of Health. This is an amazing achievement and I am incredibly pleased for Jacqui on her well-deserved appointment to the role.Both Graeme and Jacqui have made significant contributions to the District over the years and I hope you’ll join me in wishing them all the best.

2 | South Western Sydney Local Health District

May 2016

Message from the Chief Executive

Reconising greatnessTele-health monitoring, patient safety huddles and ophthalmology outpatient services were just some of the innovative projects recognised through last year’s SWSLHD Quality awards. Will your team’s project be recognised this year?Each year the Awards are held to acknowledge the contribution of clinical and non-clinical staff to the provision of high standards of care and service delivered within the District. Participation in the Awards is a great way to showcase the excellent work being done at your facility, so be sure to submit your entry by 3 June 2016 to have your project recognised.The awards aim to promote quality, safety and innovation and are used to identify submissions for the NSW Health Awards. For more information, see the intranet staff bulletin board.

Visitors got a rare glimpse into clinical areas usually off limits to the public at Liverpool Hospital’s recent Open Day.As part of the day, Liverpool Hospital Museum unveiled the Barlow Collection, consisting of 55 pieces of obstetric and gynaecological instruments from the 1950s and 1960s.

Open Day a hit!

Amanda Larkin , Chief Executive

May 2016

Last piece in place

Performing CPR can save a life, often that of a family member or friend. However, for those whose first language is not English, it can be more difficult to access and understand the information and find a suitable training course.After seeing a few incidences of young Arabic men who had died from an out of hospital cardiac arrest, Liverpool Hospital Emergency staff specialist Dr Ben Taylor decided to develop a CPR training program for Arabic speakers.Although the program is still in its pilot stages, Dr Taylor said that he has had a great response from participants who are given all the necessary resources to teach others what they’ve learnt when they complete the training.

A handy skill to have in any language

3 | South Western Sydney Local Health District

Supporting staff

Give the gift of goldSWSLHD staff continue to make real difference on the other side of the world by contributing one dollar a week to our Workplace Giving Program, which supports the Barbara May FXoundation.The Barbara May Maternity Hospital has continued its vital work in Afar, with a total of 137 deliveries in January to March this year. Plans to renovate the Hospital building are underway. There will be an additional 15 – bed inpatient space, with outpatients, laboratory, pharmacy and administration all housed in a new adjacent building.Four 10,000 liter water tanks will soon be mounted on a new water tower and work has begun on a half hectare vegetable garden within the hospital premises, which is expected to yield crops by August.To put your dollar a week to work, visit bit.ly/1kl6O9N.

Shaima Saleh at the CPR training day for Arabic speakers.

Starting any new job, changing roles or rejoining the workforce after time away can be a daunting prospect.The District’s Transition Nurse Support Program helps support our Registered Nurses (RN)s on their journey of transitioning from a student to an RN, an Enrolled Nurse to an RN or as an RN coming back to the workforce after some time away.Congratulations to our most recent group of graduates!

The Barbara May Foundation supports the work of Australian Valerie Browning.

A world first large-scale split core MRI magnet was craned into the Ingham Institute’s Research Bunker at Liverpool Hospital - representing the final piece of equipment to complete the Institute’s flagship MRI-Linac cancer research project. The MRI-Linac combines an MRI magnet with a Linear Accelerator to improve the accuracy and precision of radiotherapy treatment for cancer.

4 | South Western Sydney Local Health District

May 2016Q

uick n

ews

Quic

k new

s Q

uick n

ews

Printed on 100% recycled paper

Hepatitis C

Space aliens and superheroes were recruited as part of a new interactive campaign promoting hepatitis C prevention to young people.

The campaign, Blood Battles was launched at Bankstown during Youth Week and includes a phone app and comic.

SWSLHD Hepatology Staff Specialist Dr Joe Lawler said new treatments for Hepatitis C

became available in Australia in March.

“However, prevention is better than cure, so I applaud these young people for developing the Blood Battles project,” he said.

Blood Battles is available free from the App Store or Google Play. Comics are available at local youth health centres and other youth services or by calling 8738 5945.

Arabic Go4fun program The Go4fun program that helps children aged 7-13 and their families to adopt healthier and more active lifestyles has been adapted for the Arabic speaking community in Bankstown. The Arabic program includes support from bilingual Go4fun leaders as well as Bilingual Community Educators (BCEs), printed resources in Arabic and customisation of the program’s healthy eating and active living messages. For information call 1800 780 900 or visit www.go4fun.com.au.

Pathology reporting changesSydney South West Pathology Service will change to reporting therapeutic drug concentrations in mass units (mg/L or ug/L). This will affect over 40 drugs currently reported in molar units. The associated therapeutic intervals will be revised to reflect the new reporting units and the current evidence base.Critical alert limits will also be updated.

GWS Giants pay a visitFooty fever took over the Campbelltown Hospitals kids ward when patients had a special visit from the Greater Western Sydney Giants. We think they may have uncovered a few footy players in the making!

Time for your shot Did you know a single sneeze releases up to 40,000 droplets and can travel up to 1.8 metres?Flu season is almost upon us so contact your staff vaccination service to get your flu shot.

Have your say on eMeds Every clinician in NSW Health is invited to have their say on the future of the electronic medical record (eMR) and help improve the computer programs they use to care for patients. CCIO Clinical Engagement Forums are planned for June, September and November this year, with locations across NSW to be confirmed.To watch a short video of a previous forum visit http://bit.ly/24Ibdco.

Cleanest hands at CamdenCongratulations Camden Hospital for topping the District in Hand hygiene, with a 86.9 per cent compliance rate for the period June-October 2015. Bankstown Hospital followed closely with 85.7 per cent compliance. The state benchmark is 70 per cent. Remember, hand hygiene is the single most important factor in reducing the spread of infections.

Ideas into innovation Leading the fight against Great ideas often stay as just an idea unless they are taken through important stages in the process of innovation, which will transform the idea into reality. The health sector is constantly changing and it’s essential we recognise and leverage innovative ideas and projects. Do you have an innovative idea you’d like to share? Tell us at http://intranet.sswahs.nsw.gov.au/SWSLHDinnovation.