Executive messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

A mental health first for mothers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Investigating inflammation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Award winning research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

High energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Vale Tony Harding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Staff Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Celebrating the year of the nurse & mIdwife . . . 6-7

Baby bath oasis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Quick takes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Sydney – it’s your local health districtHealthMattersISSUE 82 • AUGUST 2020

CONT

ENTS

This year, we said goodbye to one of longest serving and most hardworking staff members in the District.

The incredible Alice Kang started at Concord Hospital as a nurse in 1974, working in critical care and emergency.

She then joined the executive team, working tirelessly to support veterans and their families, managing events and raising funds for Concord’s world-class clinical services.

“Alice Kang has been an inspiration to many and has worked tirelessly to support veterans and their wellbeing, to bring together the hospital and its local community and to raise funds and awareness for Concord’s world-class clinical services,” District Chief Executive, Dr Teresa Anderson, said.

In 1993, when NSW Health took over responsibility for the hospital from the Commonwealth, Alice played a pivotal role in developing the relationship between the hospital and veterans.

“I congratulate Alice on her successful career, her valued contribution to the hospital and the community and wish her all the very best in her retirement,” said Dr Anderson

Her energy, passion and dedication will be sorely missed.

Stalwart honoured

Celebrating Concord Repatriation General Hospital’s 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee with Dr Tim Sinclair, former Governor Professor Dame Marie Bashir, and Dr Teresa Anderson

2 HealthMatters • Sydney – it’s your local health district

AUGUST 2020

Executive Messages

Message from the Chair, District Board

Message from the Chief Executive

COVID‑19 is taking much of our focus this year and I’d like to thank everyone for your incredible hard work in keeping our staff, patients and community safe.

In addition to the pandemic, we continue to see progress in the $6.5 million redevelopment of the Canterbury Hospital’s Emergency Department, which will help us better serve the growing population in that area.

Work is also fast progressing on the $341 million redevelopment of Concord Hospital and we are close to holding the traditional topping out ceremony, where a tree is planted on the top of building once it reaches its highest point.

This is an exciting milestone and I’d like to thank all staff for their patience during this project. I know we are all looking forward to welcoming patients to the new clinical services building with inpatient units for aged care and rehabilitation and a comprehensive cancer centre.

At RPA, we are also looking forward to the construction of a new eight-bed mental health unit for new mothers and babies, the first of its kind in NSW.

It will include space and equipment for antenatal care, a 24-hour respite nursery, a mothercraft room, a play area, a retreat room and communal areas to accommodate multiple families with children.

We were very pleased to invite the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor to turn the first sod on the construction site, as a joint mother-baby focus is a crucial development in the delivery of person-centered mental healthcare in NSW.

Sadly, we have had to cancel many events during COVID-19, but I thank you for creating innovative ways to communicate and celebrate safely.

Let’s hope 2021 is a better year for us all.

It has been an extremely busy few months with COVID‑19 the focus around the globe.

Across Sydney Local Health District, hundreds of staff have been redeployed to run our health hotels, screening stations, COVID-19 clinics, call centres, telehealth services, and contact tracing teams, just to name a few.

I would thank you all for your incredible commitment and willingness to go above and beyond to do whatever is needed to protect our staff, patients and the community.

You are all an asset to the health system and we should all be very proud of the health services we have provided in response to this pandemic.

While we have been working hard to get back on track against our fight against COVID-19, it is important that we stay vigilant.

Thank you for continuing to model appropriate behaviour by maintaining physical distance, washing our hands and wearing masks when within 1.5 metres of patients.

Thank you also for your support for our new visitor policy across the District. We know it is challenging for patients, particularly those who are far from home or admitted for extended periods, but it has been introduced to ensure the highest standard of safety for all of patients, staff and our community.

The next few months will be busy and we will all need to continue to rapidly adapt.

I would like to thank you for your continued hard work during this difficult time. I am immensely proud of Sydney Local Health District and your contribution to the health of our community.

Until next time, stay healthy.

HealthMatters • Sydney – it’s your local health district2

Dr Teresa Anderson AMChief Executive, Sydney Local Health District

The Hon Ron Phillips AOChair, Sydney Local Health District Board

3HealthMatters • Sydney – it’s your local health district

AUGUST 2020 AUGUST 2020

District HighlightsExecutive Messages

RPA will soon be home to the state’s first purpose‑built public inpatient unit for new mothers with severe mental illness.

The eight-bed unit was announced today by the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor – and welcomed by baby Arlo and his mums Genevieve and Lizz Whitlam from Lilyfield.

Genevieve experienced psychosis after Arlo’s birth, following a bout of mastitis and septicaemia.

She spent several weeks undergoing psychiatric treatment in Royal North Shore and RPA, missing vital time with Arlo.

She is contributing to the design of the new unit, which will be constructed near the Professor Marie Bashir Centre.

“We want these women to receive the care they need, as well as the opportunity to form a bond with their babies in those all-important, formative months,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Mrs Taylor said the new Mothers and Babies Unit would provide multidisciplinary support to those with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder or schizoaffective disorder.

“Severe mental illness in the year after childbirth can impact

on parenting capacity, the parent-infant attachment and child

development. It can result in long-term consequences for a

mother, her baby, partner and family.

“We want to ensure that women living with severe mental

illnesses are given the opportunity to thrive as mums, so that

their children and families can also thrive.”

Each of the bedrooms will accommodate a mother, up to two

infants under 12 months and a partner or family member.

The unit is expected to be operational by the end of next year.

Lizz Whitlam, The Hon Bronnie Taylor, and Genevieve Whitlam welcome the announcement of the purpose-built inpatient unit. Images of the proposed works were on display, while a happy baby Arlo looked on.

A mental health first for mothers

4 HealthMatters • Sydney – it’s your local health district

AUGUST 2020

Research Matters

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital cardiologist Professor Anthony Keech has been awarded a $3 million research grant by the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP.

Professor Keech’s research will investigate the benefits of the anti-inflammatory drug colchicine on high-risk patients who have survived a stroke, and on vascular disease-associated inflammation and clinical outcomes.

Professor Keech is also lead investigator of a study focusing on colchicine’s anti-inflammatory properties and its effects on reducing the inflammatory response to a viral infection such as the pathogen causing COVID-19.

This research was awarded $980,415 from the Medical Research Future Fund.

Investigating inflammation

Award winning researchA Sydney Local Health District

nurse has been awarded one of the

highest honours for graduates at

the University of Sydney.

Michelle Barakat-Johnson, who holds a

PhD for research into hospital-acquired

pressure injuries, has been awarded

the Rita and John Cornforth Medal for

research excellence.

“It’s definitely an honour [but] I

couldn’t have done it without a number

of health professionals, colleagues

and the patients. And I mean that

sincerely,” Michelle says.

Her doctoral research on hospital-acquired pressure injuries, which are painful skin injuries caused by unrelieved pressure and can affect patients who are unable to move or have a medical device in place, has reshaped the way they are viewed and treated.

And thanks to her leadership, Sydney Local Health District has significantly reduced the incidence of these injuries.

But Michelle’s not stopping just yet. She has recently secured $1.3 million in grant funding to continue her research on skin integrity across three independent projects.

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AUGUST 2020 AUGUST 2020

District Highlights

“

”

Research Matters

Canterbury Hospital is on target to become one of the top producers of renewable energy across NSW Health, with the installation of more than 2,000 new solar panels.

The panels will generate the equivalent power needed to run about 100 average households for a year and have a total annual capacity of 561 kilowatts.

They will also reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 607 tonnes per year, saving the district about $98,500 on electricity bills.

At RPA, a 100 kilowatt solar panel system has recently been installed on the roof of the QEII building and an 80 kilowatt system on Building 26. And at Croydon and Redfern health centres, the lights have been upgraded to LEDs.

“There’s a tradition here of being at the forefront of health research and innovation. We like to align with this by always thinking of new ways to manage and minimise our carbon footprint,” says Director of Capital Assets, Property and Engineering, Jon Gowdy.

High energy

Vale Tony HardingA rapid autopsy suite at RPA will be named after staff member and transplant recipient Dr Antony Harding, who died in late June.

Tony worked as our Brain Bank Coordinator with Associate Professor Michael

Buckland, and was responsible for removing, preparing and conducting research on

more than 250 brains and spinal cords from donors.

He was also the first person to undergo a liver transplant

while in a coma at RPA, and marked his first 10,000

days after the transplant by giving out lottery tickets.

He also planted a Wollemi pine in the RPA campus on

the 20th anniversary of his transplant.

Tony lived an extraordinary life and it has been an

honour to have had him in the Sydney Local Health

District family.

Staff Spotlight

James Courtney Clinical Nurse Consultant Chronic and Complex Care Sydney Local Health District

“My role involves working with

patients in their own homes . Our

patients live on their own and

are socially isolated with very

limited support . Many struggle

to manage their chronic and

complex conditions .

“Using an integrated model

of care working with patients,

carers, families, GPs and

other government and

non-government organisations,

we assist patients to set their

own realistic health goals .

They are supported to work

on their goals to help reduce

complications of chronic disease .

Achieving realistic health

goals improves quality of life,

improves mood and confidence

of people living with chronic

diseases . We work together

to reduce unplanned and

avoidable admissions and keep

people safe and supported in

their own homes .”

6 HealthMatters • Sydney – it’s your local health district

“As nurses we are adaptable and resilient, and times like this remind us why we went into nursing.

”— HAYDEN TRAN, ACTING NUM

CORONARY CARE UNIT, RPA

We have more than 4,600 nurses and midwives in our hospitals and services across

Sydney Local Health District – and to celebrate International Nurses and Midwives

Day we asked them how it feels to be a nurse during these exceptional times.

2020 is the WHO International year of the Nurse and Midwife, a time to recognise the critical

contribution nurses and midwives make to global health. This year, Sydney Local Health

District has focused on each individual nurse and the amazing work they do.

“I am so proud of every single nurse and their tireless commitment to the wellbeing of our community.

”— TARA FINNIE, NUM

WAKEFIELD WARD BALMAIN HOSPITAL

7HealthMatters • Sydney – it’s your local health district

“I watched a colleague sit and hold the hand of a dying patient while the patient’s family observed their loved one through a window because of COVID-19 restrictions. It’s such a simple thing holding someone’s hand, especially when no one else can but it is so important and it’s an honour.

”— SAARTJE

BERENDSEN RUSSELL, CNC, EMERGENCY

DEPARTMENT, RPA

AUGUST 2020

HealthMatters is all about you. We would love to hear your stories. Simply email SLHD-media@health.nsw.gov.au

Baby bath oasisA bub’s first bath is a very special

occasion, indeed.

And now our Canterbury Hospital

newborns can bathe in style and comfort,

thanks to some generous support from

our neighbours.

Canterbury Leagues Club kindly donated

$60,000 for a purpose-built maternity

bathing room with two sinks and adjoining

benches for drying and dressing the newest

member of the family.

The room also includes storage for towels

and bathing supplies, and heating to keep

our most precious little people warm and

cosy. And it has a viewing window so other

family members can watch bub’s first bath.

Dental WeekAccording to the Australian Dental Association, it’s time we all got a little more sugar savvy.

This year, the focus is on pulling back the

curtain on hidden sugars in everyday foods,

and minimising sugar consumption.

A few simple steps that need to be integrated

to ensure dental wellbeing include:

• brushing twice a day for two minutes;

• flossing at least once a day;

• having regular dental check-ups every

six to 12 months; and

• focusing on healthier options such as

vegetables, dairy products and tap water

help work towards better dental health.

New startersFinal year University of Sydney medical students have

started at RPA and Concord as part of a new NSW Health

program to boost the workforce.

Working in non-COVID-19 areas, the 23 Assistants in Medicine will

provide medical care and support as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Welcome AndrewAndrew Hallahan has started as the Executive Director of

Medical Services, returning to the local health district where

he trained to become a doctor more than 30 years ago.

Andrew graduated from the University of Sydney in 1991 with first

class honours, training in research at RPA before becoming an intern

and resident medical officer at Concord Hospital.

“A baby’s first bath is a memory that parents cherish forever,” says Maternity Unit Manager Claire Devonport.

The donation has also enabled us to build a kitchenette for women and families.

Thanks, Canterbury Leagues Club. We are very grateful for your support – and your kindness to our smallest patients.