Golden hour for delicate bubs

the
Pulse
November 2015
Golden hour for delicate bubs
Westmead Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit clinical nurse consultant Ann-Maree Padernia with a baby wrapped in polythylene.
Full story: P2
Westmead stalwart midwife Gwen
Moody retires: P2
Prize winning garden on the grounds of
Cumberland Hospital: P4
Logan Muddle, the latest recipient of the
Aboriginal Nursing Cadetship: P8
www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au
Big win for tiny tots
In a NSW first, Westmead Hospital’s
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit now wraps
babies in polyethylene sheets to keep them
at a optimum temperature during the
golden hour.
The golden hour is the first few precious
hours when babies are born at less than 32
weeks,” Ann-Maree said.
The desired temperature is between 36.5C
and 37.5C and any decrease in these
temperatures can increase the risk of sepsis.
Westmead Hospital’s NICU clinical nurse
educator Ann-Maree Padernia has
developed a number of new strategies
to maintain the thermal stability of these
fragile babies during admission,” AnnMaree said.
“Every one degree decrease in temperature
on admission to the NICU can increase the
risk the late onset of sepsis by 11 per cent
and the risk of death by 28 per cent”.
The process of wrapping the baby in a
polyethylene sheet, enables nursing and
medical staff to care for the baby without
the child losing heat and humidity.
“The use of polythylene-lined bonnets
stops heat escaping from the baby’s head,”
Ann-Marie said.
“Specialised heat controls and equipment
Westmead Hospital NICU clinical nurse educator Ann-Maree Padernia with a baby.
are also used during transfer between the
birth unit or operating theatres and the
neonatal intensive care unit.”
Since the implementation of the new
practice, babies born at less than 32 weeks
gestation at Westmead Hospital now have
an average golden hour temperature of
36.9C degrees - a great result.
Ann-Maree and Westmead Hospital NICU
recently won a Western Sydney Local Health
District Quality Award for implementing
this life-saving method.
Three decades of nuture and care
Long serving Westmead Hospital midwife
Gwen Moody has retired.
Gwen was thanked for her contribution
to the hospital on November 12 with a
lunch, attended by dozens of her nursing
colleagues and WSLHD executive staff.
Gwen has been a midwife at Westmead
Hospital for 32 years, assisting with
thousands of births and caring for hundreds
of mothers.
The Wentworthville resident has long had
an interest in postnatal care, helping new
mums feed their babies.
Gwen’s outstanding contribution to health
care was recognised at the Excellence in
Nursing Awards at State Parliament in
September. She was one of three finalists,
along with colleague Alede Marial Takpiny,
in the midwife category.
Thank you for everything you’ve given
Westmead Hospital Gwen – you will be
missed by your many colleagues.
Westmead Hospital general manager Andrew Newton, Danielle Levis, midwife Michelle Underwood,
WSLHD board chair Professor Stephen Leeder, Julie Swain, Gwen Moody and WSLHD chief executive
Danny O’Connor.
The Pulse | November 2015
2
Executive Update
From the
Chief Executive
Chief Executive Danny O’Connor.
Mental Health has been busy with several
big projects which will deliver a new
approach for our mental health services.
These initiatives include a co-design project
with Family and Community Services and
education to reshape child, adolescent and
youth services within WSLHD.
We have started to redesign the adult
community mental health services in the
eastern suburbs.
These services will provide four teams
consisting of acute, assertive outreach
continuing treatment and a residential
partnership with a NGO.
These teams will provide support to
patients in the home to alleviate patients
seeking treatment in hospital.
At Cumberland, we have begun
remodelling rehabilitation services and are
looking to collaborate with the Primary
Health Network to orientate services
around services that enable people to
continue to their recovery journey.
The Health and Education Training Institute
leadership program has been valuable in
shifting our culture, particularly towards a
recovery framework, providing training for
staff over the next 12 months.
They will develop leadership capacity skills
for people working in different levels of the
organisation.
There’s a lot happening in mental heath
right now.
Danny O’Connor
Chief Executive
From the Board Chair
Who is
responsible
for health?
Who is responsible for the health of the
community within our district?
That was the question put to the
WSLHD board by Dr Norman Swan,
who assisted the board at our
planning forum, held in Parramatta on
November 5 and 6.
Board Chair Emeritus Professor Stephen
Leeder.
It matters: the rate of low birth-weight
babies born to Aboriginal women
is higher and with low birth-weight
comes risks to the baby and to the child
and adult down the track.
We are clearly responsible for the
care we provide in our hospitals,
for community services, and for
encouraging and growing connections
with general practitioners through the
Primary Health Network.
The problem is this: we claim to be a
health district.
But beyond that who is responsible
for improving access to healthy foods
in western Sydney? Who should be
advocating for fewer alcohol outlets in
the area? Who should argue for better
public transport and greater walkability
in our suburbs?
But if we pay little or no attention to
the social and environmental forces
that shape our health and define
the range of choices available to our
citizens (choices that will determine
whether they are obese, drink too
much alcohol or are part of a social
network), how can we maintain that
claim? These are the big questions we
need to ponder.
Who, for example, is responsible for
the smoking rate among pregnant
Aboriginal women in western Sydney?
The rate is 60 per cent but it is only
15 per cent among non-Aboriginal
mothers-to-be.
Stephen Leeder
Board Chair
“If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too
much, we would have found the safest way to health.”
Hippocrates
The Pulse | November 2015
3
News from across WSLHD
Farewell Wayne’s World
After 35 years working in health, WSLHD Business Analytics Services Wayne Griffiths (second from left) decided to call it a day. He is pictured (from L-R)
with WSLHD Business Analytics Services, Clinical Analytics and Performance Units staff Ronny Hu, Jowmee Kwong, Larissa McLean, Mariam Sarah Mohamed, Gamini Werrakkody, Jenny Killen, David Wijaya, Daryl Harrison, Ching Luo and Suresh Rajakumar.
Hospital green thumbs take first prize
Cumberland Hospital’s Wisteria
Gardens took out first prize at the
Spring Garden Competition awards
last month.
The award night was held at the
Cumberland Hospital grounds on
October 22 and was hosted by
Parramatta Lord Mayor Paul Garrard.
The hospital’s Wisteria Gardens
received the award for best nonresidential garden.
The gorgeous gardens are a direct
result of the hard work of gardeners
Elias (Louie) Khoury and Jamie Walsh.
The pair are dedicated to the
maintenance and up-keep of the
gardens and received a certificate
and a $100 Bunnings gift card for
their efforts.
Well done Louie and Jamie.
Cumberland Hospital’s green thumbs gardeners Elias (Louie) Khoury and Jamie Walsh.
The Pulse | November 2015
4
News from across WSLHD
High Street rappers create DVD for DV
Freestyle rapping, soft vocals and a
music video will express an important
message about family violence in a track
developed by young people who are clients
of WSLHD’s High Street Youth Service in
Parramatta.
Liam Anning, 24 and Hayley McAuley, 20
from High Street Youth Service created
a tune called ‘Stop the Violence’ over a
number of weeks, in conjunction with staff
from the service.
The track was released just in time for
White Ribbon Day.
Graeme Pringle, youth health co-ordinator,
said the lyrics were very personal to Liam
and Hayley, who have had to deal with a
range of their own issues.
“They worked relentlessly on this - refining,
re-writing, and re-recording; both feeling
this issue was important and wanting to
make sure they gave it their best,” he said.
Liam who grew up in Parramatta, is a
regular freestyle rapper, and has often
expressed his feelings by entertaining staff
and young people at High Street Youth
Service with freestyle raps.
“I feel very strongly about domestic
violence and the impact it has on children,”
said Anning.
“I hope the song makes an impact.”
Liam has been involved with youth health
Liam Anning and Hayley McAuley are the driving force behind the song.
services on and off for the past ten years.
Liam had several years where he was
disengaged from family and school with
intermittent periods of homelessness.
“Over his time of involvement with Youth
Health, Liam has made significant life
changes and achieved huge amounts
of personal growth in addressing his
relationships and behaviour,” Graeme said.
The woman behind the vocals in the
track, Hayley, has worked with the Youth
Health Service to manage her mood and
relationships, seeing improvements.
“I’ve been committed to addressing my
issues and tackling them head on.”
“Music has been a way for me to do this.”
The music video will be available on the
Western Sydney Local Health District
website on White Ribbon Day, November 25
www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au
Lights, camera, action at Auburn
ABC TV series
Janet King
filmed scenes
for its second
season at
Auburn Hospital
in November.
Janet King is
a Screentime
(Banjay Group
company)
production for
ABC TV.
The Pulse | November 2015
5
Building the future
NSW Health
Awards news
Blacktown Mount Druitt Hospital Project
was selected as finalist for two NSW Health
Awards this year for its outstanding arts
program and its innovative Paper-Lite
initiative.
Although the BMDH Project just missed
out on the top honours, it was still a great
achievement to be recognised at a state
level.
In the arts category, the project was
selected from 19 finalists around the state.
“Over the space of two years, our project
team and the Health and Arts Research
Centre has created artworks and events
involving more than 500 community
members, 20 artists and 16 government and
local organisations,” WSLHD chief executive
Danny O’Connor said.
BMDH Project at the health awards.
“The creativity, engagement and
exuberance of this project is outstanding
and we look forward to seeing the final
projects revealed when the new clinical
services building opens in early 2016.”
BMDH Project was also nominated through
our partners Health Infrastructure in the
Local Solutions category for Paper-Lite
where it was recognised for its innovation
and collaborative approach with ITS and
eHealth partners, hospital staff and clinical
leaders. Paper-Lite is due to roll out at
Mount Druitt in the near future.
Transition manager Peter Rophail, general manager Sue-Anne Redmond, ITS lead Lyn Packer, HI lead
Matt Vizard, HI chief executive Sam Sangster and WSLHD chief executive Danny O’Connor at the
awards night.
BMDH getting
ready to move
Beryl’s at your service
While the rest of the hospital (and the world) starts the hectic slide
towards Christmas, the Blacktown Mount Druitt Hospital Project
team is starting to gear up for the opening of the new clinical
services building at Blacktown.
The final stages involve more changes around the main entry and
approach roads, so please take care on site.
Commissioning of the new building is due to start soon, with the
lower clinic and entry levels opening in early 2016 and the upper
ward levels a couple of months later.
More information will be available on our website and main entry
noticeboard, or subscribe to the weekly update to stay in touch.
Just email [email protected]
Drop into the vollies welcome desk at Mount Druitt Hospital for a
project brochure or postcard. At Blacktown, they’re available in the
main foyer or contact the project office if you’d like a bundle for your
department. Here’s long term volunteer Beryl with a stack of handy
project brochures.
The Pulse | November 2015
6
Building the future
Precinct sees people power
There is so much is happening around the
Westmead Health precinct but do you really
know what all that behind-the-scenes work
means?
One of the most important elements of the
redevelopment is the range of back-bone
infrastructure that supports the day-to-day
hospital and precinct operations.
At Westmead, we are building an
infrastructure superhighway for our utilities,
including doubling the capacity of the
high-voltage electrical services to feed
Westmead Hospital.
We are also replacing the existing cooling
towers to underpin supply and improve the
hospital air conditioning system.
Not only does this work secure the future
growth of the hospitals, education and
research institutes on the precinct, it will
mean more efficiently run services like
air-conditioning, and improved asset
management and maintenance programs.
Apprentices Blake and Matt prepare construction material for the new utility superhighway.
“Renovating and restoring current services
infrastructure opens the pathway to future
developments across the precinct,” senior
project director Justin Woodcock said.
“The focus is to ensure the right systems are
in place now and for us to ensure we have
future-proofed the precinct.”
Enabling works will occur in and around
the precinct for some time. The Westmead
Redevelopment project team is keeping
disruption to a minimum but it’s like
renovating a house - there will be some
pain from time to time, but it’s all worth
it. If you’re visiting the precinct, please
walk on marked paths only, follow any
instructions from site staff and observe the
safety signage.
The integrated project team is developing an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) plan
for the Westmead redevelopment with support from Deloitte and WSLHD.
Auburn tops emergency performance
NSW is leading the nation in meeting
important Access to Emergency Care
key performance indicators (aka NEAT
or Emergency Treatment Performance).
We are very proud of Auburn Hospital
who are the leading performing
hospital within WSLHD in respect to
meeting emergency access targets.
In 2014/15 we averaged 86 per cent.
inclusive of clinical and corporate
services staff, is the ultimate reason
Auburn Hospital continues its
high performance, along with its
community reputation as a highquality healthcare facility.
On behalf of the WSLHD Board,
Executive and Auburn Executive,
congratulations and and thank you to
all staff for their ongoing commitment
to providing timely access to excellent
care for our patients, starting at the
front end in ED and throughout their
whole hospital journey.
Congratulations - and please pass
onto your team our sincere thanks and
commendation for your great work.
The great collaborative teamwork
across all services within the hospital,
The Pulse | November 2015
7
Research & Education
Researchers top ten
Congratulations to all the researchers
who were successful in obtaining a
NHMRC grant.
Ten researchers - Professor Tanya Sorrell,
Dr James Chong, Professor Richard
Lindley, A/Professor Vitali Sintchenko, Dr
Kenneth Micklethwaite, Professor Chris
Liddle, Dr Gerald Liew, Professor Tony
Cunningham and Professor Jonathon
Iredell were successful in receiving
approx $20 million in grant funding.
A/Prof Clement Loy is one of WSLHD’s
mid-career researchers who obtained a
NHMRC Targeted Calls for People Grant
for dementia research.
A/Professor Clara Chow received a
fellowship for “clinical approaches to
preventing cardiovascular disease”.
Their successes contribute greatly to the
reputation of WSLHD as a organisation
with high-quality research which impacts
on improved health care.
Emeritus Professor Stephen Leeder
Director, WSLHD Research &
Education Network
Internet: http://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Research---Education
Intranet: http://wslhdintranet.wsahs.nsw.gov.au/Research-and-Education-Network/REN-home
A fresh face for nursing
Nursing student Logan Muddle got her first
taste of life on the ward in October as she
readied to start her cadetship and training
at Westmead Hospital.
The 20-year-old is this year’s recipient of
the coveted Aboriginal Nursing Cadetship,
which offers an indigenous student the
chance to work and train within the
hospital while studying.
Logan, who is entering her second year of
study at the University of Western Sydney’s
Campbelltown campus, is the first member
of her family to go to university.
She visited the hospital’s geriatric
rehabilitation ward on October 28, where
she will be based for her cadetship.
Logan’s training kicks off on November 16
– she will work full-time during her study
break before returning to the hospital at
the end of her second and third years.
Nurse educator Kim Da Silva said the
cadetship aimed to provide a good
foundation of basic care.
“Logan will be given a mentor and a clinical
buddy to help her with her training while
she’s at the hospital,” she said.
“She will also be able to access tutoring
through the hospital as we really want to
support her to complete her studies.”
With the hospital’s encouragement, Logan
also successfully applied for a scholarship
to attend the 2015 Congress of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and
Midwives annual conference in Darwin.
Westmead Hospital nursing student Logan Muddle is keen to start working in the wards.
The cadetship program is a partnership
between the Western Sydney Local Health
District, the NSW Ministry of Health, the
Centre for Aboriginal Health and the
Department of Education, Employment and
Workplace Relations.
It aims to increase the number of Aboriginal
nurses, midwives and professionals in the
NSW public health sector.
Welcome to Westmead Logan, we’re thrilled
to have you.
The Pulse | November 2015
8
News from across WSLHD
Thank U NICU and Special Care Day
Westmead Hospital’s Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the
Miracle Babies Foundation invited
families of premature babies to
celebrate Thank U NICU and Special
Care Nursery (SCN) Day at Westmead
Hospital recently.
The day was dedicated to thank the
passionate staff, who work in the NICU
and SCNs, and to acknowledge the
miracle families they help.
Westmead Hospital’s NICU manager
Melissa Luig supports the relationship
between the hospital and Miracle
Babies Foundation.
Parents Avleen and Salinesh Chand
from The Ponds have experienced
first-hand the dedication and support
the Westmead NICU provides to
families. Giving birth to premature
triplets (two boys and one girl) in July
this year, and sadly losing their little
girl, the family were in Westmead
Hospital NICU for more than four
months before being able to go home.
Mother Avleen Chand of twin boys Viaan and Vanash, Bhan Mati and Miracle Babies worker Frances Pellegrinni.
Intimate for good cause
Auburn staff
treated to fresh
summer fruits
Nursing staff at Auburn Hospital were
recently treated to delicious boxes of
fresh summer fruit from the Sydney
Fruit Markets.
“On behalf of the executive team of
Auburn Hospital, a big thank you to
the Sydney Fruit Markets for their
generous donation,” Bronwyn Merritt,
acting director of nursing at Auburn
Hospital said.
The ladies from Westmead Hospital’s maternity ward raised $378 for Pink Ribbon as part of Breast
Cancer Awareness Month with a lingerie party. Thanks Intimo Lingerie for hosting it.
The Pulse | November 2015
9
News from across WSLHD
Students
excel in the
art of giving
Students between years 5 and 10
from Al-Faisal College at Auburn
recently visited Auburn and Mount
Druitt hospitals to present ageappropriate gifts to the sick children
in the wards.
The visit was initiated by the
students, who wanted to give
something back to the sick kids in
our communities.
The patients and staff were blown
away by the students’ kindness and
Mount Druitt Hospital patient 13-month-old Hunter Ritchie, with his mum, receives gifts from the students of Algenerosity - thanks Al-Faisal College. Faisal College.
Seven Hills family makes health a priority
Seven Hills mother-of-two Arrane
Nirumalan used World Diabetes Day
(November 14) to change her and her
family’s eating and exercise habits.
the importance of starting the day with
a healthy breakfast to help manage and
prevent diabetes.
Arrane and her family have made small
but significant changes to their daily life,
switching to healthier breakfast options,
walking more, snacking on vegetables
instead of biscuits and chips, and replacing
soft drink with water.
The NSW Health worker had a strong family
history of type 2 diabetes and had become
increasingly concerned she was heading
down the same path as her mother and
aunty. But one phone call to the NSW
Health-funded Get Healthy Information
and Coaching Service and Arrane and her
family started making little steps towards a
healthier life.
The theme of this year’s day was “act
today to change tomorrow”, focusing on
Arrane Nirumalan and her son.
“I’ve seen firsthand the impact of type 2
diabetes on someone’s life and the good
news is that there are practical things we
can do to avoid it,” Arrane said.
“I have lost a few kilos, but more
importantly, I feel better.”
Protect me, protect
you: wear PPE
Auburn Hospital’s High Dependency unit, in
conjunction with the infection control team,
recently iniatiated a project called “PMPY” (Protect
me Protect you).
The project aimed to create awareness among staff,
visitors and patients on the importance of wearing
PPE (personal protective equipment).
During October, the hospital held a showcase in the
main foyer, displaying PPE to visitors and patients.
Auburn Hospital’s infection control nurse Mi Jeong , medical ward A nurses Editha Santos
and Jadwiga Pavlovic, and high dependency ward clinical nurse educator Manisha Bista.
The Pulse | November 2015
10
News from across WSLHD
Support important for new parents
Auburn Diversity Service Joanne El-Chami and Cherbanu Oomatia, Transcultural Mental Health clinician Behnaz Nesvadarani with consumers Fireis Sorb,
Rumania Akter and Chenyin Lin and children Alina, Husa, Hans, Mustufa and Nahfiz.
Western Sydney Local Health District
marked Postnatal Depression and Anxiety
Awareness Week (November 15 to 21) with
a bilingual information event, aimed at new
parents and mothers-to-be.
The information sessions, which ran in
Auburn, offered support to new and
expectant parents and encouraged them
to seek help if they’re feeling overwhelmed
during and after pregnancy.
Up to one in seven women experience
depression in the year after birth while up
to one in 10 experience depression during
pregnancy, creating stress.
Fathers and partners can also experience
mental health difficulties during this time.
WSLHD, along with Auburn Diversity
Services, reached out to parents from a
variety of cultures, offering information
Who says the number
13 is unlucky?
Congratulations
to new parents
Farjana and Pervez
Ahamed from
Auburn. The
couple welcomed
a handsome baby
boy, Ahmed, into
their family. The
gorgeous little boy
arrived into the
world at 13:11 on
Friday, November
13, 2015. Auburn
Hospital staff
were quick to let
everyone know of
the arrival.
sessions about postnatal mental health in
several languages. The sessions, run by
counsellors and psychologists from the
Auburn Community Health Centre and the
Transcultural Mental Health centre, were
offered in Chinese, Dari and English.
For more information on postnatal
depression and anxiety, visit panda.org.au
Thanks to all who attended the event.
WMRF offers grant
opportunities
The Westmead Medical Research Foundation is inviting prospective
research students to apply for a post-graduate scholarship and the
coveted Elaine Tolley Medal in mental health.
Applications are now open for the My Westmead Early Career Research
Scholarship 2016. The scholarship aims to offer $25,000 to a first or
second year post-graduate student, across any discipline or area of
medical research.
Applications are also open for the biannual My Westmead Elaine
Tolley Medal in mental health, which aims to support research into a
recognised mental health disorder.
The medal is available to applicants across WSLHD and the Westmead
Millennium Institute for Medical Research and offers either a prize of up
to $5000 or a grant of up to $15,000 per year, for two years.
For more information on the grants, including deadlines, submission
criteria and judging, contact WMRF on 9845 8165 or [email protected]
The Pulse | November 2015
11
News from across WSLHD
Getting
Healthy at
Parramasala
In late October, more than 30, 000
people visited Parramasala, a free annual
celebration in Parramatta which celebrated
the diverse and rich culture which
contributes to Sydney’s social fabric.
Western Sydney Local Health District
added a health flavour to the Parramasala
mix through its Get Healthy and Women’s
Health at Work programs.
A women’s well-being parade was
organised, where women from the
subcontinent communities, accompanied
by Kerala chend drums, danced and
marched through Parramatta.
WSLHD Population Health’s Andi Andronicos, Dipti Zachariah and deputy director Christine Newman.
They raised their voices for women’s health
and wellbeing and stood against domestic
violence and abuse.
The Get Healthy stall attracted over 1500
visitors and shared health information
translated into Hindi, Tamil and Sinhalese.
Many people registered on the day for the
district’s free Get Healthy Information and
Coaching service.
Flyers on the Get Healthy Service, with
healthy subcontinent recipes and domestic
violence information, were distributed
among the spectators.
Visitors engaged in conversations with
bilingual volunteers, community workers
and population health staff.
For more information on the Get Healthy
Service, or to register for free, please
contact 1300 806 258.
Perfect
pampering for
patient helpers
Spread the
LHD news
Western Sydney Local Health District,
along with Community Health, thanked its
beloved carers recently, by treating them
to two free aromatherapy, meditation and
massage sessions.
Our publication is distributed to more
than 10,000 staff in Western Sydney
Local Health District and our many
stakeholders.
The Pulse is a great way to share your
project, initiative or event.
To submit your story for
consideration, phone 8890 4564 or
email
[email protected].
gov.au
The sessions were held at the Balcombe
Heights estate building and the Merrylands
Community Health Centre.
The carers, who look after elderly people
or those with a chronic condition, were
treated to morning tea, information packs
and a lucky door prize draw.
Western Sydney Local Health District social
worker Jessica Reed said the pamper
events were a good opportunity to give
back to carers.
Publication is at the discretion of the
editor and chief executive. Items may
be edited for length, style and quality.
November edition
Graphic design: Joshua Said
Editorial co-ordinator: Jenny Harrison
Our local carers were last month treated to free
massages, aromatherapy and meditation to thank
them for their generosity. Here’s Heather and Eric
enjoying the day.
The Pulse | November 2015
12
News from across WSLHD
Selamat datang (welcome) to the
Malaysian Ministry of Health
Meet the team
Corporate Communications
Senior Corporate Communications
specialist, Emma Spillett
Hello! I am relatively new to the
Corporate Communications team,
having joined the crew in August.
Prior to entering the walls of Westmead
Hospital, I was a journalist for nearly 10
years, working for the Illawarra Mercury
newspaper as a reporter, and the chiefof-staff, managing a busy newsroom of
15 journalists.
Media and writing have always been
keen interests so I’m relishing the chance
to meet staff across the WSLHD, hear
their amazing stories and promote them
across our various internal and external
communication channels.
The Malaysia Ministry of Health delegation with Westmead Hospital staff.
Westmead Hospital staff welcomed a
delegation from the Ministry of Health
Malaysia in early November.
Allied Health Science senior deputy director
Nik Mohamed Hazmi, senior principal
assistant director Samhan bin Haron, along
with Tuan Solawati, a medical physicist
working in the ministry’s engineering
division, toured Westmead Hospital.
The trio were keen to study the allied
health service programs across the Western
Sydney Local Health District and learn
about the challenges faced by the allied
health and radiology teams.
The visit was a great opportunity to
increase awareness and promote mutual
understanding between the two countries.
I love my role here – every day is
different (every hour is different) and
it’s great to be able to juggle media
opportunities, events, comms strategy
work and everything in between.
The delegation toured the allied health,
physiotherapy, occupational therapy and
dietetics departments.
The MOH staff also visited nuclear
medicine, radiology and the Westmead
Breast Cancer Institute.
Sweet Tweets
An exchange ceremony was also held,
where the delegation received Westmead
Hospital ties and scarves.
With Sia Anthopoulos
It’s been a great couple of weeks on social
media for WSLHD. Read on to see what our
lovely followers tweeting about us:
Alagha family raise $35k for research
When Chester Hill wife and
mother Jamel Alagha died weeks
after learning she had ovarian
cancer, her loving family became
determined to raise money and
find a cure for the disease.
The Advertiser @ Parramatta_News
Westmead Hospital has babies’ health
wrapped up with a new practice to
help some of its youngest parents stay
warm. bit.ly/!RP5abi
Fast forward a decade and Jamel’s
family have raised $35,000 in
their beloved late mother and
grandmother’s honour, all in the
name of ovarian cancer research.
Jamel’s family recently held an
inaugural fundraising gala ball
in Lidcombe where 360 guests
opened their wallets and handed
over thousands of dollars in
donations and for auctions.
The Alagha family gave the
money to the Westmead Medical
Research Foundation, requesting
the funds be spent on research
into ovarian cancer to ensure
another family does not suffer the
same loss.
Melanoma Institute@MelanomaAus
A new #cancer drug is available after
a ground breaking trial at #Westmead
Hospital goo.gl/5HKlm7 pic.twitter.
com/UaTh45UZOM
Jamel’s daughter Diane Mansour, Westmead Hospital Dr
Tania Moujaber, WMRF partnerships and community officer
Susie Saba, Westmead Hospital’s Professor Anna deFazio with
Jamel’s son John Alagha, her daughter Faye Daniel, Jamal’s
husband Naim Alagha and her daughter Runja Bejjani.
To thank Jamel’s family for their generous donation, the
foundation held a recognition night in November.
Jamel’s family members all received plaques to thank
them for their efforts.
7 News Sydney @7NewsSydney
Westmead Hospital docotors are
leading the way in developing a new
antibiotic to tackle Golden Staph. @
jessdietrich7 snpy.tv/1GilYWq
Lisa Pryor@pryorlisa Check out
Blacktown Hospital’s new building.
Pretty flash, and very colourful.
WesternSydneyHealth
The funds raised will go towards a scholarship, to be
awarded to a PHD student undertaking research into
ovarian cancer.
@WestSydHealth
The Pulse | November 2015
13
News from across WSLHD
Westmead OT Team celebrate OT Week
Westmead Hospital’s Occupational Therapy team limbered up for a happy snap.
Westmead Hospital’s Occupational Therapy
team marked National Occupational
Therapy Week October 25 to October 31
with several events.
This year’s OT Week theme was “Reach
your pOTential”, encouraging people to
undertake occupational therapy to help
manage their injuries post illness, incident
or surgery.
Westmead Hospital’s OT team hosted a
stall in the main entrance throughout the
week, handing out a pamphlet about their
services to staff, patients and visitors.
They also celebrated with a special lunch on
Thursday, October 29.
Thanks to the OT team for all the work they
do with patients – we really appreciate it.
Memorial service for little angels
The fourth annual Pregnancy and Infant Loss
memorial service was held at Castlebrook
Memorial Park recently for families across WSLHD,
who had experienced a pregnancy or infant loss
in the past year.
Thank you Bears of Hope, SIDs & Kids, WSLHD,
White Lady Funerals and Castlebrook Memorial
Park for helping to organise the memorial.
The service featured prayers, poems and readings.
Parents and family members were invited to
write messages on cards, which were placed in
a cage and will be burned as a symbolic gesture.
Attendees were also presented with flowers, after
the release of doves by a member of each family.
Castlebrook Memorial Park family service
manager John Lazana sent a heartfelt email to all
involved, thanking everyone who participated in
the service.
“If there is a healing process for a familly’s loss,
then this service may have helped as part of that,”
he said.
“It is very clear that the community appreciates
this service.
“Year after year more people come to this service.
I know the service touched the hearts of all that
came, with no shortage of tears shed.”
We thank everyone involved for providing such a
beautiful service for WSLHD families.
Families release the doves to commemorate the loss of a loved one.
The Pulse | November 2015
14
News from across WSLHD
The Pulse | November 2015
15
Feedback & Events
Save the date
Thanks a bunch
Heartfelt thanks to diaylsis team
Westmead Association
presents the Westmead Oscars
Thank you for all the support the Blacktown Hospital Dialysis team gave to mum Barbara
Kerr through her time with dialysis. Sadly, we also lost her partner Roy, the morning after
mum’s funeral. - Love, her family.
You are invited to enter
the competition by
preparing a five-minute
video showcasing your
department’s wit and talent
Award winning health teams
Judging will be held on Thursday, May
12, 2016.
Please register your department by
January 31 ,2016 to Georgette Hanna [email protected]
Don’t DIS-my-ABILITY
Celebrating International Day of
People with a Disability.
Staff courtyard, Blacktown Hospital Wednesday, December 9
Cafeteria, Mount Druitt Hospital Tuesday December 15
Multicultural Health team Kayleen Poore, Marta Menendez and BCE,Program co-ordinator Anoop
Johar and SWSLHD Population Health nutritionist Elissa Kiggins.
Congratulations to the WSLHD multicultural
health promotion team and SWSLHD, who
were recognised at the NSW Multicultural
Health Communication Awards recently for
their work on the translation of the Australian
Guide to Healthy Eating booklet into 11
community languages.
This team also received an honourable
mention at the Child Protection and
Wellbeing Awards for work in Bilingual
Community Education, in collaboration with
community hubs in western Sydney and
Staff are invited to participate in the Staff
Disability Games challenge involving
wheelchair dancing, blindfolds, a music
challenge, a retired guide dog and a race
against time. Register your team of three
- five players by Friday November, 28 to
[email protected] or on
8838 6320.
the Schools as Community Centre program,
which supports families with young children
from birth to age eight.
The “Building a CALD parent’s capacity in
increasing children’s safety and well-being”
initiative aims to improve the health and wellbeing of CALD background communities by
delivering health education programs across
a range of health-related topics. These include
items like positive parenting, healthy eating,
mental well-being and family harmony. Well
done teams.
WSLHD End of Year
Celebrations
Staff are invited to join
the Board and Executive
team at an end of year
festival celebration. Light
refreshments will be
provided.
Tuesday December 8, 2015
3.30pm - 4.30pm
Special Functions Room, Westmead
Hospital
RSVP Monday November 30 to 8890 4564
or WSLHD-CorporateComms@health.
nsw.gov.au
Auburn Hospital perioperative staff dress in recycled fashions for the Melbourne Cup.
The Pulse | November 2015
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