NSLHD News July 18

NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT NSLHD

NSLHD CELEBRATES NAIDOC WEEK 2019 Crowds flocked to NAIDOC celebrations featuring performances from Christine Anu and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancers. Read more on Page 6 AND 7

surgeon’s touch helps to hang ARTIST’S archies piece Page 3

hornsby staff on winter watch Page 9

Leaders in healthcare, partners in wellbeing

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message FROM the chairman Trevor Danos

It has been a very busy period in our District since my last column, and I just wanted to say thank you to all of our staff for their hard work. I know our frontline staff have been doing a wonderful job providing patient care during the busy flu season, while our support staff have also been marvellous in ensuring our hospitals and services continue to provide high quality and compassionate patient care. As Board Chair, I try to make it to as many events around the District as I can and I have recently had the pleasure of attending the NAIDOC Week celebrations at RNSH. Our Aboriginal Health team always does a stellar job organising this event. The traditional dancing, singing and didgeridoo performances drew a large crowd of staff, patients and visitors. Christina Anu’s performance was a highlight. We also celebrated the latest two additions to the Aboriginal Health Wall of Fame. I would like to congratulate the new inductees: our A/Director of Clinical Governance Anthony Dombkins and patient Natasha Drew who has been incredibly involved with the Aboriginal Health team. The Board was delighted to hold its most recent Emerging Leaders Breakfast at Mona Vale Hospital. General Manager Jacqui

Edgley took the opportunity to show Board members the gym in the Community Health Centre from which there is a spectacular view of the hospital site and redevelopment. The Board was able to visit the new Kiosk and the Urgent Care Centre where Board members inspected the newly refurbished rooms – they look great. There are just under two weeks left to submit your nomination for this year’s Exceptional People Awards. The Awards acknowledge and celebrate the great work of our staff and volunteers in delivering exceptional health and wellbeing outcomes for our patients and consumers. I encourage you to nominate your peers and any volunteers you know who deserve to be acknowledged. Finally, I would like to thank Tamsin Waterhouse who was our A/CE during Deb Willcox’s period of leave. Tamsin did a great job. The District is very fortunate to have a strong and capable leadership team.

Trevor Danos AM

Board Chair Northern Sydney Local Health District

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Artist Kim Leutwyler in recovery after her carpal tunnel surgery, performed by Dr James Ledgard

Artist’s masterpiece thanks to surgeon’s master stroke Artist Kim Leutwyler came to appreciate a medium of a different kind when she came to Royal North Shore stricken with carpal tunnel. James operated on Kim’s favoured right hand first, giving her the best chance at recovering in time to finish her submission. Her left hand would be revisited at a later date.

It was a crucial time for the emerging painter, who was trying to finalise her submission to the 2019 Archibald Prize. Her piece, featuring Ghanaian-Chinese, openly queer actor, broadcaster, television producer, writer and DJ Faustina Agolley was “90 per cent done” when the pain became too much. “When I was painting her hair, her hair is quite detailed, my fingers started going so numb during the day whereas it previously used to bother me at night,” Kim said.

Kim recovered well from the surgery and was able to finalise her submission with the help of James’ healing hands. “It was a huge relief (to submit the painting) but even more of a relief to not have carpal tunnel anymore in my right hand,” she said. “I feel like you have a special bond with someone, regardless of the Archibald Prize, when someone cuts you open and fixes you. “I mean ‘you’ve seen the inside of my limbs and you’ve worked your magic to fix it’ – it’s amazing and astounding to me what surgeons and their teams do.” Kim said her whole hospital experience had been a positive one. “From the moment I checked in to the moment I check out at the hospital, everyone was so lovely, they’ve made me feel so welcome; it’s been an awesome experience.” James said it was great to be able to help Kim with one of his favourite operations. “Carpal tunnel is one of my favourite operations because almost everybody gets better,” he said. “Usually the nicest thing is hearing they have a proper night’s sleep the night after the operation. That’s what everyone appreciates most, but having someone whose painting is a finalist in the Archibald is pretty special too. “I admitted to Kim that I haven’t been (to the Archibald) this year though.”

“It was permanent tingles throughout the day and shooting pain, which is when I knew I just had to stop.” Kim succumbed to the pain and downed tools for close to three months, but she was determined to finish. Enter hand, wrist and reconstructive plastic surgeon Dr James Ledgard.

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Creating a Culture of Recognition at NSLHD Recognising the

achievements and effort of those around us is important to help build a positive workplace culture. Nominations for Exceptional People Awards are open until 30 July. These awards recognise individuals and teams who go over and above to support our services, our patients and consumers. With seven categories to choose from, there is a category to suit everyone from our dedicated volunteers, support staff, clinical and non-clinical teams and individuals across the district. Complete the nomination form on the 2019 Exceptional People Awards page. The Compliment Portal was recently launched, where employees can send a compliment electronically to a colleague or volunteer. The compliment will be sent as an e-thank you card via email to the recipient. Employees can also pass on compliments from a patient or consumer, carer or family member by sending a card on their behalf. Visit the Compliment Portal quick link on the intranet to send your compliment. It’s up toeveryone to help build a great workplace and recognition culture at NSLHD, so if you haven’t been involved in recognition before, now is a great time to start. For more information on these initiatives, please email NSLHD-COREValues@ health.nsw.gov.au

RNSH’s Ambulatory Care team come together to farewell Megan Donnelly (front right)

RNSH midwife Megan Donnelly retires after more than 50 years

For more than 50 years, Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) midwife Megan Donnelly delivered hundreds of babies. Now entering retirement, Megan has decided to take on a new challenge – tackling the “one- day cupboard”. “I’m about to attack the one- day cupboard: a cupboard full of things that I promised myself I would get to one day,” she said. Megan’s first day as a trainee nurse was at RNSH on April 16, 1962, at a time when nurses lived on campus. After 10 years working as a nurse, Megan wanted to branch out and experience what it was like to work in the maternity ward. This is where she found her love for midwifery and women’s health. “It will keep me busy for a while.”

“I was home when I joined midwifery team and I never looked back,’’ she said. More recently, Megan set up a menopause clinic in the RNSH Ambulatory Care and was nickname Menopause Megan - an expert in all matters relating to menopause. She said the past 50 years had passed quickly and she was looking forward to retirement. “The people I have worked with over the years have become family and it has been an honour to serve my community – it has just been an absolute joy,” she said. “I’ve had the pleasure of meeting people who I helped deliver 37 years ago, some of which are now having their own babies. “I’ve loved every minute and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

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Dr Claire Ashton-James will be hosting a webinar on clinician burnout

Good patient outcomes rely on wellbeing Clinician burnout and how to avoid it will be the focus of a webinar next week hosted by social psychologist Dr Claire Ashton-James.

your back, really helps clinicians cope with all sorts of physical and emotional challenges. “Importantly, a flexible approach is needed when addressing clinician burnout, as a standardised system will not work for all our healthcare teams, doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. “Prioritising wellbeing will not only lead to better outcomes for individual clinicians, but there’ll be long term benefits for patients and the broader health system too, with more productivity, better staff retention and a more positive workplace culture. “We are well placed for improvements across our district, given the commitment to developing >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12

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