NSLHD News May 8

NSLHD News May 8

NEWS NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT NSLHD

Celebrating our midwives Our staff across the district paid tribute our marvelous midwives on International Midwives’ Day on May 5. See how they celebrated the occasion.

Read more on Page 5

breast screening to reopen across northern sydney Page 9

RNSH drives national COVID-19 study Page 11

Leaders in healthcare, partners in wellbeing

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Message FROM the acting Chief executive Dr Tamsin Waterhouse

message FROM the Chief executive Deb Willcox

Every day, nurses and midwives play an integral role in our hospitals and health services, providing exemplary care to our patients and their families. On Tuesday 5 May we celebrated International Midwives Day, acknowledging the importance of midwife-led care in improving maternal and health outcomes for women and babies. Even though our celebrations have had to be different this year with social distancing, the day allows for all of our staff, and the community, to reflect on the value and role midwives have in women’s lives especially during these uncertain times. With more than 4200 babies delivered in our district hospitals each year our midwives have impacted the lives of literally thousands of women and their families. The women will remember that moment as one of the most important and special times in their life. Next week is International Nurses Day and a special day as we celebrate 200 years since the birth of Florence Nightingale. In a year that has so far been dominated by an international health response to the

global coronavirus pandemic it is reminder how crucial the role of nurses are in our health system. Nurses have a long history of responding professionally through times of wars and pandemics and are the backbone of the healthcare system. I look forward to continuing the celebrations with our nurses and midwives. I would like to thank all of our nurses and midwives for the incredible work you do every day and the compassion you show to our patients, your dedication to the profession and the care you give to each other.

Deb Willcox Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District

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MEssage FROM the chairman Trevor Danos AM

Throughout this pandemic, the Board has been immensely proud of the dedication, hard work and achievements by all staff across our hospitals and health services. Sometimes it takes a challenging situation, like the one we are experiencing now, for people to discover their ingenuity and inner passions. I recently visited Hornsby Ku- ring-gai Hospital with the Chief Executive, Deb Willcox and was so impressed with what the staff have achieved in the shadow of very major, and at times, disruptive construction works. Hornsby Hospital has established a streamlined COVID-19 testing clinic; created dual and physically separated emergency and ICU departments to deal with COVID-19 “hot” and “cold” cases. The cold cases are patients with non-respiratory illnesses and are being cared for in a new and really impressive demountable building. While the “hot” cases are patients displaying respiratory COVID-like symptoms and cared for in repurposed rooms and resuscitation bays. At the same time, staff are continuing to provide care and treatment to the normal stream of non-COVID emergencies. It is not just Hornsby Hospital where we have seen enormous and rapid changes to models of care and the redesigning of the physical layout of wards and treatment spaces. All of our hospitals, community health centres and mental health services have needed to rethink the way they treat their patients and care for the community in light of COVID-19. After a recent visit at Ryde Hospital, I was pleased to see how the hospital and its

staff have bounced back from the initial COVID-19 outbreak. Without warning, Ryde Hospital found itself having to deal with the initial COVID-19 outbreak in real time without the comprehensive state-wide support arrangements that now exist. On my visit I found a positive, can-do attitude, a quiet confidence, a determination to succeed and resilience. In every case, staff had a smile on their faces, a calm and purposeful demeanour and went about their duties with great humility. Ensuring our staff have access to necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been a constant challenge, but a well governed centralised approach has meant frontline staff have been able to access PPE when they need it. The Board has been very impressed with the District’s leadership, collaboration and clinical governance in response to COVID-19. The speed in which the District has had to come together and act has no precedent and everyone should be proud of what they have achieved in such a short amount of time. It gives the Board great confidence that our hospitals and health services are prepared if there is a rise in COVID-19 presentations. Importantly, it also shows that no matter what challenge staff may face they have the leadership, knowledge, skills and initiative to meet it and to continue to provide the highest standard of care to the community.

Trevor Danos AM Board Chair Northern Sydney Local Health District

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Celebrating International Midwives’ Day

royal North Shore Hospital respiratory ward expansion Royal North Shore Hospital is expanding its respiratory unit from 18 beds to 39 in anticipation of an increase in COVID-19 positive patients requiring respiratory

with COVID-19 and respiratory issues. “By increasing the number of beds in the respiratory unit all patients can be in the one space outside of ICU, rather than splitting across multiple wards,” he said. “The new ward will put the hospital in a really good position to manage outbreaks of respiratory infections and diseases.” Dr Harris said one of the biggest advantages of joining the two wards is from an infection control perspective. “It means we can contain those who are unwell with COVID-19 in a single area, and the increase in isolated rooms allows us to have better infection control and deliver respiratory support therapy which is safer for both patients and staff.” The ward expansion is expected to be completed by mid-June.

support over the coming weeks and months. A second ward, currently haematology, will join the existing respiratory unit allowing for the extra 21 beds which includes an additional 12 negative pressure rooms and an increase in single rooms. The haematology unit will be moved to another ward in the hospital where patients will continue to receive care safely. The enlarged respiratory unit will become the new COVID-19 ward for positive patients and those awaiting clearance of their COVID-19 swabs. Royal North Shore Hospital’s Head of Respiratory Medicine Dr Ben Harris said by bringing the two wards together the hospital can have one area to house patients

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Paying tribute to our magnificent midwives

Some of the Midwifery and Women’s Health Team at Royal North Shore with CE Deb Willcox

Cake, keep cups and confectionery were just some of the ways our wonderful midwives across the District celebrated International Day of the Midwife on May 5. The day recognises the incredible contribution that midwives make to the lives of millions of women and their families around the world. At Royal North Shore, staff were treated to a stunning cake (below) which was baked and decorated by Laura Dangerfield, Divisional Nurse Manager of Women’s and Children’s Family Health.

distributing keep cups to staff as a small token of thanks for their hard work. “I would like to thank each and every midwife working in our district clinics, community and hospitals,” Deb said. “With more than 4200 babies delivered in our district hospitals each year our midwives have impacted the lives of literally thousands of women and their families every woman will remember that moment at one of the most important and special times in their life.” Jenny said despite current events, she hoped staff still took the time to acknowledge each other’s hard work. “Even though our celebrations will be different this year, I hope you are able to take some time to reflect on the value you as midwives have in women’s lives, especially during these uncertain and difficult times,” she said. “Your advocacy and adaptability in ensuring that women have continuing access to care is to be commended.” The year 2020 is the International Year of the Midwife and the Nurse, with celebrations continuing on May 12 across all hospitals and health centres as part of International Nurses Day.

Chief Executive Deb Willcox and Acting Director of Nursing and Midwifery for the District Jenny Neilsen were also on hand,

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Medical equipment arrives in preparation for COVID-19

Members of the district’s Clinical Technology Service

unpack it and make sure it is safe for clinical use. “We also need to undertake performance verification, configuration, and installation of the equipment and register it on a clinical technology equipment >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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