RNSH patient Jacqui, with mum and carer Linda, and Pink Ladies volunteer, Joy
Pink Ladies donate to support carers The Pink Ladies at RNSH have donated six recliner chairs to the Carers @ the Bedside
using the carer’s knowledge about their loved ones, particularly when there are complex co- morbidities including cognitive impairment or end-of-life support. RNSH patient Jacqui said having her mum, who is her full time carer, by her side has helped make her experience at the hospital a comfortable one. “Having mum staying at the hospital with me is a weight off my shoulders,” she said. “She knows me inside out, knows how my body works and the way it needs to move and she can provide help, like with brushing my teeth, going to the toilet or getting dressed.” For more information about the NSLHD Carer Support Service, please visit: https://bit.ly/ NSLHD-carers. If you would like to volunteer with the Pink Ladies, contact Joy on 0429 171 141. signage which currently does not refer to vaping. “We would really like to remind staff, patients and visitors that no smoking means no vaping,” she said. Take steps to quit vaping or smoking this World No Tobacco Day. Staff can receive cessation support and access up to four weeks of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy from the Staff Health Service. For further help to quit call the Quitline on 13 7848 (13 QUIT) or visit www.icanquit.com.au NSLHD Departments wishing to promote no smoking on site can email NSLHD- AlcoholTobaccoTeam@health.nsw.gov.au to receive a pack with pens, post-it notes and glasses lens cleaners (while stocks last).
initiative, allowing patients to have the support of their carers across the district. Carers @ the Bedside is an NSLHD Carer Support Service initiative that provides recliner chairs, bedding and meals for family carers during their stay so they can be at the bedside with their family member. The program runs across Royal North Shore, Ryde and Hornsby hospitals and has had a positive effect on carers, patients and clinicians. A post implementation survey of the program found 85 per cent of carers felt the program made them feel included in the decision making around the care of the patient. Clinicians surveyed fed back that having Carers @ the Bedside has allowed improvements in patient care planning by Vaping Equals Smoking In the lead up to World No Tobacco Day there was one clear message for staff, visitors, patients and community members: vaping equals smoking. Melissa Palermo, the Manager of the Population Health Promotion’s Tobacco Program advised that, vaping is treated the same as smoking under the Smoke free Environment Act 2000. “This means that wherever smoking is not permitted, vaping is also not permitted,” Melissa said. During recent smoking audits of NSLHD hospitals, the people observed vaping has increased. “This may suggest that some people think that vaping is allowed on hospital grounds,” said Melissa. This could be due to official no smoking
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NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 10|9 JUNE 2023
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