message FROM the Chief executive
As the year draws to a close, I would like to start by thanking all of our staff for their hard work over the past 12 months. Whenever I am in the community, I frequently hear stories from former patients and their families regarding the exceptional patient care they received at our hospitals and community health centres. These stories epitomise the pride you take every day when caring for your patients. 2019 has been a year of tremendous achievement for Northern Sydney Local Health District. Clinically, our hospitals continue to set the benchmark across NSW, with a series of strong performances in our Bureau of Health Information’s quarterly activity reports. Our outcomes for a range of diseases like pancreatic cancer remain amongst the best in the state, while our renewed focus on research, guided by our newly launched NSLHD Research Strategy, will hopefully see us continue to improve the lives of patients every day. We also held our first instalment musculoskeletal team led the way, telling of the important advances being made in the battle against arthritis and other debilitating diseases. I am looking forward to showcasing more of our clinical and research teams in future Northern Lights in the New Year. of our research showcase series Northern Lights. Our
Our infrastructure also continues to evolve with Mona Vale and Hornsby Ku-ring-gai hospitals currently undergoing redevelopments. Mona Vale’s Palliative Care and Geriatric Evaluation and Management buildings are continuing to take shape, complementing the impressive rehabilitation facilities and Urgent Care Centre on site. upgrade, which will see an expanded emergency department as well as a new multi-storey clinical services building. The new building will house expanded outpatient services, allowing patients access to more treatments, such as chemotherapy, closer to home. We have also been a part of an Australian first, establishing the Clinical Health Information Exchange. The Exchange enables the sharing of key patient information between the Electronic Medical Record systems at NSLHD and Northern Beaches Hospital. This will be a huge benefit to patients and health staff, enabling safer and more seamless access to patient information to deliver care. Workplace culture has also been a strong focus this year, with a number of initiatives, aimed at improving the wellbeing of our staff and empowering them. The Speaking Up for Safety campaign is one such initiative that is aimed at giving our Hornsby Hospital is also close to completing its $260 million
staff the skills to voice their concerns and improve patient safety. The impressive work and achievements of our staff were recognised by our peers across the state. NSLHD won two categories at the NSW Health Awards in the Transforming Patient Experience and Patient Safety First categories. Professor Margaret Fry, Director of Research and Practice Development Nursing and Midwifery, and Meredith Oatley, Oncology Nurse Practitioner, won the Transforming Patient Experience category with their Oncology Telephone Hotline. Dr Eveline Staub, Staff Specialist, Neonatology and her medical and nursing colleagues won the Patient Safety First category for their project “Walking the Milky Way”. With the holiday season approaching fast, I hope you all have some time with family and friends. I would like to thank those staff who will continue to be working over the period providing care to our patients and the community. Finally, to all staff, volunteers, patients and friends of NSLHD, I would like to wish you a happy holiday season and a safe and healthy New Year.
Deborah Willcox, Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
2 NSLHDNEWS | 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW
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