Message from the board chair Trevor Danos AM
After a quiet January, it has been a busy early February for the Board. It takes many people in different roles to run a hospital and a health system. Every staff member plays an important part in our overall success and in establishing and maintaining our reputation for excellence. Especially in times of a health crisis such as COVID-19, the public turn to doctors, nurses and other health professionals for information, advice and to take care of them. But behind our clinical staff are people who work tirelessly in the background who may not always be noticed by the public or our patients – including our cleaning and environmental services staff. As part of the Board’s ongoing monthly breakfast series, Board members had the pleasure of meeting some cleaning and environmental services staff. We all rely on the work they do, day and night, keeping our wards and specialist units clean, increasing the hygiene standards and helping to make sure our hospitals are safe places. I thank cleaning and environmental services staff for everything they do as part of the health service team. The Board also recently met with the district’s team working on the Pathways to Community Living Initiative (PLCI). NSLHD is a key implementation site for the state- wide initiative which aims to support people who have been staying in mental health facilities for long periods to live successfully in the community. Our mental health teams in hospital and community settings, in partnership with other community and clinical agencies, have supported 118 consumers to transition from
sustainable transitions to the right community accommodation, with ongoing community clinical and living supports. Our teams undergo careful assessment and planning in partnership with the community to support people to live the best lives. Earlier this month I attended the first Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Council meeting for the year. I am impressed with the thinking and work going into actioning the district’s strategy. Two employee networks have already been established – LGBTQ+ and disability – with more to come. The networks are the real engine rooms of this work, so I am thrilled to hear their ideas to help make NSLHD an even better place to work for everyone. Diversity education and training helps create an inclusive environment that fosters innovation, prevents unconscious and conscious bias and supports engagement in the workplace. You can visit the diversity, inclusion and belonging intranet page and enrol in some of the learning opportunities available via My Health Learning. Lastly, I want to congratulate the team at Mona Vale Hospital on the opening of the Palliative Care and Geriatric Evaluation and Management building. The site and design of the building are quite stunning and are matched by the passion, warmth and commitment of the staff. It was a pleasure to meet some of the staff and tour the new unit at the opening. I know our staff there are providing the very best care to patients at one of the most difficult times in their lives.
hospital back into the community. The teams are doing a fantastic job providing person-centred, safe and
Trevor Danos AM Board Chair Northern Sydney Local Health District
NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 3 | 25 FEBRUARY 2021
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