NEWS NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT NSLHD
BreastScreen clinic opens at Mona Vale
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Wear it purple day celebrations Page 8
metal holloware makes a sustainable comeback at RNSH Page 5
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Message from the chief executive Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM
Dear colleagues, For our district to grow and be able to cater for the health of the future population, we need to look beyond the horizon. This can be especially hard for our senior leaders when we also need to respond to the now - the immediate priorities of delivering patient care. To support our senior clinicians and managers, a leadership forum was held with 90 of our districts leaders to outline the leadership strategic focus. The room was full of energy as the leaders from all disciplines of the organisation shared ideas, gave their personal insights and connected over what makes great leadership. As we know, our hospitals and health systems are faced with an ageing population, and we need to focus on what healthcare will look like in the future. We need to support our next generation of staff, integrate planetary health as value- based care to make our health system sustainable. Equity of access for vulnerable people is a priority for the district, with still many pockets of our community not receiving or accessing the care they need. I came away from the day energised and confident for our organisation’s future in the hands of such a fantastic, experienced group of leaders. Thank you to everyone who came to the NSLHD Leadership Forum and a big shoutout to Brittany Jobson and our People and Culture Executive Director Kerrie-Ann Pryke for organising the day. We have sent a team of clinicians and managers to work alongside our Northern Beaches Hospital colleagues, to plan and prepare for the eventual transition of the hospital to the public system.
The team consists of up to 15 members from patient safety and quality, ICT, clinical operations, people and culture, corporate services and finance. For the next four weeks, the team will spend time in the hospital learning about the clinical processes and systems that are used by Healthscope, the operator of the hospital. I would like to thank Healthscope for welcoming our colleagues, and to the team who will also be managing their roles back here at the district while they carry out this important work. The NSW Government continues to negotiate with the receivers of Healthscope for a negotiated outcome for the hospital to be handed over to the public. We are heading into the final days of the statewide People Matter Employee Survey, and I would like to thank all of our staff members who have already taken the time to complete the survey. This survey is a fantastic opportunity for our district to listen and learn from our people to find out what’s working well and what can be improved. If you are a staff member, you can access the survey using this link: https://bit.ly/PMES- 2025. The survey closes on 12 September, with amazing prizes available for the teams that achieve the largest increase in participation rates. I look forward to reviewing the results and sharing these across the district in the
coming months. Warm regards,
Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
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NSLHD CE Anthony Schembri (far right) at the Sydney Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Health Partnership Agreement (2024–29) signing
Partnership renewed to strengthen Aboriginal health across metro communities
A new five-year agreement has been signed between the Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) Redfern and the five Sydney metropolitan public health services, reinforcing a long-standing commitment to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal people. The Sydney Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Health Partnership Agreement (2024–29) was signed at the AMS Redfern quarterly partnership meeting. The signatories of the agreement included AMS Redfern Chief Executive Officer LaVerne Bellear, Northern Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Anthony Schembri and chief executives from Sydney and South Eastern Sydney local health district’s, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. The partnership, which has been in place since 2010, is focused on closing the gap in health inequity between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and non-Indigenous people across the local communities. Anthony said the renewed agreement shows the strength of ongoing collaboration between public health services and the Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) Redfern.
“It’s fantastic that several organisations can come together, identify the issues and work collectively on solutions,” he said. “By listening to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and understanding what matters most, we can make real progress on improving health and wellbeing to close the gap.” Northern Sydney Local Health District Executive Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service Braiden Abala said the agreement continued the progress made over the past decade. “This partnership carries forward more than 15 years of collaboration and continues our shared commitment to better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” he said. Over the next five years, each of the health services involved will lead one of five key priorities: addressing racism, strengthening the workforce, building health promotion, improving chronic care, and supporting mental health and wellbeing.
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New BreastScreen NSW clinic opens at Mona Vale Women on the upper Northern Beaches now have improved access to vital breast cancer screening, with the opening of a permanent BreastScreen NSW clinic at Mona Vale Community Health Centre. Anthony Schembri, Pittwater Independent MP Jacqui Scruby, Meredith Kay, Tracey O’Brien and Renee McCarthy at the launch
“This new permanent site at Mona Vale Hospital will make a huge difference to the approximately 5,000 women every year who are expected to receive screenings,” Mr Park said. NSW Chief Cancer Officer Professor Tracey O’Brien AM reinforced the importance of early detection. “Breast cancer affects one in seven women in NSW. Detecting breast cancer through a mammogram in its earliest stages is the key to saving lives,” Professor O’Brien said. For women aged 50–74, a breast screen every two years is the most effective way to detect breast cancer early. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are encouraged to begin screening from age 40. To book a mammogram, call 13 20 50 or visit book.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au. No referral is needed.
The new clinic replaces the mobile service that previously visited the area and complements the existing site at Brookvale. Since opening in July, more than 1,000 women have already had a mammogram at the new location. The service will benefit around 16,000 women aged 50–74 across the Upper Northern Beaches, who now have access to breast screening within 20 minutes of home. The clinic currently has one mammography room, with capacity to expand to two in the future as demand grows. NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said the opening marks a significant step for local women.
SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS Share your news and achievements. Contact the Media and Communications team on 9463 1722 or email NSLHD-media@health.nsw.gov.au to submit your news.
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Back to the future: metal holloware makes a sustainable comeback at RNSH NSLHD has taken a major step towards Erin said the project supported both environmental goals and staff values, with
reducing single-use plastics with the recent launch of the ‘Steel got it!’ project at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH). The project focuses on reintroducing reusable metal holloware such as bowls, kidney dishes and gallipots in operating theatres, replacing the single-use plastic items that have been used since 2018. Each year, RNSH uses more than 51,000 single-use holloware items, costing over $100,000, plus an additional $4,000 for waste disposal. Transitioning back to metal holloware offers significant environmental and financial benefits. Existing metal holloware from the 1960s has been modified to meet current infection control standards, ensuring it can be safely reused. The project is being led by anaesthetics clinical nurse educator and net zero lead Erin Foulsham. The switch is expected to divert approximately 4.25 tonnes of clinical waste from landfill each year and reduce carbon emissions by about 21,000 kilograms annually.
initial feedback proving very positive. “Staff want to see sustainable practices embedded in our daily work, and bringing back metal holloware is a practical way to reduce waste without compromising patient care,” Erin said. “Since launching, we have had resounding feedback from staff, and we are hopeful this can pave the way for similar initiatives to roll out across other hospitals.” An education and awareness program will be rolled out before the full implementation and a post-implementation survey will also be conducted to evaluate staff satisfaction and identify any needed adjustments. This initiative supports NSLHD’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2035 for emissions it can directly influence by addressing the environmental impact of plastic waste generated in hospitals.
RNSH Anaesthetics Clinical Nurse Educator and Net Zero Lead, Erin Foulsham
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Professors James Middleton and Ashley Craig
Researchers work to reduce debilitating spinal cord injury pain
When we think of the impact of a spinal cord injury, we tend to focus on the significant limitations with the loss of mobility, but for a large share of people living with this injury, it’s actually the chronic pain which is one of the most challenging issues to manage long- term. Neuropathic pain affects about 60 per cent of people with a spinal cord injury. It’s generally felt at or below the zone of injury and is often described as sharp, burning, unbearable and even terrifying. It can lead to a range of challenges like depression, catastrophizing or panic thinking, poor sleep, social isolation and reduced physical activity. Professor of Rehabilitation Ashley Craig said medications like antidepressants, antiepileptics and opioids are used to treat neuropathic pain, but they offer limited relief and come with a host of side effects. “Most medications provide only a third of patients with up to a 30 per cent reduction in their pain, while other non-medication approaches have failed to have any real impact,” he said. However, a clinical trial will shortly get underway as a result of a $2.2 million grant through the Medical Research Future Fund. The team from the Kolling Institute’s John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research will
work with national and international experts to investigate the impact of an innovative approach targeting pain pathways in the brain. This new approach will combine direct brain stimulation with an advanced interactive brain-computer neuromodulation therapy. Ashley said both the interventions were showing some promising results, and he was looking forward to measuring the impact of their combined approach. “Chronic pain after a spinal cord injury results in an altered cortical neurochemistry and blood flow resulting in cortical dysrhythmia,” he said. “This is where brain neuromodulation therapy can really help. It involves a non-invasive approach to correcting the dysrhythmia and improving pain. “Interactive brain computer therapy is an extension of established treatments, while direct brain stimulation is a well-tolerated form of non-invasive brain stimulation to promote brain plasticity. “We are keen to test these approaches through the clinical trial and help provide evidenced based guidelines to relieve neuropathic pain and improve outcomes for those living with a chronic spinal cord injury.”
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Research driving change across mental health services Around 100 researchers, clinicians, administrative staff, and community workers from Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol (MHDA) attended the 12th annual MHDA Conference at the Kolling Institute to learn about the latest research and innovations across NSLHD. Opening the event, Professor Gin Malhi, director of the CADE Clinic at Royal North Shore Hospital, RNSH highlighted the crucial research of research in driving change in mental health services. “If you want to improve it, if you want to better it and want to understand it, then you need to examine it. That’s what research is,” he said. “We ask questions.” Keynote speakers also included Associate Professor Mark Montebello who outlined priority areas in drug and alcohol clinical trials, and Cojoint Professor Natalie Cutler who highlighted the importance of translating research into everyday practice. The program featured more than 25 submissions, including 10 posters, nine research presentations, and six quality improvement projects. Several outstanding projects received awards: NSRMHS Professor’s Award: Dr Kelsey Josling and Dr Ralf Ilchef (consultation liaison psychiatry, RNSH) for their work on psychotherapeutic approaches to Functional neurological disorder. Award winners: Best Research Presentation: Alicia Fernandes, Haylee Zink and Lyndal Sherwin (specialist rehabilitation service) for evaluating an online toolkit for people who hear voices. Best poster: Dr Grace Wong and Bonny Puszka Audience vote for best poster: Erica Martin Best Quality Improvement Presentation: Thidar Htun Most Consumer / Carer Focused Presentation: Karen Klarnett and Sarah Mithoefer
Attendees at the 12th annual Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol conference
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WEar it purple day celebrations
Staff across the district marked Wear It Purple Day by wearing purple to show solidarity with LGBTIQ+ youth. Staff marked the event with parades, morning teas, bake-offs, and a Pride+ Network working breakfast, among other events. These events encouraged staff to share ideas, discuss initiatives, and demonstrate solidarity with rainbow youth while promoting inclusion across NSLHD services. Chief Executive Anthony Schembri emphasised the importance of the day. “We celebrate Wear It Purple Day – a day to show LGBTQIA+ young people that they are respected and celebrated,” he said. Anthony also unveiled plans for the NSLHD LGBTIQ+ Health Symposium on Friday 10 October, exploring healthy ageing for LGBTIQ+ people and building more inclusive health and aged care services. The symposium is open to everyone who wishes to attend, RSVP here: https://bit.ly/3HKgXgH
Hornsby Hospital
MHDA celebrations
Mona Vale Hospital
Pride+ Network
NSLHD Exec Unit
RNSH celebrations
RNSH ED celebrations
Digital Health Services
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NSLHD TAP team at Northern Beaches Hospital
A step towards NBH transitioning to NSW Health A team of senior leaders from NSLHD is working at Northern Beaches Hospital as preparations start for the transition of the hospital to the NSW health system.
contractual and financial arrangements in place for Northern Beaches Hospital. NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri said no decision had been made on the future operations of Northern Beaches Hospital. “I want to thank the incredibly professional and committed workforce at Northern Beaches Hospital with whom we share a focus on delivering safe, high-quality care,” Anthony said. “Our team is keen to work collaboratively with the team at Northern Beaches Hospital to fully understand the systems and processes they have in place, building on planning that has been underway for several months now regarding a future transition.”
The Transition, Assessment and Planning team (TAP) will spend the next four weeks working collaboratively at Northern Beaches Hospital to understand the priority areas for transitioning the operation of the hospital. The team consists of up to 15 members from NSLHD in the areas of patient safety and quality, digital health (IT), clinical operations, people and culture, and finance and corporate services. Negotiations continue between the NSW Government, Healthscope and its receivers, including working through the highly complex
Northern Beaches Hospital
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Budget roadshows across the district Budget roadshows were held across the district to illustrate to staff the highlights of the 2024/25 financial year.
“We are still in a period of financial recovery but we have made significant progress to restore our financial position and that is due to the hard work of managers and staff.”
Before getting down to fiscal business, staff were treated to a presentation on the organisation’s achievements, milestones and highlights from services such as digital health and people and culture. Chief Executive Anthony Schembri, Executive Director of Finance Jacqueline Ferguson and Executive Director, Operations Lee Gregory joined general managers at each hospital and services to provide the budget snapshot. Some of the financial highlights were a reduction in nursing overtime, a reduction in spending on goods and services, resulting in a stabilised financial position for NSLHD. For the year ahead, the NSW Health State Budget represents $37.2 billion which is a quarter of the NSW Budget. “I would like to thank all the general managers and executive teams for leading their hospitals and services through some challenging financial times,’’ Anthony said. one of our senior research governance managers has been named a finalist in the NSW Health Research Administrator Awards. NSLHD Research Ethics and Governance Manager Manmeet Suri was recognised for her commitment to improving research governance practices across northern Sydney. The NSW Health Research Administrator Awards are held annually as part of the Research Administrator Appreciation Day. It recognises the contribution of administration teams across NSW Health to high quality research and clinical trials. This year, there are four awards recognising customer service, innovation and leadership.
Hornsby Hospital General Manager Simon Hill at the hospital’s roadshow
Recognition for exceptional research support In a further sign of the expertise at NSLHD,
Manmeet is nominated for the award Empowering Research Administrators Through Leadership.
She said becoming a finalist was exciting and a reminder of the important work the team does behind the scenes to improve access to high quality care. She highlighted the support they receive from the district which enables them to make a meaningful impact.
Manmeet Suri
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NSLHD NEWS | ISSUE 16| 5 SEPTEMBER 2025
Focus on safety and choice in new induction of labour policy For the first time in 25 years, the way women are induced in labour has changed at NSLHD hospitals.
A lower dose of the hormone, oxytocin, is given to some women to induce labour, in a measure Michelle de Vroom, co-clinical director nursing and midwifery directorate/maternal, neonatal and women’s health network, said sometimes women need to have their labour induced artificially. To do this, sometimes an oxytocin infusion is given, which is a synthetic form of the hormone women produce naturally to make the womb contract in labour. Oxytocin is also given afterwards to help birth the placenta and prevent or treat bleeding. The solutions prepared for each situation were different strengths of oxytocin. To minimise any errors, the International Medication Safety Network recommended the same oxytocin infusion concentration be available for labour and prevention and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage. “For more than 25 years in Northern Sydney Local Health District. the regime for both the labour induction infusion and the one used after the birth have remained unchanged,” Michelle said. “The new induction of labour policy places a greater focus on the importance of comprehensive assessments when planning induction of labour and the importance of informed decision-making, trauma-informed care and individualised care, reflecting a woman’s choices around the care they receive.”
Midwives at Royal North Shore Hospital ready for the new induction of labour policy change
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