Message from the board chair Trevor Danos AM
As I look back on 2022, three things feature most prominently in my mind.
• the ongoing rollout and training for the Speaking Up for Safety program
First, it has been an exceptionally challenging year where at times many of us have lost track of time, not helped with the ongoing pandemic, the record rain Sydney has received, coupled with natural disasters and events occurring overseas. I still remember when towards the end of 2021 we thought we had seen the back of the Delta variant of COVID-19 and were expecting things to soon return to normal. And from out of nowhere, came the Omicron variant. But as we prepare to bid farewell to 2022, we should pause to recognise and celebrate the efforts, endurance and resilience of the district’s staff during the year that has been both remarkable and deserving of the highest possible praise. The Board is grateful to each and every one of you who have been such a beacon of professionalism and dedication, routinely putting professional duties ahead of your own personal needs. The Board knows only too well that many of you are very much in need of a well-deserved break. This only highlights the importance of having the best possible holiday at the end of this year, spending time with family and friends, so we can all come back refreshed and recharged for 2023. For those staff who are working over the holidays to continue to care for our patients, I hope you will be afforded some time to rest and recharge as we head into the New Year. Secondly, despite the challenges of 2022, we can look back on many significant achievements within the district. To name but a few:
• the completion of the rebuild of Hornsby Ku- ring-gai Hospital
• the commencement of planning for the new Ryde Hospital
• the launch of the NSLHD 2022-2027 Strategic Plan and the St Leonards Health, Research and Education Precinct Plan
• the hosting of our first NSLHD Consumer Forum
• the restructuring and prioritising of the district’s research efforts, and
• the strengthening of our partnerships with the NORTH Foundation, our university partners, the Sydney North Health Network and a number of NGOs and private hospitals. Another major achievement of 2022 was that we transitioned the leadership of the district from former Chief Executive Deb Willcox to Lee Gregory. A transition of this nature can only occur as successfully and seamlessly as it has because of the strength and talent of the district’s executive team. Thirdly, when we come back in 2023, there are many exciting projects that await. It is a busy pipeline. Some projects will be a continuation of the achievements of 2022 that I have mentioned. Others include working with the Ministry of Health on improved workforce planning and preparing for virtual health, digital health and the better use of big data. I sense that there is a strong desire across our staff and the broader community to take on board the key learnings from the pandemic and to catch up on lost time. Those two factors alone should also ensure it will be a busy, exciting and productive 2023.
• the successful accreditation of four of our hospitals and services
• the impressive and important work we have started and continued in diversity, belonging and inclusion and in planetary health and sustainability
Trevor Danos AM Board Chair Northern Sydney Local Health District
NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 23| 1 DECEMBER 2022
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