August 2025
Celebrating National Stroke Week @ Ryde National Stroke Week in Australia was held from 4 August – 10 August 2025. To mark and support Stroke awareness Ryde hosted a vibrant and educational event focusing on stroke awareness, prevention and early detection. Our Roadshow to the wards ensured patients and staff who couldn't attend the main event still received key information. Key activities during the week included offering blood pressure checks for staff and visitors, providing valuable insights into individual health status and potential stroke risk. Stroke education sessions focused on identifying risk factors, promoting healthy lifestyle choices and underscoring the importance of regular health check-ups. The team emphasised lifestyle modifications known to reduce stroke risk, such as maintaining a varied and nutritious diet, increasing physical activity, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption. We also showcased the Stroke Riskometer app, a practical tool that helps individuals assess their personal stroke risk based on their unique health profile. In addition, we discussed the acronym ‘BEFAST’ as a quick-reference guide to recognising early stroke symptoms - Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech and Time, highlighting the importance of early detection and timely response. Finshing the fun with some healthy competition we ran an interactive Stroke Quiz, where participants tested their knowledge and received small prizes in the form of healthy snacks, which highlighted the importance of making the right food choices for good health. Congratulations to our Ryde Stroke Quiz winnder - 1 st Prize Maureen Elliott, NUM ward 8, 2 nd Prize Linta Manuvel, CNE ward 3 and 3 rd Prize Catt Pash, Speech Pathologist. The event was a great success, sparking strong engagement and empowering attendees to take proactive steps for stroke prevention and early detection! Well done team!
A/General Manager’s Message Everyone is feeling the relief of the spring weather this week, with a lift in mood and a feeling that we have turned the corner after a busy winter. I would like to thank everyone for their above and beyond efforts to continue providing kind and compassionate care to our patients during the busy period. If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to complete the People Matters Employee survey. Your feedback helps us understand the strengths of our hospital, but also where we can improve and make Ryde Hospital a better place to work.
It was great to see the new Rehabilitation Smart Car that was donated by The North Foundation reach it’s final place in the therapy garden, fitting in the
Graythwait lift by a slither! The car will help patients to practice the practical skill of being able to get in and out of a car as part of their therapy programme.
Contents
National Stroke Week
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Welcome to Ryde
13 14 15 16 17 19
A/General Manager’s Message
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Ryde Shines: Staff & Service Wins Patient Experience / Staff Compliments
Ryde Redevelopment
2025 People Matter Employee Survey (PMES)
Library Update
Straight from the Nursing Station
Hands that Help – Volunteers Update
Allied Health All-Stars
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Noticeboard
Inside Medicine
Newsletter is for Ryde Hospital Staff by Ryde Hospital Staff. Please email items of interest to: sarah.ryrie@health.nsw.gov.au
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Ryde Redevelopment
Redevelopment Update
🛠️ Setting the Stage :
Site establishment is complete, with hoarding and fencing now firmly in place.
💥 Out with the Old : Demolition works are in full swing and will continue through to the end of August.
⛏️ Breaking Ground : Piling and earthworks have kicked off - think big machines, deep holes, and serious progress.
🚑 Ambulance Lane Makeover : Road-lowering works are well underway and looking to wrap up in mid-September.
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Future Planning – get involved!
🗓️ Just arrived: As part of the Ryde Hospital Redevelopment, we’re continuing our work to improve patient outcomes, safety, and experience through the development of innovative, evidence-based Models of Care/Service. An Expression of Interest (EOI) is now open for staff to join Model of Care Working Groups. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute your expertise, share your passion, and help shape the way we deliver care into the future.
What’s involved? • Joining fortnightly or monthly meetings • Providing input into draft Models of Care • Reviewing and giving feedback before final endorsement
Working Group Program:
• Sep–Dec 2025: Ambulatory Care, Food Services, Cardiology, Respiratory, Urology, ICU, Neurology/Stroke, Emergency, Paediatrics • Jan–Mar 2026: Surgical Services, Aged Care/Geriatric, Dementia Delirium, CSSD, Gastroenterology, General Medicine, Palliative Care, Pathology, Pharmacy, Endocrinology, Medical Imaging • Apr–Jun 2026: Aboriginal Health, Transit Unit, Security, Midwifery, Rehabilitation
How to apply: • Speak with your manager for approval • Scan the QR code to complete the EOI form or EOI Form This inclusive process ensures our Models of Care are practical, sustainable, and shaped by those who deliver and enable care every day. Successful applicants (and their managers) will be notified by email. Looking Ahead to Early 2026: Another EOI will be released for staff to join Operational User Groups. These will focus on specific departments - so if it’s part of your day-to- day, we’d love you in the room helping shape how things run!
The redevelopment team is committed to keeping staff informed and minimising impacts during contruction. Contact the project team at rydehospitalredev@health.nsw.gov.au, or using our ‘Construction Noise and Vibration’ form is still available Construction Noise and Vibration Form should you want to provide feedback.
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People Matter Employee Survey (PMES) 2025 PMES – Your Voice Matters World-class care is only possible because of the dedication of our people at NSW Health. Each of you make a difference every day, to your colleagues, patients, carers and the community. To ensure you feel valued, engaged, and supported, it’s important we hear your voice. The 2025 People Matter Employee Survey (PMES) is now open! Please complete your survey by visiting NSW People Matter Employee Survey 2025 . This is your chance to share anonymous feedback about your experience working here, what’s working well and where we can improve.
Open: 18 August–12 September 2025 🕒 Time to complete: 10–15 minutes 🔒 Confidential: All responses are anonymous.
Need help? Our PMES Champions are available to assist and will be running support sessions in the Bluegum Lodge and Piccolo Me throughout the survey period (see page 7). There will also be Piccolo Me coffee vouchers for staff who complete the survey, but numbers are limited so be sure to complete your survey now!
Please share your thoughts and let us know how we can better support you in your work. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences and helping to make NSW Health an even better place to work.
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Straight from the Nursing Station
Refreshing our EPJB Meetings…whilst keeping our Ryde flare
We’re excited to share, based on your feedback and what we’ve seen ourselves, we’re starting discussions on refreshing our Electronic Patient Journey Board (EPJB) morning ward meetings.
These meetings are already one of the ways we shine as a team, they’re well attended, full of collaboration and help us coordinate care. Thank you to everyone who makes them work so well each day! With just a few tweaks, we can make them even better.
What you’ve told us (and what we’ve noticed too)
• ✅ EPJBs are well attended and encourage teamwork. • ⏳ Meetings can run long (20–50 minutes) with pauses while waiting for teams. • 💬 Sometimes one patient’s discussion takes up too much time. • 📅 Estimated Date of Discharge (EDD) aren’t always consistently discussed. • 💻 The Patient Flow Portal (PFP) is often updated after the meeting rather than during, which limits its real-time usefulness. • 📊 We have a high rate of EDD entry into the PFP, but accuracy is lower and updates don’t always reflect changing patient priorities during admissions. • 🤔 Staff are asking if meetings should be face-to-face, online or hybrid to support better attendance.
What we’re working on first
Together as a Project Team, we will be: •
📝 Creating a standard script so meetings run smoothly across wards. • 📅 Setting a clearer EDD process –who calculates it, when and who enters it into PFP during the meeting. • ⏱️ Making scheduling and timing consistent so meetings stay focused. • 👩⚕️ Strengthening leadership – meetings led by NUMs or nursing leads, with medical and allied health input. • 💻 Exploring meeting formats –face-to-face, online, or hybrid and location. • 🌟 Staying in line with other sites but keeping our own Ryde Flare.
Why EDDs matter
The EDD is when the multidisciplinary team agrees a patient will be clinically ready to move to their next phase of care. Accurate, timely EDDs means:
• Staff, patients and carers share a clear plan. • Discharge planning is smoother and more coordinated. • Patient flow across the hospital improves.
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Reminder: An EDD should be entered through the Patient Flow Portal within 24 hours of admission and updated consistently and continuously as patient priorities change throughout their admission. We hope to have the above revamp ready for mid-September, there will be lots on consultation and refresher sessions provided before this date and Executive presence on the wards, so we are all feeling confident and ready to tweak our current process.
Who’s leading this work?
This project is being led by Sarah Ryrie, our new Clinical Redesign and Innovation Manager, with Jenny McConnell as sponsor.
Sarah will be visiting all wards and departments in the coming weeks to introduce herself, listen to your feedback and see how EPJBs are working in practice.
Got ideas? You are part of the team shaping this, so please email Sarah directly if you have any great ideas or concerns at sarah.ryrie@health.nsw.gov.au.
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Allied Health All-Stars
What’s Dys all about? – our Ryde Speech Pathologists speak fluent Dys ….
During the week of the 24 August – 30 August 2025, we celebrated National Speech Pathology Week! The aim of this week is to raise awareness of communication and swallowing disorders affecting over 1.1million Australians. At Ryde Hospital, our Speech Pathology team plays a vital role in patient care, providing expert assessment and management of adult communication and swallowing difficulties. They support patients across a wide range of conditions, including: ✓ Dysphagia - Difficulties swallowing. If left untreated, dysphagia can have serious consequences, including choking and aspiration pneumonia (chest infections). Ryde Hospital has access to gold- standard dysphagia assessment tools, including Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) which can be performed onsite by credentialed Speech Pathologists and Video- Fluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS) via the Royal North Shore Hospital clinic. ✓ Aphasia - Language impairment caused by damage to the language centers in the brain. About 1 in 3 people who have a stroke will have aphasia. Symptoms can vary, including word finding difficulties (anomia), difficulties understanding others, trouble using full sentences or talking excessively but not making sense. ✓ Cognitive Communication Impairment - When changes to thinking skills impact the way a person interacts with others. Traumatic Brain Injury and strokes on the right side of the brain or in the frontal lobes are common causes. A person with a cognitive communication impairment may have difficulties knowing when to change topics, get distracted easily, have difficulty sequencing their ideas or laugh and cry at inappropriate times. ✓ Dysarthria - Difficulties using the muscles of the lips and tongue to make speech sounds (e.g. slurred speech). Sound errors are consistent. It can be very difficult to understand a person with dysarthria, especially over the phone. ✓ Dyspraxia (Apraxia of Speech) - Difficulties coordinating the muscles of the lips and tongue to make speech sounds. People with Apraxia of Speech will have inconsistent sound errors, have more difficulty with longer words/phrases and can often be seen moving their mouth a lot before they start speaking. They can usually say common phrases such as “Hi, how are you?” with no trouble, because these phrases are so well-rehearsed that they require less effort to coordinate compared to a new sentence.
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✓ Dysphonia - Voice disorder. People with dysphonia can sound breathy, rough, strained or have a voice that is too soft. There are multiple causes, including structural changes to the vocal cords (e.g. tumor, nodules or intubation injury), changes to the nerves (e.g. after stroke, or surgery), or because of habitual use of poor motor patterns (e.g. muscle tension dysphonia).
Speech Pathologists do many things, but at the heart of their work is empowering people to speak with confidence and to enjoy eating and drinking.
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Inside Medicine
Diabetes Service: Patient Technology Insight for Doctors
Continuous Glucose Measurement (CGM) is becoming more commonly used by patients with diabetes to measure the effect that food and fluids have on their Blood Glucose Level (BGL), allowing them to have better information about the effects of their medication. CGM involves using an app to take a BGL reading. This information can be shared with the patients GP, Diabetes Educator or any other members of their Diabetes Team.
Over the last 2 weeks, our Endocrinology Advanced Trainee Dr Nardeen Habashy, together with the Diabetes Education Team, arranged for our Junior Medical Doctors (JMOs) to have an educational workshop and the opportunity to have first- hand experience with this technology.
Devices were kindly supplied by FreeStyle Libre ( Abbott ) and our JMOs were able to download the app, experience placing the monitoring device and watch the effect their lifestyle and eating habits had on their BGLs over the following week. This opportunity was enthusiastically received and upwards of 20 young doctors now better understand what their patients go through daily in managing their condition.
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Welcome to Ryde
Ryde Hospital welcomed the following new staff joining our wonderful teams making a difference in our patient care every single day.
Arianna Atienza – Allied Health Assistant Arianna is a 3rd-year Physiotherapy student who has joined us as a Casual Allied Health Assistant, providing support when needed. We appreciate you making her feel welcome and thank you for sharing this information with your teams.
Nimisha Johns – Allied Health Assistant Nimisha is a 3rd-year Physiotherapy student who has joined us as a Casual Allied Health Assistant to provide support as needed. Thank you for welcoming her and for sharing this information with your teams.
Abey Stephen – Sterilising Services Manager I began my career at Hurstville Private Hospital in 2013, progressing from Technician to Coordinator and Acting Manager. I later joined the Sterilising Services Department at Royal North Shore Hospital, where I advanced to Supervisor and Perfusion Equipment Reprocessing Coordinator and have also provided supervisory support at Ryde Hospital. I have acted as Educator at both RNSH and Ryde, supporting staff training, endoscope reprocessing and the implementation of AS5369, with a strong focus on patient safety and high standards in sterilisation services. Since 2013, I have also been an active member of the Sterilisation Advisory Council of Australia (SRACA).
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Ryde Shines: Staff & Service Wins
GET SMART!
In July 2023, two Occupational Therapists, as part of the wider Allied Health team at Ryde, were successful in receiving a grant for $10, 000 from the North Foundation to purchase a Smart Car for the Ryde site. The Car will provide an option for patients to practice the practical skill of being able to get in and out of a car as part of their therapy programme.
Last week our Smart Car finally arrived at its final destination in the Graythwaite Rehab Centre Outdoor Therapy Garden space.
It’s been a great example of how the Ryde Hospital team works together and a big thanks extends to Engineering for ensuring this was practically possible! Further funding was also received to upgrade the Outdoor Therapy Garden – coming soon!
We are launching a “Name the Smart Car competition” encouraging patients, families and staff to take part! Use the QR code to register your Smart Car name
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Patient Experience / Staff Compliments
• Doctors were very attentive and made every effort to treat me and find solutions. Staff were friendly and caring – the Korean staff made me feel very comfortable as I could communicate with them in my first language. – Ward 8 • The staff were fantastic, supportive, and encouraging. – Ward 6 • The nursing staff’s attitude was so helpful in every way. The doctors were very helpful and caring, and the physio staff worked hard at helping me. It was a very cooperative and harmonious environment. – Ward GR4 • The staff are next level. Not only the doctors and nurses but also the staff taking meal orders and the people at emergency. Thank you to all for making me feel safe when I was so scared! – Ward 6 • The medical team were very professional and were able to diagnose and medicate me early so I didn’t have to stay at the hospital for too long. – Ward ICU • All of the nursing staff, most of the auxiliary staff, and most of the doctors are caring, patient, and understanding. They really do their chosen profession very well. I have never had any serious issues during my visits, whether short or longer term. – Ward 8
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Library Updates
R U OK?
Thursday 11 September is R U OK? Day and NSLHD Libraries want you to know that we are here to support Ryde Hospital staff in any way we can.
Wellbeing Resources
Browse more titles on wellbeing from NSLHD Libraries
Our Health & Wellbeing Subject Guide provides a wide range of resources on clinician health and wellbeing topics, including burnout, compassion fatigue, resilience and more.
Let us help Did you know NSLHD Libraries can assist with your work-related projects? Our librarians can help you find evidence, provide you with access to journals, ebooks and databases, offer training, and conduct research consultations. Learn more about our services for NSLHD staff. We are here to help! Visit us Ryde Hospital Library provides a quiet space for hospital staff to use however you need. We can provide you with a quiet space to work on a computer, a private room to take a call, help with a work project or a comfortable couch to relax while on a break. Ryde Hospital Library is located in ELCA, above Emergency. The Library is available to NSLHD staff 24/7, and our friendly library staff are available from 8am –4pm Monday to Friday.
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Hands that Help-Volunteer Updates
Celebrating 12 Years of Dedication – Thank you Faye!
This month we extend our heartfelt thanks to Faye Heriot, who has been a valued volunteer at Ryde Hospital for the past 12 years. Faye has generously given her time, energy, and compassion to support our patients, visitors, and staff. Over the years, she has become a familiar and friendly face within our hospital community, always offering a warm smile and a helping hand.
Not only has Faye supported our teams on the ground, but she has also brought joy in her own creative way, making hundreds of tea cosies, all our knitted Easter chickens and various other knitted items to keep us all warm. These thoughtful touches have become a much-loved tradition at Ryde, spreading comfort and cheer throughout the hospital.
Her commitment to service has made a real difference in the lives of so many, reflecting the true spirit of care and community that Ryde Hospital is proud to uphold. We are deeply grateful for Faye’s ongoing
dedication and the countless hours she has contributed. Her kindness and commitment embody the values we strive to live by each day, and we are fortunate to have her as part of our Ryde Hospital family.
On behalf of the entire hospital community, thank you, Faye, for 12 wonderful years of service, and we wish you all the very best for your next big adventure.
Join the Pink Ladies & Wayfinders at Ryde Hospital
We’re calling on kind-hearted community members and staff to become part of something special. Volunteers play a vital role in welcoming, guiding, and supporting patients and visitors across our hospital, and we’d love for you to join us. Over the past year alone, the Pink Ladies have donated more than $26,687 worth of equipment and services, including a bladder scanner replacement for Ward 8, CADD Solis Pain Care Pumps, Laerdal training equipment and even the annual subscription for Jackson, the Delta Therapy Dog. Through fundraising activities, they raised a further $21,000 to continue their mission. With Faye’s retirement, the team is now proudly led by Anne Maher (President) and Kym Lamb (Vice-President).
Who are the Pink Ladies? Friendly volunteers who offer comfort and connection — chatting with patients, helping in waiting areas, delivering small items, or lending a listening ear. What do Wayfinders do? They are the first smile people see when they enter Ryde Hospital, guiding visitors to departments, helping them feel calm and confident, and making sure no one feels lost.
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Why join?
Be part of a proud volunteer tradition
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• Brighten someone’s day just by showing up • Share your time and kindness in a truly meaningful way • Support a group whose efforts fund life-changing resources for our hospital
Ready to get started? Scanning our QR code will take you to a website you can register your interest! Let’s grow our team of warm-hearted volunteers and continue making Ryde a place of true care and community.
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Noticeboard
Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are being sought for temporary work secondments.
Current employees of NSLHD are eligible to apply. Please ensure you have received approval from your current manager to be released for secondment prior to applying for any of these roles.
EOIs and Internal Vacancy Notices (IVNs) are available to be viewed on the Employee Services intranet page.
This page will be updated regularly and communicated weekly via the Weekly Bulletin. EOIs and IVNs will no longer be emailed to all staff separately.
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Wellbeing Support is Always Available
At Ryde, we recognise that our people are our greatest strength. To continue providing the best care to others, it’s important to look after ourselves too. That’s why all staff have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), delivered by PeopleSense.
The EAP is a free, completely confidential service that offers: • Counselling and coaching to support your mental health and wellbeing • Guidance for work-related challenges such as stress, workload, or conflict • Support with personal matters, including relationships, financial pressures, grief, or lifestyle changes • Practical strategies to build resilience and manage life’s ups and downs
You don’t need to wait until things feel overwhelming, the EAP is here as a safe, supportive space whenever you need it.
📞 For confidential support, call 1300 307 912 at any time. Your wellbeing matters. Reaching out for support is a strength, not a weakness.
Boost your take-home pay with Salary Packaging e
Did you know NSW Health staff have access to a salary packaging program that could put more money in your pocket each pay cycle? Through SalaryPackagingPLUS, eligible staff can use part of their pre- tax salary to pay for everyday expenses. This lowers your taxable income and means more take-home pay for you. What can I package? • Living expenses–up to $9,009 (e.g. mortgage, rent, car repayments, credit cards) • Meal entertainment –up to $2,650 (dining out, catering, events) • Additional benefits–such as novated vehicle leasing, relocation costs, or remote area housing (depending on your role and award) • Why consider it? • More take-home pay without changing your salary • Use pre-tax dollars for things you already spend on • Access vehicle leasing and other benefits • Safe, secure, and fully compliant with ATO guidelines
Ready to get started? •
Visit Intranet link What is salary packaging? And other FAQs
Don’t miss out on a chance to take home more of what you earn–salary packaging is available to you now!
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