Kindness goes a long way If you have ever visited Royal North Shore Hospital, you may have been greeted by Tony Crowe or Michael Mouatt who are part of the front desk concierge team. Only too happy to help someone in need, the pair has been recognised for the kindness they showed a recent visitor to the hospital who was in distress after his partner had severed his finger in a power tool accident.
“One of our patients emailed that his partner was in theatres close to having a finger amputated. We looked after him, supported him, kept him in the loop,” Tony said. “People recognise when you show kindness and care. Michael added: “Sometimes you don’t realise that small acts go a long way.”
The man was visiting his husband, who at the time was undergoing a lengthy surgery. While waiting near the front entry, both Tony and Michael checked on the visitor, ensuring he was comfortable and well looked after. Touched by their kindness and empathy, the patient’s husband wrote a letter to the hospital to praise the pair. NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri presented each with an Emblem of Kindness, a pin that recognises an individual’s act of kindness, as part of an initiative of NSW Health.
Chief Executive Anthony Schembri, Michael Crowe, Tony Moutt, Steven Thibault and Alison Zecchin at Royal North Shore Hospital
Kangaroo Care supports babies and families at Northern Beaches Hospital
Northern Beaches Hospital’s Special Care Unit is celebrating Kangaroo-a-thon Week, highlighting the important role of Kangaroo Care in supporting babies and families. Kangaroo Care involves skin-to-skin contact between a parent and baby and can support bonding, breastfeeding, temperature regulation, respiratory stability, growth and neurodevelopment.
thing I wanted to do,” she said. “It calms the nervous system, calms them from the overstimulation of birth and stabilises their observations. “There are so many benefits, it is the best.” Northern Beaches Hospital’s Special Care Unit is also one of the few neonatal units in NSW with dedicated mothers’ beds located alongside neonatal cots.
For baby Claudette, who was born five weeks premature and needed respiratory support in the special care unit shortly after birth, Kangaroo Care helped provide comfort and connection in her first hours. When her mum Tayla arrived from the birth unit, the first thing she wanted to do was hold Claudette skin-to-skin. The pair remained together in Kangaroo Care until the early morning. Tayla said being able to hold Claudette skin-to-skin was an important part of their early care experience. “Having her skin-to-skin was the first
Northern Beaches Hospital’s Special Care Unit staff with baby Claudette and mum Tayla
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