(Left to right): Health Infrastructure, Senior Project Director Henry Lau, Health Infrastructure Chief Executive Rebecca Wark, NSLHD Chief Executive Deb Willcox and NSLHD Board Chair Trevor Danos AM
construction begins at new hospice Construction has commenced on Australia’s first $19.5 million dedicated palliative care hospice for young people living with an incurable illness.
for patients after they leave Manly’s Bear Cottage. “There will be the respite for Matthew and he will be able to go and see his friends,” she said. “It’s just going to make a world of difference to us.” Construction of the hospice is scheduled for completion in late 2022 and is funded by the NSW and Federal Governments as well as generous community donations. Health Infrastructure is working closely with the Northern Sydney Local Health District and expert clinicians to deliver the hospice, which will be located at the former Manly Hospital site on the North Head headland. For further information and to support the Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice, visit www.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Manly.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian joined Member for Manly James Griffin and Federal Senator Andrew Bragg for the turning of the first sod. Generous donor Kay Van Norton Poche, who has made the project possible, also rolled up her sleeves and grabbed a shovel to mark the start of the works. Former Bear Cottage patients Matthew Van Hoek and Scott Green were also welcomed to the site, which they will be able to visit upon its completion. “Without places like this adult hospice, people like me don’t really have many places to go,” Scott said. Matthew’s mum Debbie Van Hoek said the new facility would provide a bridge improving patient experience Our staff recently celebrated Patient Experience Week where we asked ourselves and our patients what makes a good patient experience. Staff across the district are passionate about improving the experience of patients. Patient experience is defined as the sum of all interactions, shaped by our culture, that influence patient perceptions across the continuum of care. Chief Executive Deb Willcox said: “It doesn’t matter how small our actions are when it comes to elevating a patient’s experience: it could be a warm smile, listening, even the way in which we address our patients can improve their stay in our hospitals.”
Here are a couple of photos from staff and a patient at Hornsby Hospital.
WWW.NSLHD.HEALTH.NSW.GOV.AU
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