NEWS NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT NSLHD
Main story Short blurb Crucial steps towards gene therapy for meniere’s disease PAGE 7
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research driving development of new implants Page 6
AYAH receives generous donation Page 8
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Message from the chief executive Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM
Dear colleagues, Last week, we marked R U OK? Day – a powerful reminder to check in with friends, family, and colleagues. This year’s theme, “Ask R U OK? Any Day,” highlights the importance of ongoing conversations that could potentially change lives. As we enter Mental Health Month in October, let’s continue to prioritise well- being and support those around us. At NSLHD we are always looking at ways to ensure we are inclusive and accessible to everyone in our community. I was pleased to see that NSW Health has recently launched a new toolkit aimed at ensuring our messages are clear and accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities or those who may find reading challenging. This is a significant step forward in making our communication truly inclusive. The NSW Health Accessible Communications Policy is now available that outlines how we can make information clear across all formats and the toolkit of useful resources is also provided to through an accessibility resource website which you can find using this link: https://bit. ly/3ZnUWLf On 17 September, the district’s Advancing Women in Medical Leadership (AWiML) Group hosted its second masterclass, Managing Challenging Colleague Behaviours. I was delighted to see that over 290 people registered to attend this hybrid event, and I very much enjoyed hearing the insights shared by Adjunct Professor Claire Harris and Dr Danette Wright. Please keep an eye out for the next AWiML masterclass. Our Virtual Town Hall on 19 September was a great opportunity to share important updates on our district including our performance, financial outlook and ongoing initiatives and an update on the Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR).
The roll out of the SDPR is incredibly exciting and is one of the biggest digital health transformations in Australia. It will offer a secure, holistic, and integrated view of patient care across NSW Health, allowing clinicians to access real-time medical information from a single source. A recording of the All Staff Virtual Town hall will be available on the home page of the intranet. I have received great feedback on our Virtual All Staff Town Hall meetings which are proving to be another valuable way to engage with staff and receive feedback. I am delighted to share that our next Virtual All Staff Town Hall on 30 September will be co-hosted by myself and Susan Pearce AM, NSW Health Secretary. This special session will provide an opportunity for staff across the district to engage directly with the Secretary and discuss topics of interest regarding the NSW Health system. Whether you have questions about ongoing initiatives, future plans, or specific areas of interest, this is your chance to engage. I encourage you to send your questions in advance to NSLHD-Exec- OfficeoftheChiefExecutive@health.nsw.gov. au I am exceptionally proud of our work at NSLHD, and I very much value your feedback. If you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. Kind regards,
Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 18| 20 SEPTEMBER 2024
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Danielle proudly holds her awarded cheque alongside David Chapman, Manager of the Respiratory Investigation Unit/Respiratory Scientist, at the 2024 Innovation Pitch Program, with Chief Executive Anthony Schembri RNSH Revamps Functional Breathing Disorder Care Diagnosing functional breathing disorders will be far easier thanks to a new pathway being developed at Royal North Shore Hospital. As part of the Innovation Pitch Program, RNSH clinical specialist speech pathologist Danielle Stone and the RNSH respiratory medicine team put forward an idea for funding that would see more functional breathing disorders diagnosed and treated. Danielle’s pitch ‘Take my Breath(lessness) Away!’ wowed the judges and the project received $86,000 worth of funding to get underway as part of the district’s innovation efforts. The pathway, which will be known as the RNSH Functional Breathing Disorder Diagnostic Service, will improve quality of life for patients with breathing disorders by reducing delays in diagnosis, implementing individualised assessment and treatment and reducing unnecessary medication use. Development of the pathway will then involve a series of steps with the end goal of having a multidisciplinary team including speech pathology, physiotherapy, and respiratory medicine formed to assess functional breathing disorders on an ongoing basis. Danielle said the pathway will lead to improved outcomes for patients and the wider health service. “The pathway will enhance patients’ quality of life by shortening diagnosis times, offering personalised assessments and treatments, and reducing unnecessary medication use through earlier access to the right services,” she said. “We anticipate improved health service outcomes, with fewer emergency department presentations, respiratory ward admissions, and a reduction in repeat outpatient clinic visits. “Staff experience in the emergency department will also benefit from a better understanding of functional breathing presentations, along with access to more suitable diagnostic pathways, helping reduce the burden on respiratory consult time and outpatient clinics.” Danielle and her team have already made some inroads to the project in a short period of time. The team has attained ethics approval to research innovative ways to assess functional breathing disorders and have started recruiting control participants to compare findings to disordered groups. Custom moulded headgear equipment has also been developed in collaboration with students from the University of Technology Sydney which will be used to test patients who may have exercise induced vocal cord dysfunction. Danielle thanked the Innovation Pitch Program judges and the wider district for programs that enable staff to implement innovative projects to improve health outcomes. “It’s a privilege to be named a winner in such a fantastic program with many worthy submissions,” she said. “I’d like to thank the judges, the Chief Executive and the Board for their support in providing opportunities to innovate.”
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Professor Bill Walter
Research driving the development of new implants Researchers at the Kolling Institute have joined with international collaborators to develop a revolutionary implant for hip replacements. The ceramic implant, designed for hip Female patients also benefitted from the procedure, marking a significant development for the surgery.
“In the past, resurfacing has not worked well in female patients but with the ceramic on ceramic resurfacing, we’re getting very good results.” The ceramic device also alleviates concerns around metal toxicity with the traditional implants. Currently about 50,000 hip replacements are performed in Australia each year, with resurfacing procedures representing less than one per cent. Bill said that trend is expected to change, with up to 50 per cent of patients potentially eligible for resurfacing. Full Therapeutic Goods Administration approval is expected this year, with further studies to examine the long-term results of the ceramic resurfacing implants.
resurfacing procedures, doesn’t require the long stem used in common hip replacements. This means surgeons are not removing the bone which they would generally remove for a hip replacement. Professor Bill Walter, a leading surgeon at RNSH and investigator with the Murray Maxwell Biomechanics Lab, said that with this approach, the hip feels more natural and is a bit stronger, particularly for activities such as running and jumping. “Importantly, feedback from patients has informed the development of the device,” he said. “Patients reported excellent pain and symptom relief, and 45 per cent of patients returned to high-level sports.”
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NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 18| 20 SEPTEMBER 2024
Associate Professor Claire Harris (far left) with MHDA Clinical Nurse Consultants
NSLHD Hosts CNC/CMC Professional Development Day Almost 100 clinical nurse consultants
Sydney, encouraged participants to rethink “low value” practices and explore innovative research opportunities. Many CNCs from the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol (MHDA) sector also attended, using the event to connect and discuss evolving roles in healthcare. “The day truly showcased the power of collaboration and innovation in driving healthcare forward,” said Claire. “It was inspiring to see such enthusiasm from our CNC and CMC teams.” Feedback from the event will help shape future sessions, fostering continuous growth and development for CNCs and CMCs across the district.
(CNCs) and clinical midwifery consultants (CMCs) recently gathered for a professional development day. The event provided attendees with a valuable opportunity to network and explore advancements in healthcare. The event was opened by Associate Professor Claire Harris, Executive Director Nusring and Midwifery Services. Engaging presentations were delivered on a range of key topics, including advanced nursing practice, the Single Digital Patient Record, and the use of articifial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. One of the standout sessions, led by Associate Professor Eamon Merrick and Dr Natalie Cutler from University of Technology
Health Information Week a success Health Information Services manage all health records across the district. The team makes sure that health information is correct and complete, and provides access for clinicians and patients to track records. The team recently held webinars across the district to empower more staff about health information management, and share insights into the field’s future. Health Information Services’ executive officer Candice Both said more than 300 staff got involved. “Health Information Week 2024 (held 19th- 23rd August) was a huge success,” she said. “It is vital to ensuring research, innovation and digital advances inform and improve the delivery of patient care.”
The Health Information Services Team spread the word
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AYAH supporters officially launch the vehicle
Community Drives Support for AYAH Thanks to the generosity of Community Bank Freshwater and the Rotary Club of Manly, the Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice (AYAH) now has an accessible bus. This new addition will provide increased independence and freedom for patients and their families during their stay at the hospice. Local Member for Manly, James Griffin played a key role in securing the donation and has championed the hospice since its early days. “It only took two phone calls, one to Community Bank Freshwater and the other to the Rotary Club of Manly, for them to come up with $100k plus to purchase the bus. That is the sort of community spirit, the effort of rallying together to make something happen, that makes our community so special,” he said. To celebrate the donation, a community event was held at Pilu, Freshwater, where $50,000 was raised for the hospice in addition to the funds for the vehicle. The vehicle has the capacity for two wheelchair patients in addition to seven other accessible seats. Tayia Yates, Service Manager, AYAH said that the bus has made a world of difference. “This accessible bus opens up so many possibilities for our patients and their families. It gives them the freedom to travel, explore, and enjoy the surrounding area during their time with us,” she said. “We are beyond thankful to the community for their support.”
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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NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 18| 20 SEPTEMBER 2024
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Crucial steps towards gene therapy for Meniere’s disease Researchers at the Kolling Institute are pioneering Meniere’s disease research, developing the first humanised model of the disease in preparation for gene therapy. Led by world-renowned Meniere’s expert Professor Jose Antonio Lopez-Escamez, the team is progressing toward precision medicine and gene therapy which they expect within 10 years. As Meniere’s presents differently in individuals, personalised treatment is essential.
for patients affected by vertigo and hearing loss. “We’re making strides in understanding the genetic basis of the disease, finding that many patients have recessive inheritance, where both parents are carriers,” Antonio said. poorly understood but is now linked to factors like immune-response inflammation, allergy, and migraine. The team is now investigating genetic He explained that Meniere’s was once mutations in preclinical models—a critical step towards gene therapy,
Back on track: Phillip and his wife Annette
Professor Jose Antonio Lopez-Escamez (left) with his research team
NSLHD’s Youngest readers Baby Noah (pictured) at a few weeks old is already a voracious reader. In celebration of International Literacy Day, Royal North Shore Hospital’s maternity and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) received a special delivery of books. This initiative, spearheaded by the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA), Sydney North Local Council, aims to encourage the joy of reading from a child’s earliest days. The books, generously donated each year, are wrapped and accompanied by a brochure highlighting the importance of reading to babies from birth. The idea was brought to life by Wendy Bean, a dedicated volunteer who has been donating books to RNSH for the past 17 years. “We give these books to newborn babies to encourage reading and literacy, which has so many benefits,” said Wendy. “It’s very special to give books to babies born on or near World Literary Day. I have been doing this for 17 years and I’m excited for many more.”
The books serve as a gentle reminder of the power of literacy, encouraging parents to begin reading to their babies, even in their earliest days, fostering a lifelong love of books and learning.
Bernadette and baby Noah sharing a special moment with Wendy Bean
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Sepsis is a time‑critical medical emergency Think sepsis until you rule it out
Use the QR code to access the CEC sepsis pathways
PATIENTS AND FAMILIES MAY ASK ‘COULD IT BE SEPSIS?’
LISTEN Listen to the concerns Listen and validate their concerns: ‘I understand you are worried about sepsis because …’
LOOK Look for signs of sepsis and use a sepsis pathway Look for signs of infection plus haemodynamic and/or respiratory changes and/or new altered mental state.
ACT Communicate for safety Communicate clearly. Escalate care. Keep everyone informed about next steps. Not sepsis? Give specific instructions to the patient/family on when to re-escalate or return and tell them what to say.
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