Message FROM the acting Chief executive Dr Tamsin Waterhouse
message FROM the Chief executive Deb Willcox
Welcome back- I hope everyone had an enjoyable break or managed to take some time off. To those of you who worked and cared for our patients, I would like to say a huge thank you. At a time meant for holidays, family and rest, so much of NSW was devastated by bushfire. Our devoted staff have been giving their time as volunteers in the Rural Fire Brigade to fight the fires. NSLHD is working with our colleagues in bushfire affected districts. There are clinical staff who have volunteered to lend a hand to Murrumbidgee and Southern NSW local health districts as part of the NSW Health response. Staff are working alongside their counterparts in the districts to provide support and clinical care to isolated communities, hospitals and multipurpose facilities. A group of nurses, social workers and a medical officer are based at Wagga Wagga while a mental health team is assisting in the community in Bega. I would like to thank all staff who put their hand up to be deployed to help. This generosity is one of the few joys in such a terrible time. I would also like to thank Counter Disaster Unit Manager Louise Barker-Allner and A/Director of Nursing and Midwifery Jenny Neilsen for all their efforts in organising our quick response to communities in need. At the same time, I would also like to acknowledge our staff who are caring for the patients from the Mt White volcano tragedy. It has been an incredibly distressing time for these patients, some who have lost loved ones, and our staff have carried out remarkable acts of kindness. The new year welcomes new Junior Medical Officers who have started their careers as doctors in hospitals in our LHD. I had the pleasure of meeting the new doctors on their
first day and I wish them well as they embark on their career. They are all part of the highly valued staff in our district. The district is doing some very important work to care for the wellbeing of our JMO workforce, led by our JMOs, and I look forward to bringing you more news about this soon. Every year when the Australian Day honours are announced, inevitably staff in this local health district are honoured. Congratulations to Professor Bruce Robinson who has been awarded the highest honour in the Australia Day honours. Bruce was one of five distinguished Australians named as a Companion (AC) in the General Division of the Division of the Order of Australia. Bruce is a much respected and admired colleague for his work in endocrinology and thyroid cancer. All who know Bruce and work with him know that he gives so much to Royal North Shore Hospital and to his patients. This is such a very special achievement to be honoured by his country. The start of the year has brought some departures and new members to the district. Our much loved Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Anthony Dombkins, has left the district to take on the role of Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer at ACT Health. We are currently recruiting to the DON role and I will update you soon. I would also like to welcome Elizabeth Wood who joins us from the Ministry of Health to take up the role of Executive Director of Operations. Some of you may remember Elizabeth who acted in the role last year. Elizabeth brings a wealth of experience and all who had the benefit of working with her are looking forward to working with her once again. Please join me in welcoming Elizabeth.
Deb Willcox Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
2 NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 1| 31 JANUARY 2020
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