Message FROM the acting Chief executive Dr Tamsin Waterhouse
message FROM the Chief executive Deb Willcox
Last week saw our hospitals and the NSW health system operating under the State Emergency Management Plan as a result of the devastating bushfires and catastrophic conditions. Thankfully, at NSLHD, our hospitals and services were not affected by the bushfires but I would like to thank our NSLHD HSFAC Coordinator Anthony Dombkins and the team for overseeing our preparedness and to all our staff who were on standby. To our staff who may have family and friends affected by the fires, I would like to extend my thoughts and best wishes. Bushfires continue to burn and I urge you all to keep safe and remain vigilant during these times. I would also like to thank staff who are volunteering as part of the response to protect people and property. I commend your dedication and support of your community. As Christmas draws closer, this year we are partnering with our charity partner Dignity, who empowers people experiencing homelessness. Please join us to make this Christmas easier and more cheerful for vulnerable families in our community by donating to the Dignity Christmas drive. Christmas trees have been placed at our hospitals for staff and visitors to donate goods by Monday 1 December.
The district has identified planetary health as an important new initiative. Over the past century, significant advances in medicine, technology and urban development have increased our quality of life immensely. However, achieving these gains has led to negative impacts on the health and quality of our natural environment. As a health service with a large carbon footprint, we have the ability to improve the health of our environment whilst promoting the health and wellbeing of our patients, our workforce and our community. There are a number of key domains the district will endeavour to prioritise including: staff wellbeing, green space and healthy built environments, waste management and improvement, healthy communities, and sustainable capital works and procurement. I look forward to providing you further updates in this newsletter as we progress this important initiative. Finally, this Friday 22 November is our 2019 Annual Public Meeting being held in the Kolling Auditorium from 2:30pm. This year’s theme is “Our patients: their stories” and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at this annual event.
Deb Willcox Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
2 NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 21| 21 NOVEMBER 2019
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