MEssage FROM the chairman Trevor Danos AM
As our staff continue to face the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19 and ensure our hospitals and services are well prepared, there is also a great deal of other work underway to benefit our patients, our staff and the community. One such important project the Board is excited about is Planetary Health. This recognises the inextricable link between the health of our planet and the health of our population, with a focus on the importance of climate change and environmental sustainability. To drive Planetary Health, the district is focusing on six priority areas: healthy communities, capital works, staff wellbeing, green space/ healthy built environments, waste management and improvement and procurement. A range of initiatives related to Planetary Health are already occurring across the district and work is underway to develop a comprehensive register to capture these activities. Key initiatives include: Mona Vale and Hornsby Hospitals’ solar panel installations, Royal North Shore Hospital joining the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Network and implementing pharmaceutical waste segregation strategies, battery recycling and metal salvaging processes. NSLHD has established a Planetary Health committee with representatives from across the district. The aim of the committee is to develop and support strategies to promote Planetary Health and provide leadership and direction for the implementation of these initiatives. This is something the Board strongly and proudly supports and I look forward to hearing about its progress and providing updates to our community. Good consumer engagement is key to our hospitals and health services providing world- class care to patients and their carers and it is fundamentally important to have input from those who use our services.
To increase effectiveness and ensure our consumers have enhanced capacity to engage with our services the NSLHD Board Consumer Committee has reviewed and reformed its terms of reference. This will include consumer representation from each hospital and health service within the district, totalling seven additional local consumer representatives. A copy of the terms of reference is on the District’s internet page. The committee also has representation from consumers who have received health care in our district who can provide feedback, advice and support. The additional numbers of consumer representation from the hospitals and services will strengthen the consumer voice within the district to enhance service design and delivery, particularly during the redevelopment of our hospitals. The Board is very pleased with the progress the district has achieved in the Leadership and Talent Program, identifying and investing in our leaders. Our staff are our most valuable asset and by investing in their talent and supporting future leaders, as an organisation we are laying the foundations for the district’s future. In some very sad news, one of our former Board members Dr Harry Nespolon has passed away. Harry was an extremely passionate GP who worked tirelessly for his profession and his patients. This included being President of the RACGP and Chair of SNPHN. Even during his short illness over the past nine months, he remained committed to his heavy workload and continued to advocate passionately and persuasively for general practice and all the good it does for the health and wellbeing of the community. On behalf of the Board, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family. Trevor Danos AM Board Chair Northern Sydney Local Health District
2 NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 14| 31 JULY 2020
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