Message from the chief executive Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM
Dear colleagues, I am always so proud of the incredible work our staff do across Northern Sydney Local Health District, and it gives me great pleasure to share some exciting news about our teams and individuals who have been recognised for their outstanding contributions recently. Our district is proud to have staff and teams selected as finalists in the 2025 NSW Health Awards, representing NSLHD across three categories and showcasing the talent and innovation within our teams. The Brolga Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Unit at Hornsby Hospital has been recognised for developing a new behavioural management framework that has reduced self-harm and aggression episodes and readmissions. Diane McPhail, a volunteer at Ryde Hospital, has been celebrated for her outstanding support of patients and staff and her leadership as Chair of the Consumer Participation Committee. The PRECARE trial team at Royal North Shore Hospital, including Dr Brian Burns, Dr Geoff Healy, and Dr Chris Partyka, alongside NSW Ambulance, has been shortlisted for their work bringing life-saving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment to patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. These finalists exemplify the commitment, innovation, and excellence that underpin care across our district and the wider NSW Health system. I wish them luck at the awards. More information about their nominations can be found on page 4 of this newsletter. In other exciting news, Kezia Riggs, Registered Midwife at Hornsby Ku-ring- gai Hospital, is a finalist in the 2025 NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards, marking a very proud moment and recognising her outstanding leadership, compassion, and innovation in maternity and neonatal care.
Looking ahead, I am very much looking forward to the upcoming Northern Sydney LGBTIQ+ Health Symposium. This is an important opportunity for learning, discussion, and collaboration to improve inclusive healthcare for our LGBTIQ+ communities. You can register to attend in-person or online here: https://bit. ly/3HKgXgH I also look forward to attending the upcoming inaugural CALD Network Summit on 9 October. The summit promises an exciting program, including an inspiring keynote address, impactful panel discussion, and interactive professional development sessions. Staff can RSVP via this link: https:// bit.ly/CALD-Summit. Thank you to all our staff for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to improving care for our patients, families, and communities. It’s a privilege to recognise your achievements. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the passing of a much loved staff member of the district for 33 years, Fiona Thorn. Fiona joined Royal North Shore Hospital in 1992 as a registered nurse and worked across a number of roles across the district, before becoming the Ryde Hospital Redevelopment Manager in 2022. I send my deepest condolences to all of Fiona’s family, friends and colleagues during this very difficult time. Fiona has left behind an incredible legacy that will live on through the new hospital and everyone she interacted with. Warm regards, Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
NSLHD NEWS | ISSUE 18| 3 OCTOBER 2025
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