It's hard to believe we are already almost a third of the way through 2022.
April is a time of religious celebration for many of our staff – including Ramadan, Passover, Christian Easter and Orthodox Easter.
In any event, I hope that this period represents an opportunity for you to get some well deserved rest and to spend time with family and friends.
Many of our staff will be working through this holiday period. I want to especially thank
everyone of you and acknowledge your ongoing, unwavering commitment to your work for communities right across the state.
If travelling over the break please stay safe.
Susan Pearce,
Secretary, NSW Health
The Regional Health Division of NSW Health has been established to provide advice on health matters in regional communities.
The new division will be led by Luke Sloane who has been appointed as Acting Coordinator-General and will report directly to the Secretary of NSW Health, Susan Pearce.
Born and raised in Orange, Mr Sloane began his career in nursing and has worked for NSW Health for more than 20 years.
Mr Sloane will be based in the Ministry of Health in St Leonards, which will ensure strong advocacy of regional health matters within the Ministry whilst strengthening the coordination, alignment, and integration of activities in local health services.
Each regional local health district (LHD) in NSW is establishing defined liaison processes and will also have a key interface role with the new division.
The division will also have a Director based in regional NSW and, as positions become available, division staff can be based temporarily or permanently in regional areas.
The Coordinator-General for Regional Health will provide advice to the Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor, Minister for Health Brad Hazzard, the NSW Health Secretary and NSW Health Executive about matters concerning health in regional communities.
LHDs will continue to be the delivery organisations for health services to their local communities.
Name: Wayne Jones
Role: Acting Deputy Secretary, Patient Experience and System Performance
Now, let's get to know you a little better…
What are three words your family and friends would use to describe you? Fair, compassionate and grounded.
Last great TV show or movie you watched? Line of Duty.
Favourite book? Bridge of Clay.
If you could learn a new skill, what would it be? To speak another language.
If you're cooking dinner, what will everyone be eating? The latest Jamie Oliver.
Any hidden talents? Not really a talent but I have been studying self-defence for over 40 years.
It's important to be COVID safe, no matter how you plan on celebrating during the holidays.
Here are our tips:
Congratulations to the amazing stroke team at Orange Hospital for once again, being awarded Gold Status by the World Stroke Organisation for high standards in stroke treatment and care.
Dr Rami Haddad, Orange Hospital Stroke Director, said training, protocols and performance of the hospital's stroke unit were assessed as part of the initative, which included meeting a target of restoring blood-flow to the brain for over half of eligible patients within the 'golden hour' of arriving.
"Stroke is a time-critical medical emergency which impacts the brain's blood supply. With each minute that goes by more brain cells can be lost, increasing the risk of disability and death," Dr Haddad said.
"This has been our priority and particuarly through such a challenging 2021, with extra demands on staffing and facilities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To be recognised globally again is wonderful.
"Ongoing, coordinated care through admission is also important, but the sooner someone gets to hospital the better their potential outcomes will be."
Tune in to the 2021 Excellence in Nursing & Midwifery Awards, which will stream as-live on Thursday 21 April, from 2pm.
The 2022 Excellence in Allied Health Awards will be on Thursday 28 April, from 4-6pm. Details to join the livestream will be available soon.
Patient Experience Week - Wayne Jones message
Patient Experience Week held between April 25 – 29 is the annual event celebrating healthcare staff who impact the experiences of our patients, families and carers every day. NSW Health has a proud history of celebrating Patient Experience Week, hosting annual events since 2013. This year the theme of the week is the Power of Storytelling and never has it been a more important to recognise and celebrate our individual and collective stories.
The Division of Patient Experience and System Performance invites you to join us in an exciting program of online events which have been designed to o compliment the local initiatives that your district, network, agency or pillar is arranging to celebrate Patient Experience Week.
To learn more visit Elevating the Human Experience, Patient Experience Week intranet page or contact the Experience Team.
Eric is a career Research Agronomist, who has lived in Wagga since the 1990s. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2017.
Eric has a passion for the land and solving problems around cropping systems and legumes but was really taken aback when a routine trip to an orthopaedic surgeon over a grumpy knee led to a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
April is Parkinson's Awareness Month, a great time to put a light on an awesome team and program at Murrumbidgee Local Health District.
"I could have fallen over backwards with shock when the specialist told me he thought I may have Parkinson's, and when the neurologist confirmed the diagnosis, I felt devastated," he said.
"I initially thought it was a life sentence and tried to hide what was happening to me."
Eric was referred to Murrumbidgee Local Health District's Parkinson's team and has not looked back. He completed the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment BIG Physical Therapy Program. It is it now part of his everyday life.
The program trains people to use their body normally again, as daily living movements tend to be inhibited by the disease.
"I decided that I needed to stop being sad about my diagnosis and just give it a go, and that really has paid off," Eric said.
"The Murrumbidgee Parkinson's team have definitely made a difference in my life, helped me feel stronger and more positive, and I have learnt a lot. The secret is to not give up and keep busy, reduce stress and relax. I encourage anyone with Parkinson's to just commit and give it a go.
"Parkinson's is nothing to be ashamed of, and with the right support you can live a happy and busy life."
Analytics Assist can help with data, information, guidance and connection wikth experts to turn your analytical data challenges into solutions.
If you're struggling to cope with the death of a loved one, you can access six free counselling sessions from Griefline.
The virtual or telephone-based sessions are available for NSW residents aged 18 years and over who are struggling to cope with everyday life and social activities due to grief and bereavement.
They can be requested via Griefline's online referral process. General Practitioners and other professionals can also make a referral on a person's behalf, with consent.
Find out more about Griefline's Integrating Grief Program or call (03) 9087 2312, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
From March 2022, the weekly surveillance report will be issued monthly. A new overview report will be released each week in addition to this.
The latest COVID-19 weekly data overview report is now available:
In the week ending 2 April 2022:
Concord Hospital's clinical services building has officially opened, with the $341 million redevelopment marking a new era in healthcare for staff, patients and the community in Sydney's inner-west.
"We're celebrating the future of Concord Hospital, 80 years after it first opened its doors to provide care for our community," Dr Teresa Anderson, Sydney Local Health District's Chief Executive, said.
The eight-storey building has 214 patient beds and houses a comprehensive cancer centre, an aged health and rehabilitation centre and The National Centre for Veterans' Healthcare.
Dr Anderson was joined by Health Minister Brad Hazzard, Minister for Veterans David Elliott local MP John Sidoti, the District's Board Chair John Ajaka, the hospital's General Manager Dr Genevieve Wallace, Health Infrastructure's Executive Director of Northern region Leisa Rathborne and Roberts Co Chief Executive Alison Mirams for a special ceremony.
"The comprehensive cancer centre provides additional services for cancer patients, and aged care patients will benefit from the new outpatient clinics, rehabilitation gyms and psychogeriatric medicine," Mr Hazzard said.
The building is named in honour of veteran and former NSW RSL President Godfrey Eugene "Rusty" Priest. At times a patient at Concord, Rusty was a strong supporter of the hospital and a champion for veterans' health and wellbeing.
South Eastern Sydney Local Health District staff enjoyed a tasty treat to say thank you.
The Gelato Man created a sensation across the District, with an array of staff eager to enjoy the provedore's sundaes and cones.
The two weeks of sweet-treats kicked off with a gelato cart at St George Hospital, where salted caramel was the most popular flavour of the day.
Long queues formed at Sydney/Sydney Eye Hospital and the Randwick Hospital's Campus where the Gelato Man served chocolate, raspberry and passionfruit ice cream. And, there was no Monday-itis at Sutherland Hospital.
The sweet surprises were a small way to "cone-gratulate" staff for the extraodinary care they've shown patients during the pandemic.
The Critical Intelligence Unit COVID-19 Monitor provides a snapshot of topical information and graphs – generally drawn from international and national sources. This week the Monitor provides updated data on COVID-19 cases, variants, vaccines, hospitalisations and deaths.
In the past week, the Critical Intelligence Unit (CIU) Daily Digest has included a range of new articles.
The Daily Digest is available via the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) website. To receive the Digest each morning, sign-up by emailing the Critical Intelligence Unit.
The Critical Intelligence Unit continues to provide:
Check in is sent directly to all employees across the health system to keep you informed of important updates. Email story ideas, suggestions or feedback.
