Message from the Chief Executive - NSW Ministry of...

Message from the Chief Executive

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 8, Vol 7, AUG 2017

I had the pleasure of attending the FWLHD Health Innovation and Staff Awards. It was great to see the dedication and enthusiasm within the room and I thank everyone involved for the success of the day.

The People Matter employee survey results for Far West are pleasing and we’re consistently above the state average. The results are expected to be released by the Ministry of Health in September and will be publicised on our intranet.

The Aboriginal Staff Network Day was an outstanding event which attracted 40 Aboriginal staff members. The importance of Aboriginal health and the support for our Aboriginal staff members was seen in the attendance by the Board Chair, Dr Andrew Refshauge and Ms Michelle Dickson, a proud Aboriginal woman who is also a member of the Board. There was fantastic engagement and an open and free flowing discussion from everyone in attendance on the day.

A big welcome to all our new staff members and it was pleasing to see so many attend the Induction session for August. The use of teleconferencing to include those members in our outlying facilities, and save unnecessary travel and disruption for staff, is a positive use of resources by HR.

Thank you to all staff for your continued efforts to provide compassionate care to our

patients and clients – and to those staff who support those efforts – over this very busy

winter period. — Stephen Rodwell, A/Chief Executive

Mr Stephen Rodwell

Health Innovation Awards

See page 2, 3, 4.


LEFT: The winner of the Phoenix Award was ‘Re-Designing Mental Health

Care’. Vanessa Smith, Manager BH Community Mental Health Drug and

Alcohol, accepted the award presented by A/CE Stephen

Rodwell.

More of the

Innovation Award

winners over the

next two pages.

The Far West LHD celebrated the very best in health service innovation and excellence in customer service this month at our annual Innovation Awards ceremony.

Director of CGU, Zandra Corey, said the awards provided a great opportunity to showcase the many staff in our District who achieve outstanding results for excellence in customer service and leadership as well as using innovation to come up with better ways to deliver our services.

“It was great to see so many of staff from across the District join the ceremony and celebrate the successes of their peers. I’m looking forward to the next ceremony in 2018!”

The awards featured a winner in the Pheonix (large project) and Ninja (smaller project) categories and a great representation across the LHD for excellence and leadership awards. Our long serving staff members were also recognised. Congratulations to the winners and everyone who took part and helped make the awards a very successful event in 2017!


The A/Chief Executive, Mr Stephen Rodwell, presented awards to a number of employees in recognition of their exceptional service to the organisation and community.

Early Career Excellence was presented to:

Lakshmi Priya Ponmudi (Administration and Support

Staff)

Alexandra Kusiak (Allied Health Staff)

Dr Yvette Etherden (Medical Staff) Customer/Clinical Service Excellence:

Clifford Williams (Administration Staff)

Stacey Evers (Clinical Support Staff)

Sally Connell (Allied Health Staff)

Joseph Kervin (Nursing Staff)

Dr Elizabeth Richardson (Medical Staff)

Leadership Excellence

Annette Vartuli (Administration and Support Staff)

Kim Schellnegger (Allied Health Staff)

Anita Elrnadsen (Nursing Staff)

Dr Arnm Haque (Medical Staff) Team Excellence:

Dietetics Team (Allied Health Group) Peer Recognition for Staff Excellence (Studer):

Jane Baker

Consumer Recognition for Staff Excellence:

Carmel King

Consumer Recognition for Team Excellence:

Menindee Health Service

Excellence in Customer Service Awards

The Ninja Project Award was won by ‘Patient Hourly Rounding’,

presented via video by Aravind Krishnamurthy, Yamirri Nharatji

Coach for the LHD.

LEFT: The People’s Choice Award was won by ‘Govies’ Retreat: Building resilience for rural home tutors. Marie Kelly, Rural Adversity Mental Health Program Coordinator, accepted the award presented by Zandra Corey, Director Clinical Governance, FWLHD.

The Agency for Clinical Innovation Award was won by ‘Re-Designing

Mental Health Care’. Vanessa Smith, Manager BH Community Mental Health Drug and Alcohol, accepted the award presented by

Jenny Preece of the ACI.

2017 Health Innovation Awards

(Not all award recipients were able to attend the ceremony due to work

or other commitments. FWIF was

able to catch up with some afterwards for a photo!)

Customer/Clinical Service Excellence: Stacey Evers (Clinical Support Staff).

Leadership Excellence: Kim Schellnegger (Allied Health

Staff).

Peer Recognition for Staff Excellence (Studer): Jane Baker.

Early Career Excellence: Dr Yvette Etherden (Medical Staff).

Employee Recognition Awards for years of dedicated service were also presented to a number of employees from across the District. They are presented for years of dedicated service to the organisation. The recipients were recognised with certificates of acknowledgement and a gift.

Long Service Awards for 10 years of service were presented to:

Kareen Anne Comeadow, Avril Turner Fazulla, Melissa Welsh, Carolyn Lee Dermody, Carolyn Fay Williams, Sonja Lee Boyce, Helen Kristian Hayes, Chloe Anne Lingard, Nicholas Barry Westley, Christine Gail Delbridge, Tracey Anne Gaiter, Adrian Craig Winter, Emma Lauren Kemp, Rosemary Martin, Margo Renowden, Christy Smith, Mark Thomas, Marie Bongetti,

Kimberley Ann Flood, Susan Thomas and Sharon Lee Honson.

Long Service Awards for 20 years of service were

presented to: Paul Anthony Kaye, Alexandra Rita Pippin, Michael

Charles Weinert, Racheal Nagas, Elizabeth Joy Buffon, Christina Butler and Teresa Perry.

Long Service Awards for 30 years of service were

presented to: Peter Raymond Lane, Alina Leanne Dwyer, Paul

Andrew Murphy, Murray Barker, Cherylyn Maree Fazulla, Briana Jane Bartley, Ann-Marie Joy Hoskins, Wynsome Heather Scott, Lee-Ann Howarth and Coral Louise Bennett.

Employee Recognition Awards

2017 Health Innovation Awards

Customer/Clinical Service Excellence:

Joseph Kervin (Nursing Staff).

Consumer Recognition for Staff Excellence: Carmel King.

Leadership Excellence: Dr Arnm Haque

(Medical Staff).

Early Career Excellence: Lakshmi Priya Ponmudi

(Administration/Support).

Customer/Clinical Service Excellence: Sally Connell

(Allied Health Staff).

RIGHT: Consumer Recognition for Team Excellence: Menindee

Health Service

Customer/Clinical Service Excellence: Clifford Williams (Administration Staff).

Leadership Excellence: Anita Erlandsen (Nursing

Staff). Team Excellence: Dietetics Team: Melanie Blair, Heidi Drenkhahn

and Stacey Evers (Allied Health Group). Absent: Tracy Herlihy.

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 8, Vol 7, AUG 2017 The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 8, Vol 7, AUG 2017

The LHD held its first Aboriginal Staff Network Day this month.

The day welcomed all Aboriginal staff to the networking group with the aim to provide a foundation for communication, support and development.

Forty attendees discussed and developed the purpose of the network, Aboriginal health across the LHD, training and development opportunities and included hearing about personal future goals and objectives.

Board Chair Dr Andrew Refshauge and Board Member Ms Michelle Dickson attended and gave an address, talking about where the LHD was heading and their working career stories respectively. The A/Chief Executive Mr Stephen Rodwell and Yamirri Nharatji Coach Aravind Krishnamurthy also spoke along with some other staff members.

The day featured interactive discussions led by Facilitator Kim O’Donnell. The agenda included topics such as building careers in health, training and development and personal objectives. Also discussed was taking the network forward and its terms of reference.

Feedback about the day was very positive and attendees were especially appreciative of hearing the Board Chair, Member and the A/CE talk about their career journey.

Aboriginal Staff Network DayAboriginal Staff Network Day


The Connections Project was launched this month in Broken Hill.

The occasion was celebrated with a Community Open Day at Mission Australia where invited guests met with the staff involved and found out what Connections is all about.

Connections is a joint project between Far West Local Health District, GROW and Mission Australia offering an after-hours service run by Peer Support Workers aimed at helping people who struggle with depression, anxiety and mental illness to connect with each other and the community. The idea behind the project is that having friends and things to do is good for mental health.

People employed as Peer Support Workers for Connections have lived experience of mental illness. Peer Support Workers are critical because they know what it is like to experience mental illness and can share their personal recovery with others, inspiring hope and promoting well-being.

The program will run on Thursdays to Saturdays from 5pm. It will also open every second Sunday.

Connections launch

Far West LHD Board member John Harris attended the

White Cliffs Health Council meeting in this month.

The Health Council is working well and will be sending

three delegates to the Health Council Forum. Also it seems

White Cliffs Health Council has the best catering for their

meetings.

If you have not registered for the 2017 Health Council

Forum please do so by Friday, 25 August 2017.

Special guest at White Cliffs

The new Recruitment and Onboarding (ROB) system will soon be replacing eRecruit. It is being implemented progressively across NSW Health and will be going live for Far West on Monday 13 November 2017.

The system is already fully operational at HealthShare NSW and eHealth NSW after a successful pilot at these sites in June 2017 and the second pilot group, including our neighbours in Western NSW, has now gone live.

Deployment has been successful and the team at eHealth have been working to make sure that all kinks are ironed out by the time we adopt the system.



Far West Local Health District deputed eight of our staff including three doctors to the USA to participate in Studer study tour and conference ‘What’s RIGHT in Health care’. Thirty delegates from various Healthcare Services of Australia participated in the study tour and conference.

The study tour comprised of a visit to UConn John Dempsey Hospital in Connecticut. UConn John Dempsey Hospital is an academic teaching centre for the University of Connecticut. It includes a 234 bed inpatient facility, outpatient’s tower, emergency department providing 35,000 attendances per year, and a large Bioscience Research

Centre, Medical and Dental school. UConn John Dempsey recently completed a $325m redevelopment and expansion.

The team also visited Cooper University Hospital, an academic, tertiary-care medical centre affiliated with Cooper Medical School of Rowan University located in Camden, New Jersey. Cooper has a long history in the City of Camden and is playing a leading role in its revitalization. Cooper University Hospital is the only Level 1 trauma centre for adults and children in southern New Jersey.

These visits covered an overview of the organisation’s journey and how they applied Studer principles. Our staff had an opportunity to meet with Executive and Senior

Managers to discuss organisational initiatives at department or service level, challenges along the way and lessons learned. Discussions were made around specific topics including Doctors engagement and changes to clinical outcomes.

The team attended Studer Conference ‘What’s RIGHT in Health Care’ 1-3 August 2017 in Chicago, Illinois, an interactive learning event for healthcare professionals that offered a fresh perspective on significant topics challenging the healthcare industry. Through industry leading keynote speakers and sessions focused on evidence-based methods, attendees gained skills to improve alignment and accountability of staff and leaders, reduce variance and increase engagement.

The conference also gave an opportunity to learn about benchmarking in other highly reliable organisations and how to fully align and integrate staff in organisational effort to create a culture of high performance.

Our Staff (from left to right) Dr Ali Baalbaki, Medical Officer/ED, Dr Olumuyiwa Komolafe, Staff Specialist Physician, Dr Sarah Wenham, Palliative Care

Physician, Ms Susan Thomas, NUM/ED, Ms Patricia Holtze, Manager-Allied Health, Ms Briana Bartley, NUM-Medical Ward, BHHS, Ms Rachel Spangler, RN, Surgical Ward, BHHS and Mr Aravind Krishnamurthy, Yamirri Nharatji Coach,

FWLHD.



The Pursuit of Happiness Creating a Positive Workplace

Since we spend one third of our life working – happiness in the workplace is very beneficial, it creates superior work outcomes, greater productivity and higher quality of work, better ideas, better physical and mental health and well-being.

So how can we create happiness in the workplace?

The more we can connect our jobs with our personal vision and strengths, the more we can see work as a calling, something to enjoy.

Focus on the Positive

Offer Meaningful Perks

Invest in Your Team’s Personal and Professional

Growth

Throw Fun Events that Allow People to Interact and

Bond

Build Trust and Make Work Fulfilling

Giving gratitude is strongly and consistently

associated with greater happiness. Gratitude Lists: Gratitude lists can dramatically

change your life for the better. They help you to refocus how you see the world.

It is easy to start the process. Every night, write down at least three things you are grateful for from that day. At first, it may be difficult and you may find yourself writing things like, "I'm grateful that I'm still breathing." That is okay to start, but you will soon find many other things to be grateful for. In time, you will begin to see the world from the perspective of gratitude and your lists can become quite long at the end of the day.

Gratitude improves physical and psychological

health.

Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces

aggression.

Grateful people sleep better.

Gratitude improves self-esteem. Practice blocking those thoughts about what’s

wrong in your life, and refocus on creating more that’s right – this is a key ingredient to happiness!

Remember - Happiness is contagious!

Child protection and you Q: Are you a mandatory reporter? A: Yes. All Far West Health Employees are mandatory reporters. It is

the role of all NSW Health employees to promote the health, safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people. This means if you see or hear an adult telling a child or young person ‘they are stupid’ or ‘it is their fault’ or being clipped across the ear, it is your business to tell someone. Mandatory child protection training is available in Broken Hill monthly. The Child Protection Training dates till the end of 2017 are 13 & 14 September (Dareton), 12 October (B/Hill), 9 November (B/Hill) and Balranald 14 December. You can register for the training through My Health Learning. Just search Child Protection.

Q: What do I need to do after I have seen

something that worries me? A: On the FWLHD Intranet home page, you will see a green ‘Keep

Them Safe’ button. Clicking on this button will take you to the NSW Health Kids and Families website where you are able to complete an online Mandatory Reporter Guide (MRG). The MRG will help you identify children or young people at suspected risk of significant harm (ROSH) and instruct you on what you are required to do next. In general, the MRG will make one of three recommendations:

Report the matter to Family and Community Services (FACS) on phone 13 2111 (it may also give you a time frame in which to make the report);

Contact the Child Wellbeing Unit on 1300 480 420; or Document the issue and continue working with the relationship.

Q: What is the Child Wellbeing Unit (CWU)? A: The CWUs are staffed by health employees with expertise in child

protection and wellbeing. The CWU offers health staff support and assistance in determining the level of risk of harm and responding to the needs of vulnerable children, young people, pregnant women and families.

The CWU phone line is open between 8.30am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday. If you are unsure if what you have seen or heard needs to be reported or you want to discuss your concerns, you can contact the CWU on 1300 480 420. After hours you can use the After Hours Contact Form which is also on the Kids and Families webpage.

The CWU will always respond on the next business day, using the contact details you provide. The Western CWU is located in Dubbo and takes calls from the FWLHD. Each CWU has an Aboriginal Assessment Officer who can give specific advice about Aboriginal families.

The Far West LHD Child Wellbeing Coordinator, Regan Chesterfield, is also available for consultations via 0429 978 609 or [email protected]

Q: What is eReporting? A: Mandatory reporters are now able to make reports for non-imminent

suspected risk of significant harm to the Child Protection Helpline via eReporting. After completing the MRG, you may be advised to complete an eReport. eReports are delivered securely and automatically to the Child Protection Helpline for assessment. eReporting is easily accessible and simple to use. All urgent matters must still be made by phone to the Helpline.


mailto:[email protected]

http://fwlhd.gwahs.nswhealth.net/LinkLoad.php?LinkID=3


Did you know that there are two Regional Assessment Service (RAS) providers in the Far West and that referrals can go to either?

RAS is an assessment service that will work with clients to develop a support plan that reflects the persons aged care needs, goals and preferences.

The outcome of the assessment may include referral to Commonwealth Home Support Programme services, such as transport, social support, domestic assistance, personal care, home maintenance, meals, home modification, nursing care and flexible respite services.

Referral must be made through the My Aged Care contact centre on 1800 200 422.

Orana/Far West RAS are not the only RAS located in this area. There is also a non-government RAS servicing this area.

When you make a referral through My Aged Care, the destination of the referral is determined by market share.

Your referral does not automatically come through to the NSW Health Orana/Far West RAS.

The second RAS service in this area can be contacted on 1300 277 377.

If you are unsure where your referral has gone please call the My Aged Care contact centre on 1800 200 422.

NSW Health Orana/Far West RAS located locally can be contacted on 08 8080 1656.

Regional Assessment Service (RAS) in LHD — there are two!

One of my favourite shows over the years was 'Undercover Boss'. I just loved the way the business owners/ CEOs were able to gain insights to their businesses by working at the ground level and identify potentials for improvement.

Best of all I loved seeing the CEO's or business owners discover the stars they already had working (usually in the background tirelessly and efficiently) within their companies. The process made it possible for the owners/CEOs to identify those gems and offer extra opportunities that brought a new lease on life for the dedicated, quiet achievers and brought in turn wonderful benefits to their companies. It was both inspiring and heart warming and often also life changing for the CEO.

I have never had the inclination to get in to disguise.... but when I became unwell with influenza A recently, I did end up "under the covers" at the Broken Hill Health Service.

I presented to ED (admittedly a bit embarrassed, thinking I might need a quick dose of ventolin and a course of oral antibiotics). I had apparently significantly underestimated my predicament and spent hours watching the highly competent ED staff from my barouche and I was amazed and impressed.

They were already having a rather torrid night, and calmly added me to the mix, quietly going about sorting each of us patients out, whilst supporting and caring for each other. A paediatric nurse was in there pitching in — as their ward was close — and she was welcomed and treated as much a part of the team as any. They needed her!

The high clinical skill of the medico was very apparent and he had already stayed back to help with a number of difficult cases. I can't thank him enough for the help that early and aggressive clinical intervention gave me.

The quiet and capable efficiency of the nurses/PSAs and medicos and their ability to put patients at ease was evident. I could not help but feel really proud of each of them as they efficiently coordinated between each other to have the place run like a well oiled machine.

The late shift staff turned up with one bringing in extra coffees for their colleagues and I scored one, which after 4 hours was heaven!

I was transferred eventually to Surgical ward (taking Medical ward’s overflow) and settled down for the night in my new spot.

Once again I received quiet and efficient care and after a day of answering questions, such as if I felt pain, etc., and I realised it was surgical ward’s version of patient rounding!

I was pleased to see the student on placement had no idea who I was as she completed the sunflower tool, my hint was the "Hi beautiful, can we just fill this in together?"

Surgical ward were pretty full and had a lot of Medical patients, as well as those surgical patients from the last large theatre

list. They were once again, a team of quiet, efficient, caring and capable nurses who promptly answered my nurse call bell.

Marshall the porter took a few of us patients in wheelchairs to radiology, with his pager going off relentlessly. Radiology were fast and efficient, whilst Marshall juggled the copious demands on him with professionalism and care.

The after hours nurse managers were absolutely exceptional. Though confronted with high level occupancy and high staff sick leave, they relentlessly explored other options and appreciated the willingness of some staff to pitch in to ensure patient care was able to be provided. (To those of you who have been pitching in with the overtime so much lately- a big thanks!). They problem solved through all sorts of dilemmas and I am so grateful for those highly skilled staff who take on this challenging role and keep the wards operating smoothly despite all the challenges.

So whilst the experience was not quite the TV show version of undercover boss, it was an amazing opportunity to see our staff in action with fresh eyes. And I can't tell you what a privilege it was to see you all in action and to be on the end of your efficient and capable care.

Our acting CE talked about the privilege we have as carers and the responsibility we have in that role.

Thank you for working for FWLHD, for accepting the responsibility this brings and for caring so beautifully for me and all our patients and keep on shining your light!

Lindy Harkness — the patient from bed 19, Surgical.

Undercover

Nurse! By Lindy Harkness, DON/M at BHHS


Dareton Primary Health staff were successful at obtaining two grants in the most recent round of NSW Club Grants.

The centre was awarded just under $1,500 for the purchase of bariatric chairs for the waiting rooms and Diabetes Educator office to cater to the larger clientele. They also received just over $9,000 to continue the highly successful Move 2 Music program for another year.

Kylie Kerslake and Anita Erlandsen attended the funding ceremony at the Coomealla Club where some 10 local organisations received funding for various community projects.

Kylie and Anita are pictured with one of the members of the Coomealla Club Board of Management, Mr Norm Simms.

Coomealla Club grant success

PAGE 10


Youth Health Forum: ‘Pills, Pot, Piles and Pints: Drug trends in young people’

Youth Health Forum is a series of community health education seminars which provide regular opportunities for hospital, community-based workers and education professionals, young people and their families to meet, update knowledge and skills, exchange information and strengthen the youth health network, in order to provide the best possible support for young people in NSW.

Professionals attended the Youth Health Forum held on Wednesday, 23 August by video-conference at the University Department of Rural Health. The Youth Health Forum was titled ‘Pills, Pot, Piles and Pints: Drug trends in young people’.

Professor Michael Farrell from the University of New South Wales presented information of the drug trends in young people and using an evidence based approach to explore the trends. He reported among young people aged 14-19 years (in the last year)

54% consumed alcohol

15% used cannabis

3% used ecstasy

2% used some form of methamphetamine. (AIHW National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2013) Paediatrician and Addiction Medicine Specialist, Dr Brownyn Milne from the Care and Intervention for Children and

Adolescent Drug and Alcohol (CICADA) Centre NSW presented information about the importance of protecting young people and their brain against alcohol and other drugs. Bronwyn discussed that alcohol and other drug use can impact on a young person’s brain development and may be harmful for a young person’s physical and mental health.

Other speakers discussed evidence based therapeutic approaches, both inpatient and community based, to working with young people with substance misuse issues.

Speakers notes can be accessed from: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/youth/Pages/speakers-presos.aspx The next Youth Health Forum will be held on Wednesday, 29 November 2017 and will be titled: Supporting Young

People through Family Change and Conflict. Broken Hill will be one of 20 sites across New South Wales joining the Youth Health Forum and if you would like to

attend, please contact FWLHD School-Link Coordinator, Cary Rogers for information by e-mail: [email protected]


https://webmail.health.nsw.gov.au/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=_BrFqRSvXhJtjl03FQrH8ZbujUtloxJulGKNX3sOMYtQK2gPWevUCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AdwB3AHcALgBoAGUAYQBsAHQAaAAuAG4AcwB3AC4AZwBvAHYALgBhAHUALwBrAGkAZABzAGYAYQBtAGkAbABpAGUAcwAvAHkAbwB1AHQAaAAvAFAAYQBnAGUAcwAvAHMAcABlA

Quality Board Communication

By Ben Harris

Security/Ward Services Officer, BHHS

PAGE 11


This month’s theme is the Sunflower Communication Tool.

You may wonder why we have a picture of a Sunflower at the end of each bed…It is the Sunflower Communication Tool, a great way to get to know your patient.

The purpose of this sunflower is to support the provision of person centred care for the hospitalised patient as part of Essentials of Care (EOC) and the Confused Hospitalised Older Persons (CHOPs) programs.

Person centred care means:

Treating each person as an individual;

Protecting a person’s dignity;

Respecting a person’s rights and preferences and

Developing a therapeutic relationship between the care provider and care recipient which is built on mutual trust and understanding. The centre of the sunflower identifies the person’s

name or what they like to be called (their preferred name). Each petal is designed to collect important individualised information about the person, for example, family, work, pets, hobbies and interests. It allows staff to enter the room and initiate a conversation with their patient by simply looking at the Sunflower Communication Tool.

Th e Sunflower can be completed with the person by staff, their family and/ or carers.

Personal security (part 2) In part Two we will look at some more areas of vulnerability and how we may deal with them if caught off guard at home.

Some of the tactics used here can be applied both in person and through other communication devices.

Unexpected visitors or Nuisance Calls.

Never give out personal information over the telephone to unknown callers. Seek to gain identity. If the caller is legitimate they should be able to provide you with known return phone number that can be identified as a registered business/organisation or seen on a web site. Sometimes they will masquerade as a known organisation, however all return contact details will not match up with real one.

Nuisance callers will often try to upset you and play on your emotions as it can be hard to think logically when in an emotional state. As soon as you feel that a call is unusual, hang up. If the calls persist, contact your telephone service provider and seek their advice.

Unexpected visitors or callers can be friendly, but be aware that some may want to trick you out of your money or property or both.

Things to be cautious of include:

Something for nothing.

Any claims that you have won a contest.

Cash only opportunities.

Home improvement offers.

Get rich quick schemes.

‘Service calls’ you didn’t request

Visitors

If you are unsure who it is, don’t open the door. If an unexpected visitor wants to use your phone for an

emergency, offer to make the call for them, but don’t invite them into your home.

Be suspicious of unexpected people who want to enter your home and ALWAYS verify their identity.

This advice does not constitute legal advice, for further guidance please consult with

local authorities, Security Staff, and specific Policies, Procedures & Guidelines if required.



About 35 mums with their bubs turned up to support the World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August) special morning tea hosted by Child and Family Health Centre.

“Breastfeeding is a normal, natural and rewarding experience for both mother and baby. It provides a baby with all the nutrients required for healthy growth, development and assists in providing protection from illness,” said Angela James, Child and Family Health Nurse

She said the morning tea had a fantastic turn out. “We opened by asking who has heard the saying ‘It takes a village to raise a child’?” said Angela.

“I believe this is very true, particularly so when a mother is breastfeeding. The world breastfeeding week theme this year is ‘Sustaining breastfeeding together’. There are many ways in which we can work together as a community to make breastfeeding sustainable. Promoting and supporting breastfeeding within the community and supporting mothers who are currently breastfeeding are all effective ways to ‘sustain breastfeeding.”

Angela said the mums were very interested in the talk given by Pharmacist Louise Addison. There were a number of questions regarding medication use while breastfeeding and handouts supplied. Louise has advised that if anyone has any further questions or concerns related to medication use, please feel free to contact her at Nettings Pharmacy.

“The general response was very positive, mums were interacting and socialising and young children were playing in the play area — it was a very successful event.”

Mums and bubs enjoy special gathering for Breastfeeding Week

Physical Activity Physical activity is anything that gets you moving, makes your

breathing become quicker, and your heart beat faster. Being active is a great way to help you lead a healthier and

happier life. It is important for:

healthy growth and development

reducing the risk of major illnesses and

increasing your chances of living longer.

There are many different ways to be active that don’t cost money and can easily be incorporated into your day.

To gain health benefits, it is recommended that a healthy adult engages in either:

150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week

20 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, 3 or more days a week.

The good news is that you can:

Combine moderate and vigorous intensity aerobic activity in a week for more variety.

Do the aerobic activity in segments of at least 10 minutes. You don't have to do the 20 or

30 minutes at one go.

Contact your Staff Health Officer for information about the Get Healthy at work program on 8080 1219.


http://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/S_T/Tips-for-being-active


Glen Symons has been appointed as the Supervising Scientist (Laboratory Manager) at Broken Hill Hospital, Pathology West laboratory.

Glen (pictured) is Broken Hill born and bred and started working in the pathology laboratory in the old BH Hospital in 1982 at a trainee Medical Scientist. He studied a Bachelor of Applied Science course by correspondence through Charles Sturt University, working full time and studied at night; and included residential schools in Wagga twice a year. In 1995 the lab was privatised, and operated by Gribbles, with a much reduced staff levels and locally offered testing services. In 2004 Glen moved to Adelaide to take up a position at the Modbury hospital, and while in Adelaide also worked at labs in Wayville, Moonta, Gawler, Ashford and Mt. Barker. He returned to Broken Hill in July 2009 to work at the Healthscope/Gribbles lab in Argent Street. Glen took up a position as Hospital Scientist here at the Pathology West lab at the Hospital in 2014 and made second-in-charge in 2015. His latest appointment being as Laboratory Manager.

Glen has a Diploma of Management and is a member of AIMS – the Australian Institute of

Medical Scientists. He is married, with two children – who both live in Adelaide, with one grand-

child and one on the way!

Glen said he is proud of the professional and helpful team that he leads in the lab and the services they provide.

“We look forward to continuing working with all staff and departments within the FWLHD. If you have any questions or problems please don’t hesitate to call the lab, or pop in for a chat. I would love to hear from you,” he said.

Glen takes the lead at BHHS laboratory

The Broken Hill laboratory is part of the NSW Pathology West network, and comes under the NSW Health Pathology umbrella.

The Pathology West network consists of 34 laboratories, and covers a vast majority of NSW. It stretches from Bega to Broken Hill, Wagga to Mudgee, and includes laboratories from other places such as Orange, Tumut, Goulburn, Dubbo, Griffith, Queanbeyan and Cowra to name a few.

Our main laboratory and head office is the Institute for Clinical

Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR), located within the Westmead hospital, Sydney. As such we have access to and support from a vast array of resources and personnel.

We provide a 24 hour/7 day a week service to the Broken Hill Health Service

via our normal laboratory hours and on-call service. The laboratory and collection room are located near

the Specialist Clinic/Outpatient department. Ward round collections are twice a day, Monday to

Friday, and start at 0700 and 1400 hrs week days. Collection Room Hours are 0800 – 1630 Monday to

Friday Laboratory Hours are 0800 – 2300 Monday –

Friday, and 0800 – 1600 Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays

On-call after-hours service is for emergency/critical

cases only and can only be initiated through the after-hours nurse manager.

We are able to accept all Pathology request forms from any referring doctor, and bulk bill for nearly every test, meaning no out of pocket expenses.

The laboratory phone number is extension 542. We look forward to continuing our close working

relationship and service to the FWLHD.

Pathology Hints and Tips



A large group of staff attended the Far West LHD August Induction session. There were 14 staff that attended the face to face session in Broken Hill with another six staff attending from the

Dareton Primary and Community Health Service via videoconference. This was the first time the LHD has engaged the Tele-Health Videoconference service for the Lower Western Sector Staff, and

although there were a few teething problems, we will be doing everything we can to improve for future inductions for our Lower Western Sector staff.

Overall the Induction day was a success with staff coming together from different areas and were engaged by the various presenters as well as having a chat and a laugh throughout the day.

Our next Induction is 21 September in the Kincumber House Board Room.

The Broken Hill session attendees: (from left) Sitting: Ethan Davis – BHHS Cook, Amanda Raddatz – RN Palliative Care, Casey O’Donnell – BHHS Hospital Assistant and Sherene O’Connell - BHHS Hospital Assistant. Standing: Kate Leo – BHHS Clerk, Ellie Thomas – BH Occupation

Therapist, Caryn Gageler – Hospital Assistant, James Barlow – BHHS Security , Paul Hanford – BH Maintenance, Sonia McCully - Payroll, Sharon McInnes – BHHS Clerk, Gabrielle Schaefer – BHHS Midwife and Riley Condon – BHHS RN.

In Dareton: Craig Colling, AHW and Kim Schellnegger, AHW.

In Dareton (from left) David O’Mahoney MH CNC, Brett Heslop - MH/Team Leader, Roslyn Ford – Casual RN (Wentworth) and Natalie

Bates – AHW (Building Stronger Foundation).

Corporate Induction session includes teleconference attendees


eMR Take Up and Adoption visit

The six Rural Local Health Districts completed the implementation of eMR 1 & 2 and CHOC across all Inpatient, Emergency, Theatre and Community Health Facilities by December 2016.

Following on from the eMR2 and CHOC project implementations last year, the Rural eHealth Program and the eMR Business As Usual teams collaboratively launched the “eMR Take-Up and Adoption” initiative.

As part of this initiative, representatives from both teams are visiting sites in all rural LHDs to provide additional eMR training and support to staff. This will improve the adoption of eMR and enable realisation of benefits such as reduced risks to patients as a result of more accurate and current clinical documentation.

Effective usage of eMR will also lay the foundation for Electronic Medication Management (eMeds) which is expected to be implemented in select sites in the LHD by late 2018.

The team visited Broken Hill from 21 August to 1 September and provided staff the opportunity to ask questions and receive in situ training.

From left: Kate Gardner (Rural eHealth Change & Adoption Manager), Tenika Bashford (eMR Business Analyst) and

Leonie Vaotangi (eMR SurgiNet Analyst).

Alison Isaacs and Danielle Toigo presented at the Australian College of Midwives (ACM) NSW conference in Tamworth on 18-19 August 2017.

The focus of their presentation was the Broken Hill Midwifery Group Practice (BHMGP) and how it has evolved, two years after transitioning the whole maternity service into an all-risk, no exit, midwifery led model of care.

Broken Hill Maternity allocate all women who birth in Broken Hill their own Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) midwife for all of their maternity care. You might not know that this style of service is considered the

best model of maternity care, however it is only offered to 10% of pregnant women in all of Australia.

Alison and Danielle discussed challenges faced, discoveries and improvements since the MGP launch which are designed to improve the maternity service we provide the Far West community. Challenges include sustaining a rural workforce of young women with growing families. However, working in the BHMGP is considered quite

desirable to midwives and this in turn has made it easier to recruit to the Far West!

One of the main improvements to the service is the introduction of the Early Pregnancy Assessment Service (EPAS). The EPAS clinic was established in January 2017 for women with early pregnancy complications such as threatened/actual miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy follow up. It is an outpatient clinic which provides tailored clinical care and emotional support for families during a sad and difficult time in their lives.

The story of Broken Hill Maternity was so well received at the conference it won an award for best presentation! It is quite an achievement for the FWLHD to be a leader in maternity care, especially considering the relatively junior nature of the workforce.

Offering all women in the district access to gold-standard maternity care is a unique and innovative approach. The FWLHD maternity service is highly regarded throughout Australia and will hopefully inspire other rural & remote communities to consider supporting and implementing similar models of care.

Midwives impress at conference

Midwives Danielle Toigo and Alison Isaacs


The Education Centre Against Violence delivered a four day workshop to Health staff on "Practical skills in responding to people who experience domestic & family violence".

The workshop addressed the nature, extent and impact of the tactics of domestic violence along with the ways in which these tactics are supported at historical, political, cultural, social and personal levels. In addition the workshop provided a framework for responding to domestic & family violence which is underpinned by human rights conventions, legislation, strengths based philosophy and evidence based literature". The workshop participants are pictured below.

Domestic and family violence workshop

R U OK? Day is an annual day in September (Thursday, 14

September

2017) dedicated to remind people to ask family, friends and colleagues the question, "R U OK?" in a meaningful way, because connecting regularly and meaningfully is one thing everyone can do to make a difference to anyone who might be struggling.

The R U OK? tagline was brought about from extensive research proving that checking in with someone can really make a difference to their mental state. As noted by Gavin, an R U OK? participant: "Getting connected and staying connected is the best thing anyone can do for themselves and for those who may be at risk.”

By starting a conversation with someone you’re concerned about, you could help a family member, friend or workmate open up. If they say they are not ok, you can follow R U OK?’s conversation steps to show them they’re supported and help them find strategies to better manage the load. If they are ok, that person will know you’re someone who cares enough to ask.

To access the conversation steps please go to: https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask If you or a colleague is struggling, you can access the Employee

Assistance Program (EAP). Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is an early intervention strategy which provides confidential, professional, free, prompt counselling and referral services. For information, appointments and referrals phone: 1800 357 898 (free from a landline).

BH Hospital celebrates

130 Years

https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask


Ivanhoe landscaping work The landscape of Ivanhoe Health Service has undergone some

significant changes lately. The old facility has been demolished with landscaping and a new outdoor area added to the new facility. The photographs show the site before the work began and the progress for the new work.

Medication Safety

The August edition of FWLHD Pharmacy News included an article about Medication Safety:

This week’s safety focus is LASAs. No, not some tasty new cuisine, but “Look-Alike-Sound-Alike” medications. LASAs are a safety issue as it’s relatively easy to mix them up. The result may be a wrong medication or dose is administered to the patient.

LASAs may have similar packaging – the outer box, the

shape or writing on ampoules; they may be drug names that sound alike (e.g. carbamazepine and carbimazole) or even similar brand names (Lipitor® and Lipex®).

We use tall-man lettering to help distinguish names (cefTRIAXONE and cefaZOLin) and wherever possible pick different packaging between strengths and drugs. Nurses can help by being aware of LASAs and following the 5 “Rights” – especially “Right Drug”. Prescribers can help by ensuring orders are clear and legible. For more information call BHHS Pharmacy on 08 8080 1466 or email: [email protected].


The Integrated Violence Response Service is absolutely delighted to have been donated an amazing piece of art work from the talented Murphy Barker (pictured).

Murphy’s art work depicts all aspects of our work, in particularly working from a trauma informed model.

It will proudly be displayed on all future service brochures and banners and will be displayed in our new therapy room when we relocate into the new community health building.

Donated artwork to feature in IVRS

PAGE 18


Broken Hill Hospital Kiosk Auxiliary — AGM

The BH Hospital Kiosk Auxiliary held its annual general meeting on Tuesday 29 August. President, Betty Sammut, thanked everyone for their hard work, in particular the volunteers who had put in extra hours

to cover for volunteers who were absent. She said that everyone should be very proud of this year’s donation of $176,500 to the Hospital.

Kiosk Treasurer, Stephen Bennetts, presented the final accounts to the assembled volunteers advising that the accounts will be audited in the coming month. He congratulated all the volunteers on their hard work which resulted in this financial year’s donation to the Hospital.

Dennis Roach, Secretary and Public Officer, also congratulated all of the volunteers for their outstanding work and said that in the last eight years the Kiosk had donated $1,445,000 to the Hospital.

All positions on the Kiosk Executive were then declared vacant and the following volunteers were elected to the Kiosk Executive:

President: Betty Sammut. Vice President: Robert Fulton. Treasurer: Stephen Bennetts. Assistant Treasurer: Robert Fulton. Secretary and Public Officer: Dennis Roach. Purchasing Officers: Anne Bennetts, Charmaine Collins, Elaine Johns and Colleen Pedler.

Kiosk volunteers help Silver City Cinema: The Kiosk Volunteers, their colleagues and friends also decided to dig deep and have raised $380 which will be donated to the funds already raised by the community to install a lift in the cinema.

Policy Watch — PDs available on MOH internet The following documents have been published on the NSW Ministry of Health internet site http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies. These documents are official NSW Health policy. Compliance with Policy Directives is mandatory.

PAGE 19

Submissions can be sent to [email protected]. The newsletter can be found on the Far West LHD website at www.fwlhd.health.nsw.gov.au

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 6, Vol 7, JUNE 2017 The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 8, Vol 7, AUG 2017

Title Document Date Issued

Engagement and Observation in Mental Health Inpatient Units PD2017_025 26/07/2017

Notification of Obsolete Guideline: GL2010_006 IB2017_020 20/07/2017

Non-admitted Patient Establishment Type Definitions Manual IB2017_021 04/08/2017

Increased Rates of Pay and Allowances for Staff in the NSW Health Service - HSU and IB2017_022 08/08/2017

Clinical and Related Waste Management for Health Services PD2017_026 14/08/2017

Eligibility of Persons for Public Oral Health Care in NSW PD2017_027 15/08/2017

Non-admitted Patient Classification Principles GL2017_014 16/08/2017

Salary Increases Staff Specialists NSW Public Health System - Staff Specialists (State) IB2017_024 17/08/2017

Guidelines for Performance Art Programs in NSW Health Services and Facilities GL2017_015 17/08/2017

Guidelines for Visual Art Programs in NSW Health Services Facilities GL2017_016 17/08/2017

Increased Rates of Pay and Allowances for Operational Ambulance Officers and Managers IB2017_023 15/08/2017

If I Salary Package won’t I have to repay more HELP (HECS)? It is true that Salary Packaging, while decreasing your taxable income, actually increases your income for HELP

repayment calculations. But the fact is, you’ll have to repay your HELP debt one day, and Salary Packaging gives you the chance to use your tax savings to help pay your HELP debt. You’ll still have the same, or even a little more, cash in hand, and your HELP will be paid off sooner.

See below for an example, or ask the Salary Packaging department for figures based on your current income, to take to your financial adviser.

No Salary Packaging Taxable Income $57,000 HELP repayment $2,288 With Salary Packaging Taxable Income $46,034 Reportable FB amount $17,664 Income for HELP calculation $63,699 HELP repayment $2,860 Tax savings $1,898 Less Extra HELP paid $572 Remaining Tax saving $1,326 By Salary Packaging, you get an extra $1,326 cash, and you have an extra $572 paid off your HELP debt, which means

you’ll get it paid off sooner!


http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies

http://www1.health.nsw.gov.au/pds/Pages/doc.aspx?dn=PD2017_025

http://www1.health.nsw.gov.au/pds/Pages/doc.aspx?dn=IB2017_020





http://www1.health.nsw.gov.au/pds/Pages/doc.aspx?dn=GL2017_014





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