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Page 1: Message from the Chief Executive - NSW Ministry of Health West In Focus... · Message from the Chief Executive The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV

Message from the Chief Executive

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

Summer has arrived and Christmas is looming close, making it a good time to review the year and think about what’s ahead in 2017.

Congratulations to everyone who has been involved in Broken Hill Health Service preparing for

accreditation. The feedback following the survey visit at the beginning of November was very positive against all criteria. It’s great to see that the focus on safety and quality routinely has ensured our systems have developed so well. Thanks for all your efforts and I’m sure our communities will benefit from their access to safe, high quality services well into the future.

I can’t mention accreditation without noting that Coral Bennet retired shortly after the accreditation

survey. Before she retired Coral dropped in to see me, and I was delighted to hear about her experience over more than 30 years and her views on the good place that Broken Hill Health Service and the LHD are in now. Her praise for all her colleagues, the readiness of people to step in and help each other and the focus on meeting patients’ needs should be a source of pride for everyone.

Our first cohort of School Based Apprentices and Trainees

(SBATS) graduated in November. Tyrone Harvey won the SBAT of the Year Award at the Far West Business Awards. I hope to catch up with all our SBATs before Christmas to get feedback on their experience so we continue to improve this program. I understand there has been lots of interest for our third cohort that will start next year.

Every month, all chief executives from across NSW meet.

Next week is the first time we have held the meeting in a rural area. The media team from Mid North Coast LHD visited earlier in the month as part of preparing a presentation for the meeting on all the great things happening across rural LHDs. Thanks to Branko and all the staff who made themselves available for filming as this is a great opportunity for us, and our rural colleagues to showcase the innovative work occurring.

Every month I enjoy the opportunity to meet new staff when they wander along for orientation. You

can find names and photos of new staff inside, please take the time to stop, introduce yourself and welcome them to the LHD.

We have been doing some work to crystalise what the LHD stands for in the form of a branding

strategy, which I’ll be talking a lot more about in the next few months. Don’t be surprised if Branko stops you to talk and asks to make a short video with you over the next two months, it’s part of our getting ready to launch the strategy.

Finally the Board endorsed the LHD’s Service Plan at its meeting this week so we’ll be getting that

up on the intranet and a lot of work will commence to ensure its implementation progresses smoothly. I’m looking forward to announcing the winners of Get Healthy tomorrow evening, and then to the

Christmas break. I hope everyone gets a chance to spend time with friends and family, recharge their batteries and get ready for next year. Remember it’s easy to put on a centimetre or so over Christmas, but if we do that every year, it adds up quickly.

— Stuart Riley, Chief Executive

Information forums have been organised for staff to find out more about the $30 million Broken Hill Health Service Redevelopment.

Turn to page 4

for details.

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The Accreditation for Broken Hill Health Service has now been completed and the surveyors have indicated they are going to recommend full accreditation for another four years.

General Manager Ken Barnett was full of praise for the efforts put in by all staff during what can be an at times very busy and stressful experience.

“I would like to thank all our staff for their hard work to get us to this point today, not just for the extra effort to get us ready for Accreditation but for all the work you all do to make sure we can provide good care for our patients,” he said.

“The surveyors acknowledged the really great team that we have here and the way that we all support each other. “Thank you and keep up the great work, it is a pleasure working with such a fantastic team,” he said. Congratulations to everyone on a job well done!

Accreditation Surveyors Ms Paula Elliott, Dr Alan Sandford and Mr Stuart MacKinnon with CGU Director Zandra Corey, BHHS GM Ken Barnett and Quality Manager Coral Bennett.

Thumbs up for BHHS Accreditation!

The Accreditation summation sessions for the Executive and Staff were very popular.

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016 Ph

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Everyone is being urged to ‘save the date’ and take part in the Rural Innovations Changing Healthcare (RICH) Forum on 31 March 2017.

This statewide Forum is ‘virtual’ in design, linking 18 satellite hubs via a blend of videoconference, live webstreaming and social media for a day showcasing innovative rural models of care which have potential for broader implementation, to share lessons learned, and increase collaboration across rural health sectors.

Registration is free of charge and invitation is extended to LHD staff and other agency stakeholders to participate. Presenters will be sought to showcase rural innovation with demonstrated

outcomes in: closing the gap, integrating care, outreach using telehealth, intersectoral collaboration, transfer of care; admission, discharge and referral pathways, Public/Private relationships and harnessing technologies.

LHD staff are also invited to showcase your project and share your lessons learned by submitting an abstract. Abstracts open on 16 January and close 27 February 2017.

For more information contact Jenny Preece, ACI Rural Health Network Manager on email at [email protected] or phone 0427 568 429 and 02 6692 7716.

Conference without the

travel!

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After many years of valued service, Coral Bennett has gone on extended leave, leading into retirement, from NSW Health.

Her last working day was 11 November and her colleagues gave her a farewell morning tea. Everyone wished her all the best for her retirement and future endeavours.

Coral began her nursing training in 1970 at the Broken Hill Hospital. Since then, she has worked in many roles including ADON, ICU Nurse, Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Coordinator, Manual Handling Coordinator and most recently Quality Manager. As the Manual Handling Coordinator Coral was able to assure staff that the equipment they were using was the safest equipment available and her contributions to the recent accreditation survey for Broken Hill Hospital were pivotal to the successful outcome.

Coral was frequently recognised in rounding for her contributions to the Quality Audit System and her wealth of knowledge and resources, which she has always been happy to share. She has also received formal accolades for her work including being awarded Nurse of the Year in 2002 and a win in the 2003 Quality Awards for implementing a red dot mobility system.

We wish Coral all the very best as she transitions into this new phase of her life. Coral’s wisdom, skills, experience, dedication and sense of humour will be sorely missed.

Coral was asked to reflect on her time with health. In her words:

Thirty years – where did that time go? Thirty years, sounds like an aeon but in truth feels like a

few days. I have spent those years working at the Broken Hill Hospital and consider it a privilege to have done so. I am honoured and humbled to have worked with every one of the people I have had contact with in the last thirty years. Working at the Broken Hill Hospital and for the Far West LHD has been like being in a great big family.

I have agreed and disagreed, laughed and cried with some and hope I have shared knowledge with you all as I have certainly learned much from those I have worked with.

I have been part of turbulent times in healthcare and watched a transition to stability through the resilience and perseverance of the staff of the Far West LHD. During those years there has been a constant thread of compassion and professionalism which has been demonstrated in “aces” through the recent result of a further four years accreditation

for the Broken Hill Health Service. I know there will also be a positive result for the Lower Western Sector in their accreditation next year.

Nothing comes without effort and you can’t sit back and expect good fortune and opportunity to drop from the sky. The accreditation result shows the people working in the Far West LHD to be the innovators that have led to what I believe to be the Gold Standard for rural/remote health care. Stand tall Far West LHD and be proud of your achievements – you deserve it. I ask you all to nurture and support whoever becomes the new Quality Manager and keep up the good work achieved for accreditation.

I will not acknowledge any single individual as everyone I have had contact with in any way great or small has left their mark and to try to remember all will surely leave the list lacking names.

As I turn the page of a new chapter in my life I reflect on my years working for the Far West LHD and its former entities. It hasn’t always been easy but I feel I have had a “Dream Run” and have had a career that has been both enriching and rewarding.

I am overwhelmed with the generosity of the people I work with. Thank you one and all for the beautiful gifts given at my farewell.

As I leave, please let me say: “Be kind to each other and never lose focus on the reason for

your work – making sure that the community that comes to us for help stay safe in our care.”

Thank you everyone, I am proud to call you my colleagues. — Coral Bennett.

Coral was farewelled by her work colleagues and friends

Coral calls time

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

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Tyrone Harvey wins Trainee of Year Award Congratulations to Far West LHD SBATs student Tyrone Harvey! Tyrone was named 2016 School Based Trainee of the Year in the YMCA Far

West Business Awards held 12 November in Broken Hill. The Year 11 student at Broken Hill High School is currently doing Certificate III

Business Administration with Far West LHD in the LHD's SBATs (School Based Apprenticeship and Training) Program.

Tyrone has been working at the Broken Hill Hospital and in the LHD in a number of administration roles including medical admin.

Well done Tyrone – a well-deserved recognition! This is the second year running a Far West LHD SBATs student has won the top

award. Muriel Hunter was awarded the Best School Based Trainee of the Year for 2015.

Tyrone Harvey presented with his trophy on the night of the awards and at a celebratory morning tea thrown by his work colleagues.

The importance of screening for diabetes was highlighted on World Diabetes Day (November 14) under the theme ‘Eyes on Diabetes’.

The key messages promoted to staff and the public was that screening for type 2 diabetes is important to modify its course and reduce the risk of complications; and that screening for diabetes complications is an essential part of managing all types of diabetes.

Free screening was offered to the public in the Broken Hill Hospital foyer with Diabetes Educator Karen Brewster and Community Dietitian Heidi Drenkhahn.

Over 30 AusD-Risk screenings were completed on the day, with those receiving a high risk score being urged to make an appointment with their GP to go over the results.

Anyone else who didn’t make it on the day who may be worried about their risk of developing diabetes can go to : www.diabetesaustralia.com.au to complete the screening online.

Melanie Blair (Clinical Dietitian) had free screening from Karen Brewster and Heidi Drenkhahn on World Diabetes Day.

World Diabetes Day promotion

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

Staff Information

Forums

Information forums will be

available for staff to come

and find out more about the

Broken Hill Health Service

Redevelopment.

Broken Hill Health Service Staff (Meeting Room 2)

Friday 2 Dec. 2pm-3pm

Wednesday 14 Dec. 3.30pm-4.30pm

Thursday 15 Dec. 3pm-4pm

Kincumber House Staff (Board Room)

Friday 9 Dec. – 10am-11am

Come along to one of these

sessions if you would like to

see what is going to be built

and have your questions

answered.

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The LHD came under the gaze of visitors from ‘away’ when we hosted the Mid North Coast LHD Integrated Multi-Media Unit.

The Unit spent two days in Broken Hill and at Menindee interviewing and filming a host of staff members about the great innovative projects and programs we have as well as getting scenic footage of our great attractions. The footage will be used in a promotion of the rural and remote LHDs at a Senior Executive Forum being held in Dubbo next month.

The film crew were able to cover our School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship Program (SBATs), Hospital In the Home, Palliative Care Services, the Health Hubs, Midwifery Group Practice, Rural and Remote Nursing, Community Engagement, the BHHS Emergency Department ‘Did Not Wait’ program and CaRE Screens. The BHHS Kiosk Auxiliary volunteers also came in for attention as did the $30 million BHHS Redevelopment.

Mid North Coast Media and Corporate Communications Manager Lynn Lelean was impressed with everything the team saw and had high praise for our staff she met. She said: “I have to say the best part of the two-day visit was meeting your staff. There was such a positive and

friendly vibe at every facility we visited and professionalism and dedication at every turn. Walking into a health facility like Menindee was inspiring and educational - the shots of the girls taking the ambulance out on the road are among the best we have!”

It is envisaged the footage captured during the two days will be made available for use in the future to promote our LHD. Thank you to everyone who made the filming go so well and welcomed our visitors so warmly during their two-day stay.

Focus on the LHD!

It was all smiles for the camera as the

LHD put its best on show!

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

The November Corporate Induction session had an engaged group of staff who were happy to be involved in discussions throughout the day. They were:

Seated (from left): Jacinta (Cindy) Carter; Enrolled Nurse in Wilcannia/White Cliffs , Sarah Owen, Emergency Department in BH and Robyn Harris; Registered Midwife MGP in BH.

Standing (from left): Olga Menchakova; Maintenance/Gardener/Hospital Assistant in Ivanhoe, Carol Galang-Bunhian; Registered Nurse Mental Health in BH, Noni Inglis, Acting Human Resource Manager, Sona Sunny; Senior Registered Nurse Surgical in BH, Thomas Cashion; Registered Nurse, Ivanhoe, Brooke Carpenter; Dental Assistant in BH, Denoob Joseph; Casual Hospital Assistant in Wilcannia, Breeanna Muscat; Assistant in Midwifery – Undergraduate Position in BH, Abigail Western; Casual Registered Nurse in BH and Chandler Rieck; Assistant in Midwifery – Undergraduate Position in BH.

Get Healthy Survey Now Open The Get Healthy Program 2016 Feedback Survey is now open. All staff

are encouraged to complete the survey, regardless of whether they participated in the program.

Feedback will help to shape the Program for 2017. Go to: www.svy.mk/2eXQlFu

Get Healthy Program Awards Gala Please join us as we present the Program Awards for 2016. Our teams

have been working so hard for the past 26 weeks to take up healthy lifestyle changes, to better look after our patients and clients.

To show our support, please join the teams at the Awards Gala on Friday 2 December (just before the Far West LHD Christmas Party kicks off).

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Far West LHD Nursing and Midwifery Services go Platinum The Far West Nursing and Midwifery Directorate believe that each and every nurse in our District should have the

opportunity to grow their career and tap into their leadership potential. We believe that leadership skills are vital to provide quality patient care and advocacy. Nurses with leadership skills are change makers. We promote the professional growth of

our nursing staff and the nursing profession within Far West Local Health District. With that in mind, we have joined forces with the Australian College of Nursing through their affiliation program. We are now the proud owners of the ACN Affiliation Program as Platinum Members. Only 1 of 20 places across Australia that hold a platinum membership. What does this initiative mean to our nurses? Together with the ACN and other platinum members we can share our passion about nursing and the role nurses fulfil. We have access to benefits that will support our nursing staff in their professional practice, and develop their leadership ability by connecting and learning from inspiring and motivational nurse leaders. Our platinum membership is a five star access to ACN’s services and benefits. We are granted unprecedented access to their events and benefits, these include:

Customised Executive Leadership Development Day

Complimentary registration to a ACN Leadership Course

10% discount off all other ACN leadership course registrations

30% discount off advertising in ACN publication

$5000.00 worth of CareerLink advertising

Complimentary National Nurses Forum registrations

VIP invitations to all ACN Network Events

Discounted Affiliate member rate for all nurses employed in FWLHD (saving you $72.00 per membership)

10% discount off all CPD courses

20% discount off ACN endorsement services. In October the Directorate Nursing Team accompanied seven lucky nurses to the ACN Nursing Leadership Forum in

Melbourne. This was a fantastic three-day event where we heard the most inspirational leaders in nursing discuss our contemporary issues that we face today. The lucky nurses were recipients of our International Nurses Day celebrations — the Nurse of the Year, EN of the Year, AIN of the Year, New Grad of the Year and of course Team of the Year. Due to the wonderful feedback we received from those recipients we are already planning for 2017. Our Platinum Affiliation with the ACN now allows us sustainability to attend with the 2017 winners.

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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

Support for White Ribbon Day in the Town Square

The LHD’s Integrated Violence Prevention Response Service joined in with supporting White Ribbon Day in the Town Square in Broken Hill.

They joined a number of like-minded agencies to raise awareness of domestic violence and promote the ‘no to domestic violence’ message. At the same time, the staff had available for the public a variety of resources along with information about their service.

IVPRS team members (from left) Sylvia Clottu, Heidi Ogden, Sherree Ferrall and Angela Harvey at the White Ribbon Day in the Town Square.

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Last month twenty participants were chosen to be clinical

champions as 'wound care resource individuals' within the

Far West LHD.

Representatives from each ward were chosen with a

number of interested applicants putting forward their

expression of interest, including those from the Lower

Wester Sector sites.

The course on 25-26 October was conducted by the

Australian College of Nursing in conjunction with Far West

LHD policies in wound care management and infection

control.

Some of the topics included were:

Principles of wound assessment

Appropriate product selection to facilitate wound

healing

Safe wound care practice

Assessment and management of wound ulcers

Management of burns

Integrate evidence-based practice in the management

of wounds

Wound care management and

infection control

Clinical Champions for LHD

International Pathology Day was celebrated by Pathology West at Broken Hill Hospital with a display in the foyer to promote the Pathology Lab and the importance of the work it does for the hospital and the community of Broken Hill and the Far West.

There are five scientists and three technical assistants working in the laboratory and their duties include collecting and testing bloods from inpatients, outpatients and they also do home visits for house-bound patients.

The Lab provides a 24/7 service to the hospital and is open 7am to 11pm Monday to Friday and 7.30am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. There is also an after hours on-call service.

LEFT: The Pathology Day display in BH Hospital.

RIGHT: Hospital Scientist Joanne Smith at work in the Laboratory at

Broken Hill Hospital. Joanne has been working here for just over a

year now.

Important role of the Pathology Lab

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

The last group of JMOs for 2016 have begun their time with the LHD and will stay until 5 February 2017.

The group attended an Orientation on Monday 21 November and this continued through their first week at lunchtime sessions, where they learned about their week at RFDS, how IPTASS works and Cultural Awareness to name a few of the topics covered.

This group includes Dr Harris and Dr Elizabeth Richardson (Surgical Intern), who we welcome back from secondment in Sydney and Dr Yvette Etherden (Medical Intern) who are all our locally employed interns and RMOs.

Dr Eugene Ting (MED SRMO) will be joining the intake in 3 weeks’ time as he is completing a PhD.

All our new JMOs are keen to see the sights of Broken Hill and the District over the Christmas – New Year season.

Our last group of JMOs for 2016 (from left Dr Carmen MacDonald (ED RMO), Dr Jessica Wells (MEDICAL RMO), Dr Gary Tsang (A/MEDICAL SRMO) and Dr Kriti Agnihotri (MEDICAL RMO).

Final group of JMOs to see out the year with LHD

eHealth Strategy for NSW: 2016-2026 World-class, patient-centred healthcare is the aim of the eHealth Strategy for

NSW: 2016-2026. It is a bold, 10-year program of innovation, investment and implementation identifying key eHealth goals for NSW.

By building on the great work already underway and introducing new and exciting digital technologies, eHealth NSW has a 10-year plan to advance our health system – making it more connected, more efficient and more responsive to patients’ needs.

Importantly, delivery of the eHealth Strategy will be a team effort across NSW Health. Planning and delivery will be informed by partnership, consultation and collaboration.

This short video explains the eHealth Strategy for NSW Health: 2016-2026 and its many benefits for NSW clinicians and the patients for whom they care.

You can watch the video by going to the FWLHD Facebook page.

Did you know... NSW Health has a free state-wide advice

line, the Anti-Bullying Advice Line. Independent advisors can answer your questions about the process for managing bullying complaints, or what you can do to make bullying behaviour stop.

Contact the team on 1300 416 088 7am – 6pm Monday to Friday, or see www.abal.health.nsw.gov.au if:

• You are concerned that you, or someone in your workplace is being bullied at work, and you're not sure what to do.

• You want more information on how bullying is handled in NSW Health

• You are a manager and need advice on handling bullying in your area.

• You can call if you have been bullied or have witnessed bullying behaviour in your workplace.

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MH poster can help you

help others To help identify the characteristics of mental

wellbeing, the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health and the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) developed a user-friendly mental health continuum resource.

The poster ‘How are you going” is a flow chart enabling us to check on how ourselves, or someone we know, is going in relation to mental wellbeing. It then provides information about ‘what can you do’.

FWLHD RAMHP coordinator, Marie Kelly has distributed hundreds to workplaces, organisations and individuals across the FWLHD and suggests some of the great places to display this resource includes waiting rooms, staff rooms and behind toilet doors.

To request a PDF copy, or print version (available in A4 or A3 size) please contact Marie Kelly on email [email protected] or phone 0429 674 307.

A 'healthy morning tea' and discussion with Dietitian, Elsie

Patterson, was enjoyed by staff at Ivanhoe Health Service this month.

Brenda Brennan, Aboriginal Primary Health Care Worker, came up with the idea and the morning was well attended. A

large variety of questions on various aspects of nutrition was

discussed. Participants appreciated the informality of the morning

and came forward with various questions on all aspects of nutrition. Elsie was very impressed with the casual

discussion of various topics and thought it was a great way to engage community members.

New Graduate RN Elizabeth O'Connor and new Ivanhoe

RN, Thomas Cashion, were also were both impressed with all aspects of the morning.

Discussing nutrition at Ivanhoe

Check your

super! Check your

payslip – are your superannuation details up to date? Is your super being paid into the right fund? New starter? Get your super set up correctly. Rolling over your super funds? Please let us know.

To make a change go to Employee Self Service at https://stafflink.hss.health.nsw.gov.au From the login page click on ‘Forms Index’ and go to the ‘Superannuation Guarantee Election Form’

Need help? Contact the Service Centre on 1300 679 367 or [email protected]

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Broken Hill Hospital Kiosk Auxiliary

Happy and sad news for the Kiosk this month. First the good news is that the Kiosk received another honour for their outstanding contribution. At the United Hospital Auxiliary State Conference Awards the Kiosk won the prestigious Dame Marie Bashir Trophy for the most money raised gross for a Rural Facility.

More good news: Josephine Peter, Broken Hill Kiosk Auxiliary volunteer, is in the running for a Local Hero Award which is part of the NSW Australian of the Year Award. At the award ceremony in Sydney on Monday 7 November, Josephine was named 2017 NSW Local Hero. We congratulate Josephine and wish her the best of luck in the National Local Hero at the Australian of the Year Awards in 2017.

The sad news is that President Cheryl Meuret resigned as President due to personal commitments. Cheryl has been an exceptional President and during her term in office the Kiosk has grow in numbers, increased income and received many awards and acknowledgements. Cheryl would be the first to say that it was a team effort and the Kiosk Executive and Volunteers are the real heroes, but those who work with Cheryl would also credit her leadership. The Kiosk Executive was reluctant to accept Cheryl’s resignation but all were pleased to hear that Cheryl would continue to volunteer with the Monday Team. Incoming Interim President, Betty Sammut, said it was a pleasure working with Cheryl and looks forward to carrying on the good work for the Kiosk.

The Kiosk also reluctantly accepted the resignation of Assistant Secretary Carrie Oakley. Many will know Carrie as a local business woman who devoted must of her energy to various charities and not for profits in Broken Hill. As well as donating her time to the Kiosk she also donated polo shirts for two of our volunteer teams and hand weights to the Aqua volunteers for use by the class participants. Carrie will be missed by all and as one volunteer eloquently said “Over the years she has done some wonderful things for our community, many of which not many people know about and we will miss her generosity and her determination to make a difference to the people of Broken Hill”. Good luck with your new venture interstate Carrie, we will miss you.

Volunteer News

2017 NSW Local Hero — Josephine Peter

Hidden Treasurers Honour Roll

Far West LHD’s staff and volunteers featured in the 2016 Hidden Treasurers Honour Roll (pictured), which recognise and thank the inspiring women volunteers within NSW rural, regional and remote communities. The 2016 Honour Roll was launched on Saturday 29 October at the NSW Rural Women’s Gathering held in Broken Hill and printed copies of the 2016 Honour Roll have now been sent to this year’s group of worthy women.

Far West LHD congratulates: Janet Daley and Karen Kemp, Staff/Volunteer Patient Family Support Program; Eleanor Blows, Aqua Volunteer Leader; Lesley Sumsion, Dementia/Delirium & Palliative Care Volunteer; Cheryl Meuret, Charmaine Collins, Elaine Johns, Judy Prenzel, Amelia Butler and Carrie Oakley, Broken Hill Hospital Kiosk. To you and the other worthy and wonderful women of Broken Hill who volunteer for our organisation and other community organisations and not for profits in Broken Hill – thank you.

International Volunteers Day — 5 December 2016

It seems impossible that it’s been a year since we last celebrated our volunteers on International Volunteer Day, a day when we honour and thank our volunteers for their contribution and the difference they make to our organisation and our community. This year’s theme is Global Applause, give volunteers a hand.

Far West LHD keeps this particular celebration on a more personal basis, there are no BBQ’s or events, instead our staff uses this opportunity to personally thank the volunteers for their contribution to their individual programs and units. Over the years I have heard from some volunteers that this is one of their favourite acknowledgements as they feel part of a team or unit and they value the appreciation expressed by staff for their volunteering efforts; of course I am paraphrasing here as often the comments are “oh it was lovely being thanked by…” or “there is no need for thanks I do it because I enjoy it and feel as if I make a difference, but it was nice of the CE/NUM/Manager/GM to say thank you”.

So everyone please let us continue this tradition and remember to say thanks to our volunteers – we appreciate you – on Monday 5 December.

Happy International Volunteers Day – thank you everyone.

Mary Leehane – Volunteer Manager

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

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Annual Promotional Plan

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October was about Standard 4 – Medication Safety and Standard 5 – Patient Id. Audits during October focused on VTE prevention (results shown below);

monitoring of refigerated medications (we need to identify a reliable strategy for downloading of data logger reports); patient id bands (good results), and clinical handover at the bedside (results shown below).

November was

about Standard 8 –

Pressure Injuries

and Standard 10 –

Preventing Falls.

Results from audits completed during November

will be available in the next edition of Far West in

Focus.

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

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If you think you can or think you can’t, you are right – Henry Ford.

Planning has commenced for the 2017 Far West

LHD Innovation Awards. In previous years, you

told us you weren’t comfortable nominating your

improvement activities into the local health awards

because your project ‘wasn’t big enough’ or

‘wasn’t innovative enough’. You also told us the

nomination form (based on the State awards form)

was hard to complete for smaller projects. We

have listened to your feedback and next year we

will have two sections for nominations into the

local awards:

1. Smaller projects – these are improvements

that have shown good results within your unit or

department. The nomination process will be simple

and quick. There may be potential to scale your

changes to other departments or units or to

develop your small project into a larger one, and

we can help you do that.

2. Larger projects – these are projects

undertaken across departments, units or agencies.

Examples might be Clinical Leadership Program

projects, research projects with specific grant

funding. These will still use the nomination form

based on the State awards format.

The Clinical Governance Unit can support your

improvement work.

Are you doing improvement

activities? Think about the

2017 Far West LHD

Innovation Awards.

Should I ‘IMS’ that?

Staff working in the health system are often

familiar with entering clinical incidents and near

misses in the IMS system. These are things that

impact on patient care and safety. Examples of

clinical incidents are falls, medication errors,

hospital acquired infections, pressure areas and

equipment issues.

Once a clinical incident is entered, we know

about it and we can take steps to explore why it

happened and what we can do to prevent it from

happening again. Unfortunately, we don’t tend to

enter problems with our corporate systems into the

IMS system.

Corporate incidents are things that reduce

efficiency or disrupt how the organisation works.

Most of these can be entered in the ‘staff/visitor/

contractor’ category of IMS.

Examples of corporate incidents that should be

entered into the IMS system are:

A person is given a start date for a new job,

but a mandatory pre-employment check had

been missed and this was only picked up after

they started the job;

You don’t get paid, or you don’t get paid

correctly;

No eMR access when commencing work

despite the form being completed 3 weeks

prior and sent to the appropriate place to

action.

If we are not capturing corporate systems issues

in the IMS system, how are we going to know if we have a problem, and how are we going to fix it?

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

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Therapeutic Guidelines for Palliative Care now available

The Therapeutic Guidelines Palliative Care are now available.

These guidelines are available through eTG complete, which can be accessed online by NSW Health staff via CIAP or in the eTG mobile app.

The book version has been printed and is currently being made available as a resource to FWLHD staff.

Dr Sarah Wenham, Specialist Palliative Care Physician, was involved in the revision of the guidelines as a member of the Therapeutic Guidelines Expert Working Group.

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

Christmas and New Years are around the corner and everyone is looking forward to presents, parties, food and booze. For many, the holiday season is a time of joy and happiness, but for some the holiday brings a lot of stress.

Alcohol and drug use are often exacerbated during the holidays, especially on Christmas and New Year’s. Overall, increased pressures and stress are often placed on many families during the holiday season. Personal issues, family conflicts and financial matters impact the health and well-being of an individual and alcohol and drug consumption increases in the festive season. People typically drink alcohol at Christmas and New Year’s Eve gatherings, and while many people drink responsibly, binge drinking (drinking until drunk or intoxicated) is also common amongst people of all ages. Binge drinking increases the risk of violence; drunken people are more likely to experience injuries requiring hospitalisation than sober people.

Tips for safe Christmas and New Year’s Eve alcohol and drug consumption

Aim to drink in accordance with the Australian guidelines for safe alcohol consumption, which allow no more than four standard drinks on any given day for both men and women;

Eat before and while drinking alcohol;

Avoid refilling a glass while it is half empty, as this makes it difficult to keep track of how much is consumed;

Space alcoholic drinks by having a glass of water or a soft drink in between;

Avoid buying drinks in “shouts” or “rounds” as this encourages everyone to keep up with the person who is drinking the fastest;

Keep busy dancing, watching entertainment or chatting with friends while awaiting the New Year. This can reduce the amount of alcohol consumed;

Don’t drive under the influence of drink or drugs. Designate a driver or plan to catch public transport or use a taxi.

Don’t mix drugs and drink alcohol — you are increasing the risks and making the effects more unpredictable;

If you are going to use drugs of any form, plan your use and inform someone of your use so they can seek help if something bad happens;

Don’t underestimate the effect that your use of drugs or alcohol may have the following morning and get in a car thinking you will be fit to drive when in fact; you may still be over the limit or be affected by drugs. A healthy liver takes approximately 1 hour to clear one standard drink. So do your calculations before getting behind the wheel the next morning.

Preventing alcohol and drug intoxication at Christmas and on New Year’s Eve is important for an individual’s health and for the health of loved ones. So this Christmas and New Year plan to consume alcohol and drugs in a safe way, have a good night, stay safe and stay alive and well.

Tis the season for celebrations Breaking the ice in our

community The Australian Alcohol and Drug Foundation, in

partnership with the FWLHD Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Service and Maari Ma, held two information sessions on crystalline methamphetamine (ice) for Aboriginal Alcohol & Other Drug and allied health workers.

The sessions were held at the University Department Rural Health on 8-9 November.

The information and practice-based sessions aimed at providing skills to Aboriginal AOD and allied health workers, in ways to respond and provide support to clients who use methamphetamines.

The training was conducted by Dr Suzie Hudson, an experienced AOD clinician and workshop facilitator, with a specialisation in crystalline Methamphetamines.

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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

Kincumber House staff enjoyed a Melbourne Cup luncheon on the day the nation stops for

a horse race. As well as the traditional Cup sweeps, there was the judging for Best

Fascinator and Best Dressed Male — awarded to Hollie Day and John Keenan (pictured right).

Kincumber celebrates race that stops a nation! Volunteers flying to Sydney for

State Awards Our volunteers will

again be flying to Sydney to attend the 2016 NSW Volunteer of the Year State Finals thanks to the generous sponsorship by Rex Airlines.

State Finalists Lesley Sumsion (pictured right), Dementia/Delirium & Palliative Care Volunteer, Regional winner and Broken Hill Hospital Kiosk Auxiliary Interim President Betty Sammut who will be representing the Broken Hill Hospital Kiosk Team, will attend the gala ceremony on Friday 2 December.

We extend our gratitude to Rex for sponsoring these two volunteers and wish them luck at the finals!

Early Christmas celebrations for

Aqua Volunteers Aqua class participants were treated to a delicious morning tea and early Christ-mas celebration thanks to the Aqua Vol-unteers. Shirley Barnett made a huge selection of slices, pies and sausages rolls which was enjoyed by everyone. This was of course after they had worked out in the pool with the usual Wednesday Aqua Class lead by Volunteer Aqua Leaders Ann and Eleanor. Ann thanked everyone for attending the morning tea and thanked the Far West LHD staff for their contin-ued support of the classes. This year classes will continue until Wednesday 21 December and re-sume on 9 January 2017. The Volunteers were thanked for their continued support of the Far West LHD Aqua Program. YMCA Manager Shane and Frontline Coor-dinator Jacinta added their thanks to the volunteers and presented the Volunteer Leaders with a Christmas gift to show their appreciation for their support of the YMCA and the Aqua Classes. Well done everyone and we look forward to continuing the great work in 2017.

A festive thankyou for our Aqua Volunteers (from left) Eleanor ,

Jacinta, Shane, Shirley and Ann.

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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016

Maternity Christmas Raffle With Christmas not far away the Fundraising Volunteers,

Margaret, Eileen and Catherine have been busy selling tickets for the Christmas Maternity Raffle.

The volunteers say they have had an excellent response to date and they hope to raise $1,000 at least.

This year the prizes are double the delight with two large hampers! First prize is a large variety hamper, pictured in front of Margaret and second prize is a chocolate hamper pictured next to Eileen.

With such quality prizes it’s certainly worth stopping to buy a ticket or two or more and help our Fundraising Volunteers achieve or, better still, surpass their target!

You still have time to get your tickets as the Raffle Draw is on the 23 December.

Margaret and Eileen with the beautifully presented Hamper Prizes

Colleagues bid farewell to Diane Wilson who is leaving the LHD for the tropical climate of Queensland.

Diane has given 35 year’s service to the health service. She graduated with her typing and shorthand Certificate from the Broken Hill Technical College in 1979 and one year later was employed as the Medical Typist in the Radiology Department at the Broken Hill Base Hospital. After working as a medical typist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and as a Receptionist in Perth (WA) , Diane returned to Broken Hill in 1988 and became the relieving Typist/Clerk in various Departments in the Hospital including General Administration, Radiology, Mail Distribution, Pathology and Payroll.

Dianne has been employed at the Broken Hill Health Service from this date till her decision to re-locate to Townsville in December this year. Over these years Dianne has moved from the “old” hospital location into the present hospital and has worked as the Medical Superintendent’s Secretary and as the Director of Nursing Services Secretary before joining the Health Information (Medical Records) Department in 1996, in a part time position still held today. She has also been Medical Typist to the Resident and Visiting Specialist Medical Staff.

We wish Di and her family all the best with their move to Queensland and sincerely appreciate the contribution she has made to the Broken Hill Health Service for the past 35 years.

Colleagues wished Di all the best (from left): Tracey Isaac, Marg Hoey, Tracy Williams, Julienne Shamrose-Perkins, Di Wilson, Carolyn Williams, Marie Bongetti, Amanda Morris, Teigan Erskine, Leonie

Kennedy, Kim Morley and Brady Wauchope.

Fond farewell for Diane

People attending the ED at the Broken Hill Hospital can now use an iPad to look for a local GP appointment.

Making it easier for people to make online appointments with local GPs, the iPad will help in a number of ways: The iPad will assist people:

To seek treatment from a local GP if there is extended waiting

times at the Emergency Department or Fast Track Clinic.

To make online follow up appointments with a local GP after

they have received treatment in the Emergency Department or Fast Track Clinic.

The iPad can be used anytime of the night or day to make an appointment or see if there are any GP appointments free.

The IPad will be situated on a floor mounted frame in the Emergency Department waiting room with easy to follow steps to help people make an online GP appointment.

Currently three GP practices in Broken Hill offer online appointments and can be accessed by the iPad. They are Nachiappans, Broken Hill GP Super Clinic and the South Medical Centre. People can also complete a patient experience survey about the ED and Fast Track Clinic using the iPad.

Denise McCallum, Project Manager Integrated Care, with the new iPad.

New iPad to help people book GP online

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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.

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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 11, Vol 6, NOV 2016