Hospital prepared for disaster

When Liverpool Hospital staff picked up the phone on Wednesday 7 November, “Exercise exercise exercise” was the important phrase which told them the disaster about to unfold was only a training exercise and not a real incident.

The scenario: a bushfire had damaged buildings at ANSTO (The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation) and casualties with potential contamination from hazardous materials were being brought to Liverpool Hospital.

Liverpool Hospital General Manager Anthony Schembri said this was one of the biggest training exercises the Hospital had undergone in years.

“A simulated disaster scenario like this provides our staff with first hand experience in unusual medical emergencies,” Mr Schembri said.

Liverpool Hospital’s Emergency Plan was

put to the test earlier this year when a fire ripped through an apartment block in Bankstown and a number of casualties were brought to the Hospital and during the recent Holsworthy Army accident, when Liverpool Hospital was also the primary receiving hospital.

During its recent accreditation by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards Liverpool Hospital received an Outstanding Achievement in emergency and disaster management, the highest level of accreditation for disaster preparedness and emergency response.

In the accreditation report, surveyors described Liverpool Hospital as an outstanding leader in emergency and disaster management, providing an exemplary model from which other NSW, Australian and international practitioners learn.

SOUTH WESTERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT

December2012

Clinic to help local toddlers

To submit a news story for publication in SWS LHD District News contact the Media Unit on 9828 6848 or email swsmedia@sswahs.nsw.gov.au

Families struggling with difficult behaviour in toddlers are benefitting from a new Toddler Clinic at the Karitane facility at Camden Hospital.

The new clinic runs two days a week and is housed in newly renovated rooms at Karitane at Camden Hospital.

Karitane CEO Robert Mills said the program used Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to reduce difficult behaviours including tantrums, aggression, anxiety and defiance.

“Parents and their children come in for an hour a week, for up to ten weeks and take part in play-based therapy.

“We’ve had wonderful feedback from parents who have reported they feel happier and more confident in their parenting skills,” he said.

Minister for Health and Medical Research, Jillian Skinner (centre) with Toddler Clinic clients Kristy Dunkling and daughter Caitlin.

Around 100 people were involved in a recent training excercise at Liverpool Hospital including Hospital staff, Australian Defence Force personnel, Police, Ambulance, Environmental Protection Agency, Fire & Rescue NSW HAZMAT team, NSW Counter Disaster Health Unit and staff from ANSTO.

As we approach the end of another year and look forward to spending time with our friends and families over the holiday season I would like to take the opportunity to thank staff for your hard work during 2012.We have been busy planning for the District’s 2012 Annual Public Meeting on Friday 7 December at Campbelltown Hospital and will soon publish our Year in Review and I have been struck by the considerable achievements of the last 12 months.This is a clear reflection of the

outstanding commitment of our staff towards delivering world-class health care to the people of south western Sydney. I hope many of you will have the opportunity to take a well-earned break and spend time with friends and family. I would also like to thank staff who will be working over the Christmas break providing high quality care to our patients.Finally, I would like to remind staff interested in pursuing a Masters of Business Administration (Health

Management) next year that applications need to be received by Friday 14 December. The course is aimed at staff who are motivated and have a keen interest in leadership and management. Please see the intranet for more details and an application form. Also, look out for the publication of the Year in Review 2012 which will be available on the District website from Friday 7 December. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and happy New Year.

Amanda Larkin, Chief Executive

2 | South Western Sydney Local Health District

December 2012

From the Chief Executive

Workplace giving visit

Sandra McDonald from Beautiful Minds with Bart Holman, who had a garden named in his honour.

Dr Andrew Browning, founder of the Barbara May Foundation visited Liverpool Hospital to update staff on the Workplace Giving Program (WGP) and join in a tree planting ceremony to symbolise the Hospital’s commitment to the Program.A Zanzibar shrub, native to South Africa was planted to represent the growth of the Program.Dr Browning along with his father David Browning, a former staff gynaecologist at Bowral Hospital, and his aunty Valerie Browning set up the Barbara May Foundation to establish maternal healthcare networks for impoverished places around the world, including the Afgar region of Ethiopia.Through the WGP, staff have already raised over $300,000 to help the Foundation build a fully equipped 20-bed maternity hospital in the Afar region.To join WPG visit: http://intranet.sswahs.nsw.gov.au/SSWAHS/WGP

The make-over of two recovery gardens at the Waratah Adult Mental Health Unit is now complete.The gardens were landscaped following a fundraising appeal by Beautiful Minds which raised $70,000.Dr Gary Flynn, Clinical Director Macarthur and Wingecarribee Mental Health Service thanked Beautiful Minds and said clients were already enjoying the new-look gardens.“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback on how beautiful the gardens look and how they are helping clients with their recovery.“The gardens feature outdoor exercise equipment, a walking path and raised vegetable and herb gardens for clients undertaking gardening programs.“We are very thankful to Sandra McDonald and the Beautiful Minds team, consumers and the local community for their continued support,” he said.

Gardens renewed

Dr Andrew Browning joined Liverpool Hospital staff in the courtyard for a tree-planting ceremony.

3 | South Western Sydney Local Health District

December 2012

Cancer Services AGM held

The Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research hosted its Annual Research and Teaching Showcase. This year’s theme was Injury, reflecting Liverpool’s reputation as one of the major trauma centres in NSW.

The event highlighted leading research initiatives and medical breakthroughs in the area of Injury, as well as the Institute’s core research streams.

On the day, Karl Schurr, Ingham Institute Allied Health Group Leader and Senior Physiotherapist at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital was awarded the major prize for Outstanding Research Achievement. Karl has co-authored 13 peer reviewed papers (including three in-press) and a book chapter and is a Chief-Investigator for a proposed NHMRC grant looking at enhancing mobility outcomes for people undergoing aged care and neurological rehabilitation through the use of exergames.

Katharine Scrivener, Physiotherapy Clinical Educator , Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital won the award for Excellence in Teaching . Since starting as clinical educator, she has directly supervised 110 physiotherapy students from five Universities and has mentored many other physiotherapists involved in student education at Bankstown Hospital.

Both Karl and Katharine were awarded $5,000 for conference travel as their prizes, provided by the District and Ingham Institute.

The forum also included the launch of the Research Strategy for South Western Sydney 2012-2021, which provides a blueprint for the District’s research direction for the future.

The Plan recognises the considerable strengths in the District including the collaborations between researchers, clinicians, universities and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research.

Hospital mos growing strong Forum shows off research

Liverpool Hospital ED staff showing off their Movember growth.

Staff from Campbelltown Hospital’s ED spread some cheer as hospitals and community health centres across the District dust off the Christmas trees, decorations, tinsel and bells in preparation for the festive season.

Visitors to Campbelltown and Liverpool Emergency Departments would be forgiven for thinking that the EDs had slipped back into a 70s time warp, with staff sporting some impressive looking mos for the month of Movember.Liverpool ED Director Dr Richard Cracknell said staff had embraced the event and the mos were growing strong. “We are in the business of health and Movember highlights important men’s health issues, specifically prostate cancer and male mental health,” said Dr Cracknell.“We have already managed to raise more than $8,000 which has placed us within the top few hundred of more than 14,000 teams nationally.Dr Cracknell said all staff involved had put in an outstanding effort, although some mos were more impressive than others.“Not all mos are equally mo-mentous but it’s all for a good cause!”To support the group visit http://au.movember.com/team/485001

SWS LHD Cancer Services held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) last month. The day was an opportunity for Cancer Services to showcase its achievements over the past year and allowed the service to acknowledge the valuable contribution made by volunteers and staff.Director of Cancer Services Professor Geoff Delaney

presented future plans for the District, as it prepares for a significant increase in demand for cancer services.The AGM also focussed on redevelopment and capital works, with talks on the development of a Wellness Centre, the Research Strategy for South Western Sydney and the Cancer Patient Support Research Group.

Deck the wards

4 | South Western Sydney Local Health District

December 2012

State first for cancer treatmentAustralian cancer award The Ingham Institute and UNSW’s Executive Director of the Translational Cancer Research Unit, Professor Afaf Girgis, has received the Inaugural Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) Psycho-Oncology Award. The award recognised the highest level of contribution to Psycho-Oncology, a vital component of cancer research that investigates the psychological, social and behavioural aspects of cancer – stretching beyond the physical disease itself.

Engineer of the year! Congratulations to District Engineering Services Manager Ron Fulwood who was recently announced Engineer of the Year by the Institute of Hospital Engineering Australia.

Ron said he was surprised and honoured to receive the award. Ron was based at Campbelltown Hospital for 20 years, before moving to Liverpool Hospital in 2008.

Educator Hellen Rigatos with students Yasmine and Daniel in the garden.

In a first for New South Wales, a $3.8 million tomotherapy machine that will treat cancer patients with precise radiation therapy has been installed at Liverpool Hospital’s Cancer Therapy Centre.

The machine combines a CT scanner and linear accelerator to treat tumours with high energy x-rays, while at the same time imaging the treatment area to ensure the highest accuracy.

The tomotherapy machine is a first for the state and only the third to be used in Australia.

District Director of Cancer Services Professor Geoff Delaney said by combining CT imaging and radiation treatment in a single device, the tomotherapy machine

would provide more effective treatment for complex patient cases.

“Our aim is to provide the highest quality health care to south western Sydney,” Professor Delaney said.

“This machine will manage treatment for an expected

increase in cancer patients locally.

Minister for Health and Medical Research, Jillian Skinner joined Member for Menai Melanie Gibbons MP on a visit to Liverpool Hospital to meet with staff and patients and view the

Win for Bankstown Child Care Centre

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Bankstown Hospital’s Birralee Child Care Centre was awarded runner up in the category of Best School or Childcare Centre for the Bankstown Council homegrown competition which celebrated Bankstown’s beautiful natural spaces. Well done to the staff and kids!

Courtyard revamp

A big thank you to staff from Bunnings Bankstown, Villawood and Greenacre stores who kindly helped renovate the Banks House patient courtyard, turning it into a sensory garden that is relaxing, calming and soothing for clients.Pictured left: Banks House OT Daneeka Bertolissio planting flowers.

Celebrating our OTs

Fairfield Hospital celebrated Occupational Therapy week from 21 to 27 October with an information kiosk in the hospital cafeteria.

The display showcased examples of the work and services that Occupational Therapists provide.

Patient Alfonso Quiroz with the new tomotherapy machine being used to treat him. Photo Courtesy of Luke Fuda/Liverpool Champion.