1. health and fitness

The Far West Local Health District Newsletter
Edition 3, Vol 5, Mar 2015
Message from the Chief Executive
Wow, the first quarter of the year seems to have slipped past.
Yesterday was the first day for completing the YourSay Survey. This survey comes around every
two years and provides everyone within the NSW Health System to provide feedback about their work
and their workplace. Responses are anonymous
and results are generated for each LHD and facility
where there are enough people to ensure
anonymity.
The first two YourSay surveys were very helpful
in identifying things that we needed to address
within the LHD, and it was great that we had the
highest response rate of any LHD. Please take the
time to complete the survey online, it will help test
how changes we have made have affected the
culture and work environment, and also to identify
areas where we need to improve further. The
survey closes on 24 April.
I’ve heard a few coughs and sniffles around
You can find a link to the YourSay Survey on the
lately, which reminded me to organise my flu
intranet front page slider banner
vaccination. Each of you makes a valuable
contribution when activity builds across winter, so
we can’t do without you. There are details inside about how to organise a flu vaccination.
Over the next few months, the emphasis on staying healthy, for both staff and our communities will
increase. We have a lot planned in this area over the next 12 months, so the health service should be
even better represented in next year’s YMCA Desert Dash. Well done to everyone who participated. In
a similar vein, it was great to see the launch of the Give Up Smoking (GUS) program for pregnant
women and their families.
The high tea for Senior’s Week looked like fun, even tempting Heidi into partaking in cake. The
impact of volunteers on the LHD’s service can never be underestimated. My thanks to the Broken Hill
Kiosk for again showering the service with support to purchase equipment. Many of us will have direct
experience of a family member or friend experiencing dementia, so it is great to see continued support
for the Dementia/Delirium and Palliative Care Volunteer Team.
If you have a gown or tuxedo that you loved wearing the last time it saw daylight, you might want to
get it out, and get frocked up for the International Nurses and Midwives Ball which is coming up on 16
May. I smiled reading the poster to see there are to be no speeches or auctions.
I wandered along to John Carroll’s farewell recently, and am sure everyone who had the opportunity
to work with John will miss his contribution and quiet smile, while wishing him well in his new role.
Welcome to Tina McLaren who’s joined the Accommodation Services Team, and Rachel Humphris
who has commenced as a Social Worker in Broken Hill Health Service.
I’m looking forward to the extra hour’s sleep this month and I hope each of us gets to enjoy a safe
and happy Easter.
— Stuart Riley, Chief Executive.
The Far West Local Health District Newsletter
Edition 3, Vol 5, Mar 2015
INNOVATION
By Mel Welsh, Clinical Redesign & Innovation Manager
Innovative Thinkers – It’s time to innovate and nominate!
We are quickly heading to our 5th FWLHD Health Innovation Awards ceremony on July 17th, and it is time for those of
you who have been working on a project or working to improve the way we work over the past year so, to put your hand up
and nominate into the awards.
It is not just about being judged a winner; it is about getting the word out there, sharing the work that has been done and
sharing the learning that has gone on in the process.
We are having project posters this year for all nominations, so everyone who nominates can share their work with
everyone else, and we will start to catalogue these on the intranet so they will always be accessible. Remember, if you are
ready to share what you have done with others, you are ready to nominate for the awards, and the sharing of the results is
by far the most important thing about this process. So, for those who have done their project, nominate NOW!
And for all you budding creative project people, now is the time to start working on that idea, that thing that has been
lurking under the surface, the issue that you just HAVE to fix, so you can be ready to share your work and results at next
year’s Health Innovation Awards.
Have you heard of an approach called
‘Pause, Notice, Observe’? People who
are more likely to pause, notice and
observe, are more likely to be creative
thinkers. While most of us trudge around
in our busy little worlds, we don’t notice
opportunities around us. Creative people
notice more, and are very curious. Taking
the time to pause, notice and observe
helps provide us with understanding and
inspiration, and the ideas start to flow.
"Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now,
bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind
Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only
way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that
there really is another way, if only he could stop
bumping for a moment and think of it.” — A A Milne
For those thinking about getting started: pause, notice, observe and get creative. Our biggest barrier to improving things
is getting bogged down and not seeing the opportunities that are very often there all along. And if you aren’t sure where to
start to get your ideas into a plan of attack, get in touch with me. You don’t have to tackle these things on your own.
Everyone wants to see things improved and your idea just may be the new creative way of thinking that has been missing
from the mix. Get cracking!
The 5th Annual FWLHD
Health
For more information about the 2015
FWLHD Health Innovation Awards,
please go to the FWLHD intranet
►Directorates ► Clinical Governance
Unit ► Health Innovation Awards.
Innovation
Awards
17th
July
2015
Submissions for Far West In Focus can be sent to [email protected]
The newsletter can be found on the Far West LHD website at www.fwlhd.health.nsw.gov.au
PAGE 2
The Far West Local Health District Newsletter
Edition 3, Vol 5, Mar 2015
Mediation in the Workplace training provides valuable skills
Far West Local Health District staff took part in week long Mediation training recently.
For those new to the mediation process the training provided insight and gave participants the opportunity during role play to practice
those valuable skills learned to assist staff in our workplace.
The workshop was five intensive days with quite a number of role plays to
further cement skills throughout the learning.
Human Resource Coordinator for Far West, Lianne McManus said the
staff showed enthusiasm for getting the most out of this training. “It is going
to be beneficial to the LHD to have additional in-house staff who can provide
a mediation service to assist with improving workplace culture and assist in
resolving workplace conflict.”
Participant comments included:
 "It was great to develop my confidence"
 “Gave me new skills and knowledge”
 "These skills will help me with every day dealings with people, not just
in a mediation situation”
 “I gained some valuable skills to use in the workplace”
 “It has increased my confidence/competence with mediation”
 “I loved the interaction with people”
Staff gained valuable skills in Mediation in the workplace
 “Enjoyed learning about the process and structure of mediation”
Congratulations to all staff that attended the mediation training and gained valuable skills and insight into mediation. FWLHD
participants included: Sam Lazarus, Dennis O’Neill, Shane Brown, Karen Behsmann, Louise Halford, Jayne Langran, Tim O’Neill, Jane
Baker, Gaylene Preston, Emma Clynch, Nicole Lawler, Samantha Elliott and Hollie Day.
Lianne reminded staff and managers that if you are experiencing conflict or issues in the workplace the process for having these
addressed in the workplace in a timely manner is to discuss first with your line manager.
New faces in FWLHD
The Accommodation Services has welcomed
Tina McLaren to its team. Tina takes over
from Ryan, who has left for a new career
in the Defence Force. Please make her
feel welcome and if you have any
questions or concerns Tina will be only
too happy to answers them.
Rachael Humphris has been welcomed to the
Far West LHD as the new Social Worker
at BHHS.
District Director of Pharmacy, John Carroll, has
left the Far West LHD to take up the role
of District Director of Pharmacy at
Murrumbidgee LHD. Clinical staff were
very appreciative of John’s excellent
work at Broken Hill Health Service and
across the District facilities. Of note was
John’s work in preparing for National
Standards accreditation, his work on the
Drugs and Therapeutics Committee and
the Antimicrobial Stewardship program.
John also provided stability and
leadership to junior pharmacy staff during
a time of transition.
RICH Forum 2015
The 2015 RICH Forum (Rural Innovations Changing Healthcare) was
hosted again this year by ACI on 18 March, with webinars and videoconferencing into regional sites across the state. The program was full of
interesting stories, including two of our own who presented to the forum
from Broken Hill.
Congratulations to Lyn Mayne (RFDS) and the Far West Oral Health
Team for being selected to present Sugar Gums and Emily Saurman (BH
UDRH) presenting about Emergency Mental Health in the bush, an
evaluation of the MHEC-RAP service. Sugar Gums was one of the finalists
in the 2014 FWLHD Health Innovation Awards.
Abstracts accepted for the RICH forum have also been uploaded onto
the Innovation Exchange (http://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/ie/searchprojects?
queries_ie_keyword_query=&queries_ie_organisation_query=FWLHD&iesearchbutton=Submit&status_name=&type_name=&category_name=&organisatio
n_name=Far+West+Local+Health+District ), so go on in and have a look at
an example of some of the great work being done in the district to improve
the care we provide to our consumers. Also, see how the Innovation
Exchange can be used to spread the word about the work being done on
the ground by clinicians and keep this in mind when you are ready to share
some of the good work you are doing in your teams.
Presentations from the day can be viewed via the ACI Innovation
Exchange at the following link: http://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/ie/recentlyadded
Submissions for Far West In Focus can be sent to [email protected]
The newsletter can be found on the Far West LHD website at www.fwlhd.health.nsw.gov.au
PAGE 3
The Far West Local Health District Newsletter
Edition 3, Vol 5, Mar 2015
GUS helping pregnant women to quit
The ‘GUS’ - Give Up Smoking for Mums, Bubs and Families – program
was launched in the Maternity Unit this month. GUS aims to reduce the
rates of smoking in pregnant women who attend the Broken Hill Hospital for
antenatal and postnatal care. The program is funded through a grant from
the Cancer Institute of NSW.
Melissa Cumming, Director Cancer Services Far West LHD, said at the
launch that for a smoking cessation in pregnancy program to be successful,
support education and resources need to be provided not only to the
pregnant woman, but also her partner and other immediate household
members.
“This will improve the health of the unborn baby, and then the health of
the baby and whole family after the birth. Pregnancy provides a window of
opportunity to assist the mother who is motivated to ensure their baby is as
healthy as possible and to prevent complications with preterm births,” she
said. Women who wish to give up smoking are referred to a smoking
cessation clinic. The pregnant women (and their partners or members of
their immediate household) are provided with counselling, education, free
nicotine replacement therapy, and ongoing support to quit smoking.
Staff and the public attended the
public launch of the GUS program in
the courtyard in the Broken Hill
Maternity Unit.
Health students cultivate their
creative writing talents
The Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health has engaged
Barbara De Franceschi, published local poet/writer, as artist-in-residence
to facilitate a series of creative writing workshops titled The Write to be
Heard.
The project for undergraduate health science students is part of the
ENRICH program, and is funded by Country Arts Support Program,
Regional Arts NSW in collaboration with West Darling Arts. Five sessions
a semester are set to be held at the Regional Art Gallery.
The aim of the workshops is to explore self-expression through the
written word, to enhance observation and communication skills beneficial
in clinical practices and to develop new skills by experiencing a diversity of
engaging tactics. Barbara has designed writing strategies to captivate the
students in an enjoyable experience that produces an evocative and often
amusing output of expression. As an artist Barbara takes her motto for
creative writing from poet William Carlos Williams – forget all restrictions …
write for the pleasure of it.
Students Liz Brain and Joshua Walker pictured with
artist-in-residence Barbara De Franceschi.
Submissions for Far West In Focus can be sent to [email protected]
The newsletter can be found on the Far West LHD website at www.fwlhd.health.nsw.gov.au
PAGE 4
The Far West Local Health District Newsletter
Edition 3, Vol 5, Mar 2015
2015 Flu season — Vaccination most effective way to minimise the risk
Influenza vaccines are available which offer a high degree of protection against seasonal illness and the severe consequences of
influenza; however, these must be administered annually due to changes in the influenza viruses. Recently some effective antiviral
medications for influenza have been developed, based on original Australian research, and these can be used to treat influenza
infections provided that they are taken in the early stages of the illness.
Influenza Facts: Influenza (commonly known as "the flu") is a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease that can be spread
through coughing and sneezing. In Australia, influenza on average causes 3,500 deaths, about 18,000 hospitalisations and 300,000 GP
consultations each year. Influenza is caused by a virus and causes more severe illness than the common cold. It can cause serious and
debilitating complications, including pneumonia. People with a chronic disease have a 40 times increased risk of death from influenza.
Annual vaccination is the single most effective measure to prevent influenza. Less than 50 per cent of healthcare workers, who are at a
greater risk of contracting and spreading influenza, are being vaccinated against influenza annually. 10 per cent of all workplace
absenteeism associated with illness is due to influenza.
The features that usually distinguish influenza from the common cold are: Duration of symptoms - typically 1-2 weeks for
influenza, a few days for a cold. Fever - This is often high with influenza but infrequent and mild with a cold. Muscular aches and
shivering - which are common with influenza but rare with a cold. Unlike the common cold, it may take several weeks to fully recover from
influenza, even for healthy younger people. Reference: http://www.isg.org.au/
Getting vaccinated is the single, most effective way to minimise the risk of contracting the disease. Staff
can contact Karen Kemp (ext 331) or Penny Griffin (ext 344) to arrange a vaccination.
International
Nurses and
Midwives Ball
Saturday, 16 May 2015
Just a reminder that the
International Nurses and
Midwives Ball is on Saturday
16 May 2015 at the Broken Hill
Civic Centre.
Tickets are $65 each and are
available from Jan Pearce, Zoe
Tonkin, Coral Bennett,
Geraldine Casey and Karen
Kemp.
There will be no speeches or
auctions on the night.
Supper is prepared by the
Gourmet Chef. All drinks at the
guest’s cost.
The Health Service was well represented at the Broken Hill
YMCA Desert Dash on Sunday 29 March 2015. It was a perfect
day out at the Living Desert Sculptures and there were plenty of
happy BHHS staff competing in the 10km, 5km and 3km run and
walk events.
Submissions for Far West In Focus can be sent to [email protected]
The newsletter can be found on the Far West LHD website at www.fwlhd.health.nsw.gov.au
PAGE 5
The Far West Local Health District Newsletter
Edition 3, Vol 5, Mar 2015
Volunteer News
International Women’s Day
March has been a busy month for all of our volunteers both in and outside of the
organisation.
Aqua volunteer leader Eleanor Blows, the Chair of the Broken Hill Domestic
Violence Committee, organised a great afternoon tea for International Women’s Day
on 8 March. Guest speakers included Jill Schinella (pictured) and Chrissy Murphy
with Chrissy also playing some great live music. Eleanor and her team’s efforts were
rewarded with a successful event and we thank Eleanor for her hard work over the
years in planning and organising the International Women’s Day functions.
Seniors Week Celebrations – High Tea a great success
Broken Hill Health Council Chairperson Fran
McKinnon was instrumental in organising this
event in conjunction with Far West HACC
Community Transport. The High Tea was held
at the North Broken Hill Golf Club on 17 March.
Local personality Andrew Schmidt did an
outstanding job as Master of Ceremonies being
both humorous and entertaining in introducing a
variety of guest speakers, free hearing tests,
photographs and hand massages by Aura.
Demonstrations by the Silver City Line Dancers
and Far West LHD Tai Chi group also
entertained
Fran McKinnon, Chair Broken Hill Health Council welcoming everyone to the
everyone at the
Seniors Week High Tea
tea.
Tai Chi volunteer Betty den Haan along with members from the Tai Chi Wednesday class
conducted a demonstration of Tai Chi. The group demonstrating their skills and grace, giving the
audience a taste of what they have learnt by attending the weekly Tai Chi classes which are run from
the South Broken Hill Golf Club. The Tai Chi classes and the twice weekly Aqua classes are just two
ways in which Far West LHD volunteers contribute to the community. The volunteer supported classes
are part of the Far West and Western NSW LHD Health Promotion Team’s physical activity program,
aimed at providing low cost physical activity options to our local communities. Irene Davey had
everyone at the event doing exercise of a different kind with the
challenging Quiz she presented. The research for the questions
must have taken a lot of research and we thank Irene for her
hard work and a job well done in giving everyone a little brain
exercise.
Andrew introduced Far West LHD Dietitian Heidi Drenkhahn
and tempted her with a freshly made cream and raspberry cake.
Heidi did not disappoint those present and enjoyed every bite of
the delicious treat, whilst reminding everyone that it was ok to
indulge occasionally. Heidi then presented an informative
session on food labelling and got all involved by demonstrating
how to read and understand the information panels on food
packaging. Heidi distributed some easy to read and useful
information on the levels of fats, sugars, sodium etc to look for
on labels. These useful facts were presented in an easy to read
laminated handout which was small enough to fit in a wallet or
Showing that Tai Chi keeps
purse so that they can be used while shopping.
Andrew tempting Heidi with a
you fit and flexible - Tai Chi
homemade cake - and delighting the
Our congratulations go to Fran and her team and Far West
Leader Betty also joined in the
audience when she succumbed to
HACC Community Transport for their hard work and dedication
Line Dancing
temptation!!
in making the High Tea a huge success.
Submissions for Far West In Focus can be sent to [email protected]
The newsletter can be found on the Far West LHD website at www.fwlhd.health.nsw.gov.au
PAGE 6
The Far West Local Health District Newsletter
Edition 3, Vol 5, Mar 2015
Volunteer News
Broken Hill Hospital Kiosk Auxiliary
The Kiosk are in the process of working through the Broken Hill Hospital’s wish list and
consideration of this and other exciting donation options will be discussed at their meeting in
April – watch this space!
On the subject of the Kiosk, intrepid snake hunter Colleen Pedler saved the day when
she gave chase and stunned a brown snake that had made its way into the Kiosk and
continued its journey into the foyer. Armed with a broom Colleen harnessed her inner
“Indiana Jones” and came to the rescue of her colleagues and consumers. Colleen stunned
the snake with the aid of her broom and was assisted by a kind gentleman who gave the final
blow ensuring the snake was dealt with. Thank you to the kind stranger and to Colleen (or
Indy as she is now known to her friends) you are our hero!
Another of our amazing Kiosk volunteers, Sandra Miller, is also the Coordinator of the Widows
Friendship/Support Group. Sandra recently accompanied a group of Broken Hill widows on a recent
cruise to New Zealand. Sandra said that members of the group are grateful to have the support and
friendship of other members.
“In many cases they would not even consider a solo holiday but they enjoyed the opportunity of
travelling together and the group had a wonderful time” Sandra said. If anyone would like more
information on the Widows Friendship/Support Group which has been running for 7 year, please
contact Sandra Miller on 0437 423 096.
Indiana (Colleen) Jones reenacts her heroic efforts to
save the day – posing with her
weapon of choice!
New Dementia/Delirium and Palliative Care (DDPC) volunteer
The DDPC volunteers welcome Sandra Huynh as their latest team
member. Sandra is from Sydney and will be in Broken Hill for a year.
Sandra wanted to utilise her skills and volunteer in her new
community, joining the team in February. Welcome to Broken Hill and
to Far West LHD Sandra it is great to have you on board.
Members of the DDPC team took the opportunity to attend a
session in the RICH Program on 18 March. The session ‘Supporting
Delirium and Dementia Care with Volunteers” was presented by Cath
Bateman. The DDPC Volunteers found the session extremely
interesting, this prompted a lively debate in my office after the session
and agreement that they
would discuss the RICH
session with the rest of
the team at their next
Team meeting.
Cath was in Broken
Hill for a few days
The DDPC Volunteer Team: (Back) Sam, Faye, Lesley
(Front) Sue, Pat, Sandra and Diane
working with the Far
West LHD staff in her
role with the Agency for Clinical Innovation as part of the roll out of the
Confused Hospitalised Older Persons program (CHOPs) in Broken Hill. It was
a pleasure to meet with her and discuss her work on the Bega project and our
joint passion – volunteering. We also took time to catch up with Michele
McKee, District Manager Aged Care Services, FWLHD Program Manager for
AARCS, ACAT, ADHC, ASET, COMPACKS District Community Transport,
DVA, HACC, TACP.
Michele McKee, Mary Leehand and Cath Bateman
— Mary Leehane, Volunteer Manager
Submissions for Far West In Focus can be sent to [email protected]
The newsletter can be found on the Far West LHD website at www.fwlhd.health.nsw.gov.au
PAGE 7
The Far West Local Health District Newsletter
Volunteer News
Random Act of Kindness
Edition 3, Vol 5, Mar 2015
Inspiring artwork completes
Maternity Unit renovations
The following letter was received from a kind gentleman name Paul on
19 March. This random act of kindness from a stranger in Victoria in
acknowledgement of Far West LHD volunteers made my day and I
responded thanking him for his thoughtful kindness and asked if I could
share his letter with our organisation.
Paul responded to my thank you letter and the following is an extract of
his letter. Along with the letter was another Tatts ticket, this time a
winning ticket to the value of $3.
I hope that by sharing these letters it brightens your day and makes
you smile, it certainly had that effect on me and the HR team. Thank
you Paul, I hope your acts of kindness continue to brighten up other
volunteer manager’s day. We thank you for your thoughtfulness and
generous gesture to the Far West LHD volunteers.
— Mary Leehane, Volunteer Manager
Paul Bennett with his artwork “New Life” now gracing the
Maternity Unit garden
Renovations to the BH Hospital Maternity Unit is now
complete with the landscaping of a garden outside the
birth room and artwork installed into the garden to
provide a place for peace and relaxation.
Maternity Unit Manager Liz Bennett said the garden
was designed and created by the Maternity Unit staff for
couples having their baby, to be able to walk in, look at
and feel safe in.
The staff felt the garden needed some focal points to
add interest, so they asked local artist Paul Bennett to
look at the area and come up with some designs and
artworks for the garden. Paul has an interest in
blacksmithing and stonework and is a member of the
Artist Blacksmiths Association of South Australia.
As a result, the garden now enjoys two water
features run with solar powered sensors, a mother and
baby sculpture and our newest piece of wall art forged in
steel.
Paul’s latest work in the garden is titled ‘New Life’,
which the artist said depicts a new mother holding her
baby in her arms.
“She looks down lovingly at the new life she has
brought into the world as her hair flows around her. She
has strength in her arms, which she knows she will need
for life’s challenges ahead for her and her child, but also
softness and gentleness. She displays strength and
love, and is beautiful as she reclines with her child," he
said.
The Maternity Unit is very grateful to Paul for his
commitment to this project and wish to recognise this
work as being enjoyed and admired by many.
Submissions for Far West In Focus can be sent to [email protected]
The newsletter can be found on the Far West LHD website at www.fwlhd.health.nsw.gov.au
PAGE 8
The Far West Local Health District Newsletter
Edition 3, Vol 5, Mar 2015
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.
Endorsed Far West LHD policies — March 2015
FW_PD2015_002
FW_PD2015_003
FW_PD2015_004
FW_PD2015_005
FW_PD2015_006
Radiation Safety
Protection of Staff and the General Public in Departments Performing Diagnostic
or Interventional Radiology- Procedure
Radiation Safety – Optimise Exposures in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology - Procedure
Maternity – Using Actim® Partus to Identify the Risk of Preterm Birth – Guideline
Radiation Safety Training - Procedure
Submissions for Far West In Focus can be sent to [email protected]
The newsletter can be found on the Far West LHD website at www.fwlhd.health.nsw.gov.au
PAGE 9