Let the festive season begin! |
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Everywhere I go, people across NSW Health are celebrating the festive season, along with their many achievements this year. I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you for your incredible efforts throughout 2023. This edition celebrates the many ways our people spread festive cheer. Whether it’s with creative decorations, fundraisings, or fancy dress parties, your actions are bringing smiles to your colleagues and those in our care during this special time.
While some staff are looking forward to a well-deserved break these holidays, we all recognise that our health system operates 24/7 across NSW. To those colleagues who are working through the festive season, I want to say an extra special thank you. I hope you can take a break soon to spend quality time with family and friends. |
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Wishing you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Kind regards,
Susan Pearce AM
Secretary, NSW Health
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Festive fun with the NSW Ministry of Health's executive team |
The elves captured some festive footage of our NSW Health Executive Team. Watch the video to find out more. |
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The Patient Services and Planning team from HealthShare NSW has been busy preparing special Christmas meals for their residents in multi-purpose services (MPS) and aged-care facilities. |
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This year's menu features ham, turkey, vegetables, desserts and more, all served on festive Christmas placemats, along with Christmas bon bons and crackers. Brooke Cashen, Acting Site Supervisor at the Denman MPS and Murrurundi Hospital said her team is looking forward to celebrating the big day.
“The residents love having a big get-together with their family and friends. They enjoy the large variety of food prepared for them, and always compliment us on the work that is put into the day,” said Brooke.
“It’s always such a huge day for everyone, but when you see the residents all together, chatting and laughing, it’s so beautiful and rewarding – you forget you’ve been on your feet all day.”
Megan Mason, Acting Site Supervisor at the Wallsend Aged Care Facility (WACF), said it is important to make residents feel right at home during this special time of the year.
“Our team feels very strongly that this is their home. Regardless if their family are able to visit this festive season, we will always make sure they are surrounded by their WACF family,” said Megan.
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Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead transformed into a playground of imagination during the annual Party Day celebrations.
Party Day is a heartwarming tradition celebrated at both hospitals. It offers a much-needed escape from the challenges of being in hospital during the holiday season. Activities include balloon twisting, face painting, cupcake decorating and a DJ dance party.
This year’s Party Day theme of Games turned wards, clinics, and departments into a lively game zone, as the likes of Pac-Man and Candyland were brought to life. Healthcare workers dressed as their favourite gaming characters, and every ward became a playground – from catching the golden snitch in Quidditch, to driving through Mario Kart’s rainbow road.
See the incredible hospital makeovers, as well as the happy faces of children and staff when they are visited by Santa Claus, Spider-Man, Princess Anna and more on the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead’s Facebook pages.
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Like many of us, NSW Ambulance mascot Bearamedic has been a very busy bear this year!
His calendar is filled with station openings, promotional events and award ceremonies, but he didn't forget to take some time out of his busy schedule to wish everyone a 'Beary' Christmas! |
| Bearamedic at the Martin Place Christmas tree |
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Name: Benita Davis
Role: Practice Manager, 4Ts Rural Medical Clinics, Western NSW Local Health District Now, let’s get to know you a little better…
What are three words your family and friends would use to describe you?
Generous, dedicated, passionate.
Last great TV show or movie you watched?
Billy the Kid. I love the action-packed pace of the storyline and the historic context. It’s great to sit down with my hubby and get transported back to the days of the ‘Wild West’. And I totally relate to the heat and the dust! |
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Favourite book or podcast?
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. It had me guessing the whole time. A must-read that you just won’t put down! If you could learn a new skill, what would it be?
I would love to learn how to do sign language to assist with our hearing-impaired patients in the clinics and our Multi-Purpose Service. I would also like to take a pottery class to learn some funky pottery art.
If you’re cooking dinner, what will everyone be eating? Butter chicken, Tuscan meatballs, or chicken, bacon and mushroom carbonara – I love to cook!
Any hidden talents? Master Nail Technician in nail enhancements and I’m an avid netballer… getting a little old now to be still playing but I just can’t give it up!
What do you like the most about working in a regional town like Trangie?
It’s the community, our staff and the togetherness. As a community when we work as a team, we’re absolutely rock solid. It’s all about making a difference to the lives of rural and remote communities in a collaborative environment. Through innovation and practicality, we can meet the needs of our community and it is so rewarding to be part of this amazing Collaborative Care Model.
Our 4Ts model (covering the small communities of Trangie, Tottenham, Tullamore and Trundle) adapts the concept of Rural Generalism to provide extremely high quality, reliable, safe, and sustainable healthcare across primary and acute care services within Western NSW Local Health District.
We’re also driven to provide culturally safe and appropriate healthcare for the requirements of our wonderful communities. For us, it’s all about caring for the patient and their individual primary care needs, making this a fantastic outcome-based model of care. I love that everyone out here is there to lend a hand. How are you planning to spend the holiday season? Having a break on annual leave from the 4Ts and being on the beach in our caravan with my beautiful family, sipping a couple of cold drinks and making wonderful memories. What’s your one wish for the new year? That my family is healthy and happy and that 2024 be full of adventure and growth for all of us. |
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Big hearts make a big difference |
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Each year Sheridan O’Brien at the Mid North Coast Local Health District supports those needing some extra help over Christmas. |
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Come December, Sheridan transforms the district’s Grant Street office into a Christmas wonderland. This year she took her holiday spirit to another level, raising more than $500 through a donation drive for Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services (Liberty) in Port Macquarie.
Sheridan, along with her colleagues are making a real impact on the lives of families being supported by the much-needed local service. “Gift cards and money raised from the donation drive will help Liberty to buy gifts for women and children who otherwise may have gone without this year," said Sheridan. |
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“We’re a small site, but we have a really big heart and a wonderful community spirit. Being able to support such an important cause at this time of year has been very special for us.” Ponies' hospital visit
The district's office isn't the only place on Mid North Coast feeling the Christmas spirit. There was quite a 'tail' to be told by patients and staff at Kempsey District Hospital when two special guests made a visit. The antler-wearing ponies, Mr T and Possum, are from an equine therapy business at Collombatti and are regular visitors to local nursing homes. This was their first visit to the hospital's Rehab Garden and Close Observation Unit. After completing thorough hygiene, allergy, risk and trauma assessment, their handlers took them around the hospital, spreading Christmas joy to patients and staff. |
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Mr T and Possum visiting patients and staff at Kempsey District Hospital |
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Volunteers at the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital have been as busy as Santa’s elves in the lead up to the festive season, greeting visitors and welcoming donations for the hospital. |
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Helen Kelly (L) and RPA volunteers |
| They have set up a stall in the main foyer with gifts, hampers and homemade baked goods for staff, patients and visitors.
All funds raised are directed to the Volunteer Services Trust Fund, with donations going to projects and equipment for patients in the Sydney Local Health District. Helen Kelly, RPA’s Volunteer Services Manager, is proud of the work her team does to support the patients and their loved ones. |
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“Our wonderful volunteers are recognisable throughout the hospital,” said Helen. “RPA is a big place, and it can be difficult for people to find their way around. The volunteers are friendly faces to everyone who comes through the doors. They have a passion for helping others and enjoy assisting where they are needed.
“Many have been patients or have a strong connection to the hospital. Some have been volunteering for decades, and others just started recently. They are a delightful group of people to work with,” said Helen. |
| RPA Volunteers at the fundraising stall |
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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Murrumbidgee |
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Teams working at the Murrumbidgee District Office have made their office neighbourhoods feel like Santa’s grotto!
Check out these photos to see how the Christmas-loving teams have jollied up the space, as have many NSW Health staff throughout the state. |
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Congratulations to the finalists in the 2024 Excellence in Allied Health Awards Hearty congratulations to the 35 finalists in the 2024 Excellence in Allied Health Awards. The Awards acknowledge the passion, dedication and contributions that our allied health professionals and their support staff provide.
Winners are announced in early 2024. Keep an eye out for more information coming soon, including how to join the celebrations via live stream. |
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Rural Hospital Emergency Care Patient Survey results are in
The Bureau of Health Information (BHI) has released the results of the Rural Hospital Emergency Care Patient Survey 2023, which reflect the experiences of more than 5,100 people who received emergency care in one of 81 small rural public hospitals in NSW between January and March this year.
Most patients (94%) said overall, the emergency care they received from small rural hospitals was ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
Check out the full report on the BHI website and see results for your local hospital on BHI’s Data Portal. |
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From the Critical Intelligence Unit
The Critical Intelligence Unit (CIU) Evidence Digest focuses on clinical innovations that have the potential to change clinical practice and delivery or organisation of care. In the past weeks, the CIU Evidence Digest featured:
AI screening for pancreatic cancer and detecting thickened heart muscle, NHMRC statement on electronic cigarettes and virtual reality for pain
Wearable Digital Health Technology, machine learning triage in ED, AI-aided colonoscopy and WHO regulatory considerations for AI in health.
To receive the digest in your inbox on Wednesday mornings, please subscribe. |
| Multicultural Health Communication Awards 2023 winners announced
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of the Multicultural Health Communication Awards 2023.
Established in 2003, these awards recognise excellence in multilingual health communication across NSW that promote health equity and address the health information needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
If you missed the live event or want to re-watch highlights, the recording is now available on the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service website. |
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Staying safe and healthy during the holidays
Planning a trip? Check out these useful tips on how to stay safe and healthy when travelling overseas and share them with your loved ones to reduce their risk of illness during and after travel.
Keep an eye out for our Beat the Heat campaign on NSW Health's social media channels for ways to stay well during summer as temperatures soar.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) will be available throughout the holiday to look after your wellbeing. Details on how to access EAP are on your local intranet. |
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NSW Health System Advisory Council update
The NSW Health System Advisory Council came together in November for a stakeholder dialogue on artificial intelligence (AI). The members discussed issues related to the use of AI in NSW Health now and into the future, so we can address challenges and explore opportunities to unlock more time for patient care. This work will inform the AI Taskforce next year.
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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work and pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We also acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff working with the NSW Government. |
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This marks the last edition of Check In for the year. Your stories have made it special – thank you for sharing and reading the stories. Look forward to the first edition of Check In in late January 2024.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the editorial team. |
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