Showcasing the incredible sustainability initiatives across NSW Health |
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The intrinsic good that NSW Health delivers for communities across the state means people are typically surprised to learn that the health sector is actually a big polluter. Australia’s health system contributes seven per cent of the country’s total carbon footprint, and public hospitals represent just over a third of that.
When it comes to tackling climate change, we have a huge role to play, especially as peoples’ health and wellbeing are intertwined with the environment we live in. Put simply, a healthier environment contributes to a healthier population.
As the largest and busiest public health system in Australia, we need to make some big changes. Happily, sustainability is a goal shared by the overwhelming majority of our people – with the 2023 People Matter Employee Survey revealing that more than 80 per cent of our staff support improved environmental sustainability at NSW Health. |
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Work is already in progress. We've increased solar installations across the state, switched from cleaning chemicals to electrolysed water, and reduced the unnecessary use of plastic gloves - just to name a few great projects underway.
Building an environmentally sustainable and climate resilient healthcare system is our shared goal and captured in Future Health strategic priority 6: The health system is managed sustainably. Our first Net Zero Roadmap is currently in development and open for your feedback. Please help shape the roadmap by joining our consultation sessions running until the end of May. If you can’t attend a session, you can complete the consultation survey.
The Roadmap will provide us the framework we need to make big improvements, and achieve the NSW Government's targets which strive for a 50 per cent emissions reduction by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2050.
This week we are celebrating Administrative Professionals Day (3 May) and International Day of the Midwife (5 May). Peggy's story below is a great reminder of the positive impact our administrative staff have on our patients, their families and carers. We will be shinning a spotlight on our midwives and nurses in the next edition of Check In. I want to take this opportunity to thank the incredible midwives and administration staff working across NSW Health. Your hard work truly makes a difference.
Kind regards,
Susan Pearce AM
Secretary, NSW Health
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More than 20 million respiratory inhalers are prescribed annually in Australia. While inhalers are essential for managing respiratory illnesses, single pressurised meter dose inhalers (PMDI) also have a big carbon footprint. |
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For example, some PMDI emit as much carbon dioxide as a car trip from Sydney to Canberra.
Sophie Timmins, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Physician, and her fellow Net Zero Leads at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) are tackling this issue.
One of the initiatives is an inhaler collection pilot at RNSH, which has led to a 12-month inhaler and a medication blister pack recycling program starting this year.
“Through an audit, we identified high-use wards and collected 122 inhalers over eight weeks, many with remaining doses,” she said.
“The new recycling program will introduce designated bins for empty blister packs and inhalers in inpatient wards, which we are hoping to roll out across the district if successful.”
The team is also working on an educational campaign for staff on ensuring the right disposal of inhalers and developing an asthma pathway for the RNSH emergency department. |
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Sophie Timmins (right) and her fellow Net Zero Leads Mellissa Batger and Katrina Tonga |
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Whether it be front of house customer service interactions, patient admissions, or managing administrative duties, Peggy-Anne Middleton has got you covered. |
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“You get back what you give out in life, so I like to make a real effort to be kind to people and be that friendly face. One kind word can change someone’s entire day for the better,” said Peggy. Peggy began her career as administration officer with Murrumbidgee Local Health District over 12 years ago. And she’s loved every minute of it.
“Most people don’t realise how rewarding and diverse an administrative role can be,” said Peggy. “I love the variety each day brings, supporting our staff, and above all, connecting with our patients and residents. |
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“Something as simple as finally meeting people face-to-face after years of phone conversations can brighten my day. It’s like you already know each other."
This Friday is Administrative Professionals Day (3 May), an occasion to celebrate our administrative professionals like Peggy. “I also love how close our team is. We genuinely care about each other and go through the highs and lows of life together.
“It makes us the best of friends,” Peggy said. |
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Little critters are heavy hitters |
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Kerry-Anne Baxter, Client Services Manager at eHealth, learned firsthand the severity of flu. Her four-year-old daughter Rosie almost died after becoming seriously ill with flu and ended up in a coma in ICU. |
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Kerry-Anne Baxter with her daughters Rosie, left, and Ellie |
| “We were told several times that she might not live. It was extremely traumatic,” said Kerry-Anne.
“The doctors asked if she was vaccinated, but we didn’t know there were flu vaccinations for children, or how serious flu can be,” she said.
Thankfully, Rosie made a full recovery. Kerry-Anne said her family is very grateful for the staff at Royal North Shore Hospital and Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick who treated Rosie. She now ensures her family gets vaccinated every year. |
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Sharon Lin, Senior Policy Officer, Strategic Policy and Program Support in the Communicable Diseases Branch, said people often underestimate the risks of influenza infection. That’s why her team is raising awareness about flu vaccinations during this year’s Respiratory Illness Campaign.
To help motivate people to get a flu shot, the focus is on tackling common community barriers, including inconvenience or general apathy.
“One common misconception about flu is that people are unlikely to get sick, and therefore do not need a vaccine,” said Sharon. “However, getting vaccinated not only protects your own health, but also contributes to community-wide protection against influenza and its potential complications.” |
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The Respiratory Illness Campaign features several critters, each representing influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. |
| Fast facts to tell friends and family - Everyone aged over 6 months is recommended to get a yearly influenza vaccine.
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Free flu shots are available for people at higher risk of severe illness from the flu, including children aged 6 months to less than 5 years.
- Book your free flu shot through your doctor, pharmacist or Aboriginal Medical Service.
Free for staff - Free influenza vaccine is available for all NSW Health staff and is mandatory for those in Category A positions by 1 June.
- Speak with your manager or staff health unit about how to book your influenza vaccination.
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Did you know that NSW Health has the largest number of solar-power systems installed on public hospital rooftops in Australia?
But our commitment doesn’t end here. Over the years, we have continued to improve our sustainability efforts by upgrading and installing more solar panels on our facilities. Here are just a few recent examples.
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Solar panel being lifted into place at the Forensic Medicine and Coroners Court Complex |
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Swing into action Work is nearing completion on a project to install 557 solar panels and a battery storage system at the Forensic Medicine and Coroners Court Complex at Lidcombe.
“Once the system is fully functioning, we are expecting a 20 per cent reduction in our annual power bills for the site and to save an average of 88 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year,” said Renae Currer, FASS Facilities Services Coordinator, NSW Health Pathology.
“We even had children from around the neighbourhood watching on as the crane lifts the panels and other equipment onto the roof.”
The 348kw solar panel system is set to be complete by the end of June 2024. It’s expected to generate an average of 423,700 kilowatt hours of power each year. |
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Second largest government solar installation in NSW
Orange Hospital is about to become home to the second largest solar PV installation in any government facility in NSW. More than 3,300 solar panels will be installed on the roofs of buildings across the Orange and Bloomfield Hospital campus, and installation on the roof of the Orange Health Service has now complete.
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| Solar panels on the roof of the Orange Health Service |
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According to Jeff Morrissey, Director of Corporate Services and Clinical Support for the Western NSW Local Health District, these solar panels will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of around 500 homes and result in the reduction of almost 2,300 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. “We are committed to doing our bit to make all our services more sustainable,” said Jeff. |
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Rooftop renovation
Balmain Hospital’s rooftop has just had a facelift, with a 40-kilowatt solar panel system installed to help with energy consumption. |
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Solar panels being installed on the rooftop of Balmain Hospital |
| “It will save us about $15,000 a year in electricity costs and the payback is under four years. It’s a good initiative,” said Troy McIntyre, Energy and Sustainability Manager, Sydney Local Health District. Balmain Hospital General Manager Grace Scott said the initiative is leading the way for more environmentally-friendly projects.
“We are looking forward to other upgrades that will help to keep our hospital sustainable and enhance the services we provide to our community,” she said. |
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Optimal nutrition is crucial for patients’ recovery and wellbeing, but it’s also good for the environment.
Patients often eat less during times of illness or injury. Hospital environments can also affect food intake when patients have fixed mealtimes, interruptions to meals, and fewer food choices compared to their usual diet.
In addition to patients missing out on nutrients, unfinished or uneaten meals also contribute to food waste.
These factors were considered when the Agency for Clinical Innovation’s Nutrition Network revised the NSW Health Nutrition Standards, actively involving patients in the process. Suzanne Kennewell, Co-Chair of the Nutrition Network and Director of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sydney Local Health District, said involving patients in deciding what's on the menu can improve how much they eat and reduce waste.
“We engaged with clinicians, vendors, suppliers, HealthShare NSW, and consumers with lived experience of hospitals to review these standards,” said Suzanne. |
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“The consumer voices were especially important. We’ve listened and adjusted the Standards to ensure patients are offered nutritious, delicious meals that are also visually appealing.”
“This initiative contributes to a sustainable health system by improving clinical outcomes and reducing food waste,” she added. What has changed in the Nutrition Standards?
- Mental health, acute care and paediatric standards are incorporated into one digital resource to improve clarity
- Short stay menu options are now included
- Stronger requirement for menus to suit religious, cultural, lifestyle and life stage food preferences and requirements
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Sustainability considerations are now included.
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Sustainability across NSW Health |
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Check out the other incredible initiatives that are improving sustainability at NSW Health. |
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Grow and Play: A pilot vegetable garden and outdoor play area for Port Macquarie mental health consumers. The project is a recipient of the 2023 Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund. |
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Going circular: A circular model focusing on re-issuing returned respiratory equipment to reduce waste and carbon emissions. It is also a recipient of the 2023 Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund.
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Sustainable cleaning alternative: A free-flowing supply of biodegradable electrolysed water will replace synthetic chemical-based cleaning and sanitising products in more than 160 public hospitals. |
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Geothermal air-conditioning system: A geothermal system that runs water through an underground loop and uses the stable temperature of the earth to gain or lose heat before running through 75 heat pumps to provide air-conditioning to the Lithgow Hospital. |
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Learn more about NSW Health's sustainability and climate change efforts on the NSW Health website. |
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Imagine how you, your family, or friends would feel if intimate details of your health journey were suddenly splashed across social media for all to see.
In the world of healthcare, protecting privacy and personal information is not only a legal and ethical requirement, but also essential for maintaining patient trust. |
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As Privacy and Right to Information Officer at Hunter New England Local Health District, Marc Knight knows this all too well. Ahead of Privacy Awareness Week (6 - 12 May), Marc reminds us of our obligation as healthcare professionals to protect personal information. “As health staff, we are in a unique position with access to diverse health and personal information. We rely on our patients to provide us with information so that we can provide the best possible care. If trust is compromised, so is patient care,” said Marc. There’s an added importance when it comes to social media usage, Marc explained.
“There is no such thing as a ‘private’ social media site regardless of the settings. Once information is posted online, there is always a risk of reaching a broader audience than originally intended,” he said. |
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Marc’s privacy pointers: -
Be mindful of private use of social media, particularly if you identify yourself as an NSW Health employee.
- Remember that taking photographs in clinical areas and posting them on social media may identify patient information and private staff information.
- Don’t disclose confidential information obtained through work.
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Do not engage in online friendships via social media with patients and clients you meet through work.
- That inappropriate use of social media may result in investigation of a breach of the Code of Conduct.
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Familiarise yourself with the Code of Conduct and NSW Health Public Communication Procedures.
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| Submit a nomination for the NSW Premier’s Awards
Nominations are now open for the NSW Premier's Awards.
The awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements from across the sector and are an opportunity for us to showcase the work we do at NSW Health.
For more information on how to submit a nomination and deadline, contact your local Awards Ambassador. |
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Help drive sustainability at NSW Health
Join the NSW Health Sustainability Network to hear about sustainability initiatives, access case studies and learn what your colleagues are doing. Sign up to the new sustainability e-learning modules via My Health Learning to find out how climate change impacts health, what NSW Health is doing and what you can do. Login to My Health Learning and search code 506148723 or “Climate Change and Net Zero” |
| Join the next value based healthcare webinar
Celebrate the International Day of the Midwife by learning the power of mentoring and the value of a healthy workforce culture. The value based healthcare webinar will have a panel of midwifery managers sharing their and share how mentoring can enrich all parts of the health system.
Register online to attend the webinar on Tuesday 7 May, 11am-12pm. |
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Education and training for Wellbeing Nurses
HETI have partnered with the Ministry’s Health and Social Policy Branch and NSW Department of Education to develop education and training for Wellbeing Nurses in NSW Health.
As part of the WHIN Coordinator Program initiative, the Wellbeing Nurse Capability Framework 2024-2029 and Learning Navigator provide valuable resources for professional development plans, workforce development and service planning. It also addresses targeted wellbeing nursing education and training needs.
Visit the HETI website for more information. |
| From the Critical Intelligence Unit
The Critical Intelligence Unit (CIU) Evidence Digest highlights transformative clinical innovations. Recent features include:
- ctDNA testing for cancer prognosis, preventive PCI, risk communication and infodemic management in health emergencies, esketamine for postpartum depression
- A UK quality improvement collaborative on long COVID, recommendations for AI in healthcare and improving the reporting of AI in health
Subscribe for Wednesday morning updates or explore the CIU's living evidence table on AI in healthcare. |
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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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