FOREVER GRATEFUL page 2

Transcription

1 EASTERN HEALTH QUARTERLY WINTER 2017 FOREVER GRATEFUL page 2 Eastern Health has celebrated its outstanding nurses and midwives. Nurse Kayla Wright is part of the dedicated team at Box Hill Hospital.

2 ACKNOWLEDGING OUR AMAZING NURSES Eastern Health has used International Nurses Day to say thank you to its dedicated nursing staff. Eastern Health employs more than 3800 nurses across the organisation in many programs and areas, including emergency, theatre, general medicine, specialty medicine, ambulatory care, residential aged care and mental health. Eastern Health Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Clinical Associate Professor Kath Riddell, said International Nurses Day was a great opportunity to stop, thank and acknowledge the outstanding job done every day by our nursing workforce. Each and every one of them makes a significant and valuable contribution to the care, treatment and wellbeing of our patients. They also provide outstanding support to a patient s family, carers and friends, A/Prof Riddell said. I d like to thank them all for their hard work, expertise and amazing dedication. Each and every one of them makes a significant and valuable contribution to the care, treatment and wellbeing of our patients. Clinical Associate Professor Kath Riddell CLOSE CONNECTION: Angliss Hospital nurse Katelyn Stevens with patient Wilhemina McColl-Jones, who was a charge nurse for 25 years at Angliss Hospital before retiring. 02 EASTERN HEALTH QUARTERLY

3 GREAT SUPPORT: Box Hill Hospital midwife Robyn Fitzgerald (left), with Susannah Aumann and her children Patrick and Eleanor. Robyn helped deliver both children. AND CELEBRATING OUR MAGNIFICENT MIDWIVES Eastern Health has acknowledged the outstanding work of its devoted midwifery team as part of International Day of the Midwife celebrations. About 450 midwives work at Box Hill Hospital, Angliss Hospital and across community-based teams that extend to the Yarra Valley. Robyn Fitzgerald is a caseload midwife at Box Hill Hospital. She provides care to women throughout their pregnancy. When women wish to transfer to hospital for their birth, I will come into the hospital to provide labour and immediate post-birth care, Robyn said. When the new family is discharged home, I continue to provide maternity care in their home as they transition to their new roles. Robyn said a midwife was only as strong as the team she worked with. I am extremely fortunate to be surrounded by a wonderful collaborative maternity team of healthcare professionals who are focused on the health and wellbeing of the mother and her baby, she said. Midwifery is a busy, hectic, rewarding, stressful, challenging, unpredictable but incredibly fulfilling profession. Chief Nursing and Midwivery Officer, Clinical Associate Professor Kath Riddell, said midwives were a vital part of the Eastern Health team. The birth of a child is an incredible experience for mothers and their families, and not one without risk. For those who decide to have their child at Box Hill Hospital or Angliss Hospital, or receive support from our community-based teams, our midwives are there every step of the way. WINTER

4 APPLAUSE FOR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS Eastern Health has thanked its band of volunteers for their continued dedication and commitment to patient care. Speaking during National Volunteer Week, Eastern Health s Volunteer Services Manager Christine Ward said volunteers made an extremely valuable contribution to the organisation. From providing transport so our patients can get to their appointments to offering support in an emergency department, all our volunteers make an incredible difference, Ms Ward said. Eastern Health has about 860 community volunteers, dedicating around 178,000 hours of service a year. Among the volunteers is driver Paul Banfield. His role includes taking patients to medical appointments. He said one of the best aspects of volunteering was that it gave him an opportunity to talk to patients about everything from the footy to local history. I get great satisfaction in helping people out. It s all you need, he said. At Wantirna Health, Fiona Moss is a pet therapy volunteer in the hospital s Palliative Care Unit. Fiona, who is also an Eastern Health staff member, takes her greyhound Indie to the hospital each week. They visit patients and their families, putting a smile on their faces during what can be a difficult period in their lives. Meanwhile, at Maroondah Hospital, Jill Garbett provides support to patients undertaking medical imaging tests. Ms Ward said Eastern Health had a range of volunteering opportunities, including supporting community rehabilitation patients, serving in kiosks and acting as welcome ambassadors. Our volunteers not only enhance the quality of care we give to our patients but they also provide great support to our staff, she said. Ms Ward encouraged local residents to consider becoming a volunteer. It is a great opportunity to meet people, learn new and diverse skills, and really make a difference to the lives of patients and the community. For information about how to become a volunteer at Eastern Health, phone or volunteers@easternhealth.org.au Our volunteers not only enhance the quality of care we provide our patients but they also provide great support to our staff. Christine Ward DEDICATED EFFORT: Eastern Health s wonderful team of volunteers includes driver Paul Banfield (pictured right), Maroondah Hospital s Jill Garbett (far right) and pet therapy volunteer Fiona Moss (main photo) who brings her greyhound Indie into Wantirna Health to support patients such as Erika Hennessy. 04 EASTERN HEALTH QUARTERLY

5 WINTER

6 ONLINE INSIGHT Turning Point s Counselling Online service continues to be an easily accessible, wide-reaching treatment option for people concerned about their own substance use, as well as others. According to research by Dr Victoria Manning and Professor Dan Lubman, the flexibility of Counselling Online is attractive to clients, with the majority of sessions delivered outside business hours, including in major cities where more face-to-face services are available. The study found that Counselling Online delivered 2003 sessions between July 2013 and June Of those sessions, 67.6 per cent were provided after hours. Operating as a 24-hour, seven days a week service, it is accessible during and outside business hours, and reaches geographically-isolated clients where support services might be limited or have long waiting lists, Prof Lubman said. The study found that more than 10 ethnicities were represented in the sample. As well as Australian, British and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, other ethnicities included African, American, Asian, Canadian, European, Indian, Mexican and South American. Prof Lubman and Dr Manning also found that women were more likely to contact a support service such as Counselling Online, with females making up 64.8 per cent of clients. Research suggests women are a marginalised population and less likely to seek help in traditional face-to-face alcohol and drug services, Dr Manning said. Individuals seeking public face-to-face services are more likely to be older and male, suggesting that Counselling Online fills an important gap for people who might be reluctant, unable or less likely to seek support via traditional routes. For more information, visit HERE TO HELP: Amanda Mack is a member of the phone and online counselling team at Turning Point. 06 EASTERN HEALTH QUARTERLY

7 SHOWER ACCESS HELPS HOMELESS HOMELESSNESS HELP: Eastern Health Community Health Manager Michelle Fleming previews the community shower at Healesville Hospital and Yarra Valley Health. A partnership between six local organisations has resulted in a shower facility at Healesville Hospital and Yarra Valley Health for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Eastern Health joined Eastern Community Legal Centre, Healesville Interchurch Community Care Inc (HICCI), Healesville Indigenous Community Services Association (HICSA), Anchor and Salvation Army Eastcare to establish the service, which was introduced as part of the hospital s recent redevelopment. Within Healesville, there is a small but significant population who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or sleeping in cars, Eastern Health s Community Health Manager Michelle Fleming said. The opportunity for these people and families to access shower facilities not only promotes dignity and respect but also plays an important role in maintaining basic human rights within the community. A community shower within the township of Healesville had been previously available at the Salvation Army premises on the Maroondah Highway until the building was converted to office space. Several options were explored to facilitate an open access shower, Ms Fleming said. At the time of discussions, Eastern Health offered to accommodate a community shower within the redeveloped hospital as an initial step towards establishing this initiative within the community. The shower is now available at the hospital between 8am and 5.30pm on weekdays and includes complimentary use of towels, soap and personal hygiene packs. To access the shower, please call or ask at the hospital s reception desk. Within Healesville, there is a small but significant population who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or sleeping in cars. Michelle Fleming WINTER

8 GETTING READY TO SHINE AGAIN Eastern Health is set to light up the Plaza Ballroom again, with its annual Searchlight Dinner on October 31. This year, the event will raise money for mental health research. One in five Australians will experience mental illness. It is a health problem that significantly influences how an individual feels, behaves, thinks and interacts with other people. Eastern Health Foundation Director Anne Gribbin said Eastern Health was committed to expanding its research into mental health. SPECIAL OCCASION: Eastern Health s Searchlight Dinner promises to be a grand occasion again after the resounding success of last year s event, which included the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd). Mental illness affects every one of us. By attending the Searchlight Dinner, you can play a part in raising funds so our experts can conduct this vital research, Ms Gribbin said. Last year s event was a huge success, with money raised for the Vivian Bullwinkel Chair in Palliative Care Nursing, based at Eastern Health. His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) was special guest. This year s event promises to be just as big. Book a seat, buy a table, bid on an auction item or pledge a financial gift your support will help benefit people living with mental illness. For more information about the Searchlight Dinner, searchlightdinner@easternhealth.org.au EASTERN HEALTH FOUNDATION Eastern Health Foundation is the fundraising arm of Eastern Health. The Foundation raises additional funds that enable Eastern Health to better understand its patients and their health needs, and to improve and advance their care and treatment. WAYS TO DONATE Directly at any Cashiers PO Box 94, Box Hill VIC EASTERN HEALTH QUARTERLY