Download - Northern Health

JUNE 2013 - Edition 29CommunityConnectVolunteers – making a difference atNorthern HealthNorthern Health’s volunteers offer their time,skills and passion across all campuses, makingthem a significant part of our community ofstaff, patients and families who work together.During National Volunteer Week, 13-19 May,Northern Health’s 400 volunteers were part ofthe six million volunteers recognised acrossAustralia for their contribution to their localcommunities.Our volunteers can be found providing wardtrolley service, fundraising, providing pastoralcare and chaplaincy services, drive patientsfrom home to their medical appointments,guiding patients and visitors through theHospital, maintaining gardens in wardcourtyards, providing support to patients in theEmergency Department, and in many otherpositions.Volunteers play a valuable part in helpingpatients and visitors feel welcome and providean added sense of comfort during a potentiallydifficult time.Their contribution to making hospital visitsmore comfortable for patients and visitorsare appreciated everyday, and throughout theNational Volunteer Week, each campus hosteda special event recognising our volunteerswho have reached significant milestones offive, 10, and even 40 years of dedicatedservice.Bundoora Extended Care CentreJoy Crompton celebrated 40 years ofservice alongside Jack Wall and hisdaughter, Kerry Wall, both of whomcelebrated 30 years of service. Thefundraising efforts of the Wall family, Joyand many others helped establish healthservices in Melbourne’s north.Banyule City Council’s CommunityVolunteer Awards presented Joy with aLifetime Achievement Award.The Northern HospitalThe Northern Hospital Knitting Guild’s JeanMatthison celebrated 35 years of service.Along with her fellow knitters, the KnittingGuild has raised $123,000 from theirhandmade keepsakes since its inception.Broadmeadows Health ServiceFifteen new volunteers have recentlyjoined, bringing the team to 71 volunteers.Five volunteers reached 10 years ofservice.Craigieburn Health ServiceThe recently established volunteer programhas five volunteers helping in various areaswith a new role commencing in SpeechPathology.Joy Crompton, 40 years of serviceinsideFrom the CEOSupporting our littlest patients atNorthern HealthProviding appropriate palliative careto a northern communityJack and Kerry Wall, 30 years of serviceExecutive Director Robert Burnham withJean Matthison, 35 years of service, Barbara Hartand Christine McGowan.A barrel o’ givingNH Annual Dinner Save the Date1

newsFrom the CEOAt Northern Health, caring for our communitygoes beyond providing outstanding healthcare; it also includes being socially andenvironmentally responsible.On Saturday, 15 June, World Elder AbuseAwareness Day will aim to focus globalattention on the problem of physical,emotional, and financial abuse of elders. Ourelders have the right to be treated with respectand dignity, whether they are being cared forin their own homes, a health service or in aresidential aged care facility.Northern Health cares for local residentsthrough all stages of life and understands thechallenges and opportunities presented by ourageing community.The Senior Rights Legal Clinic is held monthlyat Bundoora Extended Care Centre, providingconfidential assistance to older people who areexperiencing or at risk of experiencing elderabuse. Older people, or their case workers,who require legal advice can access theservice which is available to people who live inthe northern suburbs.As World Environment Day was celebratedacross the globe on Wednesday, 5 June,Northern Health staff, patients and visitorscan be proud to know there are a numberof environmentally friendly and sustainablepractices undertaken across all NorthernHealth campuses everyday.Through our recycling efforts and use of comingled,organics and paper waste streams,Northern Health has diverted an average of 34per cent of waste from landfill since the startof 2013.By diverting waste from landfill NorthernHealth has avoided releasing 122.87 tonnesof CO2-e into the atmosphere, which isequivalent to removing 31 cars from the roadfor a year or planting 459 trees.I would like to thank all staff and volunteers forthe work they do to ensure Northern Health issocial and environmentally aware.Janet ComptonCEO Northern HealthSupporting our littlest patients at Northern HealthLocal Epping resident and people’s champion, Josie Minniti, is setto host her seventh annual fundraising dinner dance and auction onSaturday, 7 July, to raise money for Northern Health oncology servicesfor children.Josie’s hard work and commitment to helping Northern Health createa healthier northern community is outstanding, and the funds she hashelped raise over the past six years have had a really positive impact forour patients undergoing cancer treatment.Staff are encouraged to support Josie and Northern Health and comealong to the dinner dance and auction on Saturday, 22 June, 2013, from6.30 pm.Tickets are $50 for adults and $25 for children under 12.For more information or ticket enquiries, contact Josie and Rino Miniti on9401 4199 or 9465 2923.Josie is dedicated toimproving oncologyservices for the localcommunity.2 Community CONNECT JUNE 2013

newsProviding appropriatepalliative care to anorthern communityThe end of life journey is aunique experience for any patientsuffering from a life-limiting illnessor condition, and almost everyonewill experience palliative care atsome stage of their lives.This week is Palliative Care Week,and Northern Health has beenhighlighting the range of palliativecare services provided to thenorthern community.Northern Health CEO, JanetCompton, says that at NorthernHealth, we aim to achieve the bestpossible quality of life for all of ourpatients.“At Northern Health, we believethat palliative care is not justabout providing end of life care,but about offering support andtreatment to our patients at allstages of a life-limiting illness,”said Ms Compton.To mark Palliative Care Week, onMonday, 20 May, a photographiccollage was unveiled in McKennaHouse, Northern Health’s inpatientPalliative Care Unit. This collagecaptures the faces of the staff andfriends within the unit who makecontributions to the delivery ofpalliative care at Northern Health.This collage will bring patients andtheir families together with thecommunity that supports themand the staff who are involved intheir care, and will showcase thediversity of the region and thededication of our Northern Healthstaff.Other activities during the weekhave included:• From Monday to Friday, stallshave been in the front foyerof Broadmeadows HealthService, with information andeducational materials fromorganisations linked to thePalliative Care Sector availablefor patients, staff and visitors.The available material includedinformation from organisationslinked to the Palliative Care Sector,including the Office of the PublicAdvocate, Centre Link, MelbourneCity Mission Palliative Care, HumeCouncil, Moreland Council, andCarer Links North. There was alsomaterial available specific to theprovision of Palliative Care, whichis the same that is used withinMcKenna House.• On Wednesday, 22 May,there was a volunteer stallrun by the Dall Family, with allproceeds going to McKennaHouse.• On the evening of Wednesday,22 May there was a PalliativeCare Remembrance Eveningwhere the relatives of formerpatients were invited to joinstaff in remembering theirloved ones. Former patientsrelatives joined staff and unitvolunteers in this intimateservice co-ordinated by wardstaff.• On Thursday, 23 May, studentsfrom NMIT - Preston providedmassage therapy for patients,visitors, and staff.• On Thursday, 23 May, therewas also a lunch time BBQ,catering for the patients andvisitors to the unit, staff,volunteers, and supporters ofMcKenna House.Northern Health is committedto identifying and meeting thehealth care needs of palliativecare patients and their carersand families, and will continue toprovide the most appropriate careto our northern community.John Doran, NUM McKenna House with Philippa Sweeney,ANUM, the creator of the fantastic collageStudents from NMIT studying Massage Therapy give theirhands a rest from massaging and pose for a photo withMcKenna House Social Worker, Tony Purcell.NUM John Doran, cooking up a storm for staff and patientswith some students from NMIT.Community CONNECT JUNE 2013 3

newsA barrel o’ givingBack in 1979, the Preston Rotary Clubdonated a barrel ‘Operation Small Change’to the former Preston and NorthcoteCommunity Hospital (Panch) for patientsand visitors to donate money. The barrelwas used at Panch and then relocated to thefront foyer of The Northern Hospital whenthe facility opened in 1998.In the past five years alone, the barrel hadresulted in over $5,300 being donated.Recently, the donation barrel was updatedwith a Northern Health Foundation donationflower, now also seen across other NorthernHealth sites.Peter Fitz, the current President of the Club,attended The Northern Hospital recentlyand said that The Preston Rotary Club areextremely proud that their donation servedboth Panch and The Northern Hospital for 33years.We thank The Preston Rotary Club fortheir continued support, and for helping togenerate some big change from the smallchange raised!Executive Director, Robynne Cooke, with Peter Fitz, President of the PrestonRotary Club.NortherN health aNNual DiNNerSaturday 31 august 2013 • 7 pm for 7.30 pmPlenty ranges arts and Convention Centre, South MorangFeaturingthe tim Campbell Band31•08•13SAVE THE DATEany queries contact northernhealthfoundation@nh.org.au or 8405 8042Subscribe toCommunityConnectNorthern Health is always proudand excited to share news andupdates with the northerncommunity we serve.You can subscribe to receiveCommunity Connect via e-mail,simply send us an e-mailrequesting to subscribe and we’llkeep in touch.For more information e-mail:corporatecommunications@nh.org.au or phone 8405 8026.4 Community CONNECT JUNE 2013