Celebrating making a difference in Sydney Local Health District.

Sydney Local Health District's Innovation and Excellence Awards recognise, celebrate and encourage healthcare innovation and excellence. 

Health Research and Innovation

Collaboration between clinicians, researchers, policy makers, service users, health managers and consumers in healthcare is critical – and can lead to service improvements and research findings that improve outcomes for patients. 

Highly commended: 

RPA Hospital – Multidisciplinary Memory and Cognition Clinic for patients with dementia 

 

Winner:

Concord Hospital Haematology Services – VITT: diagnosis and management of a new disease 

The Concord Hospital-led Vaccine Induced Thrombosis and Thrombocytopenia (VITT) team has been recognised for its work developing a novel approach to diagnosing and managing a new disease which developed in some patients who had the AstraZeneca (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine. 

The team worked to reduce mortality and morbidity of VITT in Australia before the AZ vaccine was in use in the country – empowering clinicians to recognise and treat VITT and mitigate vaccine hesitancy. 

Delivering integrated care 

The District is committed to collaborating and purposefully working in partnerships across government and community organisations. 

Highly commended: 

RPA and Concord Hospitals High Risk Foot Service – Podiatry care for high-risk patients during COVID-19 

Sydney Dental Hospital – Remote paediatric dental care provision during COVID-19 

Winner: 

Digital Health and Innovation – vICU – Keeping people on country 

vICU is a Virtual Intensive Care service that links RPA’s critical care team with ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at Broken Hill Hospital, to provide around-the-clock monitoring and peer-to-peer support. Since its launch in early 2022, patient outcomes have improved. It has helped to keep people on country, with community and close to home. 

Excellence in the provision of Mental Health Services 

This award recognises and showcases innovation in improving the quality and safety of mental health patient care. 

Highly commended: 

Professor Marie Bashir Centre – Next generation psychiatric ketamine treatment clinic 

Community Mental Health Services – Camperdown, Marrickville and Redfern Acute Care Service 

Winner: 

Concord Centre for Mental Health – The Walker Unit 

The first of its kind in NSW, The Walker Unit offers highly specialised and intensive treatment for adolescents with complex and severe mental health conditions. 

Education and workforce development 

Support for the District’s staff is one of the most important investments in delivering excellence in healthcare for all. 

Highly commended: 

Concord Hospital Speech Pathology – Masked communication education 

Centre for Education and Workforce Development – Workforce safety during the pandemic – mask strategies to optimise utilisation 

Winner:

Clinical Services Integration and Population Health and Mental Health Services – Project ECHO: Improving best practice care for people with complex mental health conditions 

Project ECHO provided healthcare education through video conferencing to professionals, to help them better provide mental health support for patients living with eating disorders, intellectual disability and mental health issues. 

Health equity, diversity and inclusion 

The District is committed to ensuring the services provided are inclusive of all people in the community regardless of race, gender, sexuality and ability and that everyone feels accepted, welcomed and valued. 

Highly commended: 

Population Health – Breast Cancer Concierge Program 

Population Health – Community pharmacies and peer-led pop-up HIV and Hepatitis C testing at Riverwood  

Winner: 

Health Promotion Unit and Aboriginal Health Unit – Jarjums Connections 

The Jarjums Connections program promotes movement, mindfulness and Aboriginal culture to children, families and educators in Early Childhood Education and Care Services. 

Keeping people healthy 

Keeping the community healthy is one of the District’s key priorities. This includes raising awareness of healthy choices and improving overall health and wellbeing. 

Highly commended: 

Clinical Services Integration, Homeless and Rough Sleepers Program – Boarding House Project 

Population Health – Active Ageing Network 

Winner: 

District Emergency Operations Centre – Riding the Delta wave in a complex environment 

During the COVID-19 Delta wave, the District Emergency Operations Centre facilitated a person-centred response to vulnerable and marginalised communities.  

Patient safety first 

Patient safety is one of the most important parts of providing excellent care. This includes engaging patients as partners in their care and delivering care in ways that they will find relevant.  

Highly commended: 

Oral Health Services – More than just teeth: a holistic approach to ensuring Patient Safety 

Winner: 

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – Virtual safety briefing 

The multidisciplinary team in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) holds a daily virtual safety briefing to discuss key clinical and social focuses for the upcoming shift. It is an innovative approach to clinical handover, based on recommendations that multidisciplinary communication is a major contributing factor in provision of safe patient care. 

Transforming patient experience 

Patient-centred care is at the heart of the District’s strategy. Every patient experience is an opportunity to deliver on the District’s shared vision and this category recognises the projects which have transformed patient experiences. 

Highly commended: 

Sydney Dental Hospital – the MAD, Monitoring Assessing Dental, Project  

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Orthopaedics – Using 3D tech to revolutionise orthopaedic prosthetics 

Winner: 

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital – Pelvic Mesh Service 

The RPA Multidisciplinary Pelvic Mesh Service supports women who have experienced health complications relating to pelvic mesh implants. 

Volunteer of the Year  

This Award recognises the contribution of an individual who provides excellent support for patients, carers and families and acts as a role model for volunteering across the District. 

Winner: 

Olivia Nixon, President of Little Wonder, RPA Neonatal Intensive Care Unit parent support group  

Olivia founded Little Wonder a group  of volunteers who share their lived experience to support parents of babies receiving care in NICU.  

Cleaner of the Year 

This category recognises a hospital assistant who demonstrates excellence in their cleaning role. 

Winners: 

Balmain Hospital – Rajesh Khadka 

Canterbury Hospital – Jane Thomas 

Concord Hospital – Aben Tawk Thawng 

Croydon Health Centre – Ni Wayan Monika Sofiani 

Croydon, Marrickville and Redfern Health Centres – Anup Sharma 

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – Cam Giang 

Sydney Dental Hospital – Jin Kook Mok 

Collaborative Staff Member of the Year 

This award recognises employees who have made an exceptional contribution to the services provided by the District. 

Highly commended: 

Milorose Felipe, Clinical Nurse Consultant at RPA’s Pelvic Mesh Service 

Bonnie Fonti, Clinical Nurse Specialist at RPA’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit 

Winner:

Dr Amelia Lewis, Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist, Community Health 

Amelia promotes positive cultural change, supports parents with resilience education and inspires her colleagues. She led a rapid switch to telehealth, managed a major transformation of the Disability Specialist Unit model of care; and ran the District’s first training course on evidence-based assessment tools for children with developmental difficulties.  

Partnership of the Year 

This award recognises a team, or teams, who have collaborated with strategic partners to deliver exceptional initiatives to radically alter the future of the care the District provides to patients, families and the community. 

Winner: 

Sydney Biomedical Accelerator, a collaboration between the District, the University of Sydney and the NSW Government 

The Sydney Biomedical Accelerator is a state-of-the-art biomedical research complex that will fast track real-world health outcomes by integrating fundamental, clinical and patient-centred research.  

Recognition of Excellence in COVID-19 response 

These awards recognise the outstanding contributions in the District during the response to COVID-19. 

Winner: Associate Professor Lauren Troy, Respiratory Staff Specialist, RPA  

Lauren led the establishment of RPA's post-COVID respiratory clinic which provides further support for people affected by COVID pneumonitis. 

Service of the Year 

This award recognises a team, or teams, who have transformed their processes to deliver exceptional patient and family-centred care. 

Winners: 

Canterbury Hospital Emergency Department 

Concord Hospital Emergency Department 

RPA Hospital Emergency Department 

Emergency Department staff have continued to deliver care and support for patients, their families and the community, despite the on-going challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

For more, please visit https://slhd.health.nsw.gov.au/awards