About us: Archived news stories from Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Health Service
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About us: Archived news stories from Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Health Service
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| From this section of our site you can read some of our archived news and media releases. You might like to check the current news page. News Archive
Celebrating our NursesHornsby Ku-ring-gai Health Service (HKHS) will celebrate International Nurses’ and Midwives Week every day from 7 - 11 May 2007 to recognise the significant contribution nurses make to quality patient care. International Nurses’ Day is an annual celebration of nursing held across the globe on 12th May - Florence Nightingale’s birthday. The week of celebrations will include breakfast and lunchtime barbeques for night and day staff, poster presentations, awards ceremonies, and a lively and humorous debate posing the provocative question “A Hospital Can’t Operate Without Nurses” will close the week’s celebrations. 160 Years of selfless service
One volunteer, who exemplifying the volunteer ethic of service wished to remain anonymous, clocked up an amazing 40 years of service beginning her volunteer service at the hospital back in 1967. This dedicated volunteer is still going strong and has no intention of giving up her role in the near future. Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Health Service has around 800 volunteers in their hospital and community based services including HKHS Meals on Wheels. Generous Golfers Give
Nurse Unit Manager Ros Ferguson said that donations such as these make a huge difference in helping us to provide better care for our patients. “We are absolutely thrilled with the support we have received from Gordon Golf Club over the years. Being able to have the most up-to-date medical equipment makes a big difference for both staff and patients,” said Dr Charles Lawrie, Emergency Department Staff Specialist. Hospital Wins Major AwardsHornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital has won an award in what is described as the ‘Logies’ of Healthcare. Hundreds of the State’s top healthcare providers attended the ACER Arena on 20 October for the 2006 Baxter NSW Health Awards Ceremony. Hornsby Hospital had two finalists, the Integrated Aged Care Project and the Geriatric Rapid Acute Care Evaluation program (GRACE), which won the category of Best Innovation to Improve Patient Care and Patient Journeys. You can read more in our press release, or review more information on GRACE. Cool Idea
The Hornsby Cooling Kit, which is made up of pads impregnated with gel that are soaked in water and frozen, has revolutionised the way we treat patients who require cooling. It is certain to help save lives beyond Hornsby Hospital with the cooling method recently being presented to a meeting of the European Resuscitation Council Congress in Norway. 
Hand Washing Campaign
50 years of Maternity Services at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital: September 2006
The Maternity Unit celebrated 50 years of service in fine style with an open day on Friday, where staff and families, past and present, enjoyed memorabilia, tours, morning tea and the launch of the Maternity 50th Anniversary Journal filled with 50 years of maternity stories.
Redevelopment news: November 2006NSW Minister for Health, John Hatzistergos, announced today that Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital’s new $23 million Emergency, Maternity & Paediatrics Building will open over three days in November. You can read more in our press release.
If you’ve visited the hospital lately you will have seen that the campus is abuzz with building activity. Currently we have three projects under way - all due for completion within the next year.
With so much activity on campus at the moment, at times parking can be stretched. However we are fortunate in Hornsby that there is a large amount of all-day, off-street parking still available within a block or two of the hospital. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to improve our facilities and the opening of our new buildings. Minister’s visitThe NSW Minister for Health, John Hatzistergos, visited us recently to launch the new Sub-Acute Fast Track of the Elderly (SAFTE) Care program. The program will support the care of frail older people in the community who show the first signs of a medical condition. SAFTE aims to identify any problems early and nip them in the bud before the patient deteriorates and has to be admitted to hospital. Our team of experts will work with GP’s and other care professionals who will notify us of the early signs of their patient’s condition. Our team will assist in diagnosis and if needed will visit the patient at home and organise the appropriate care to help improve their condition. Curran Chair in Health Care of Older PeopleCongratulations to Dr Sue Kurrle, from our Rehabilitation and Aged Care Service (RACS), who has been appointed to the Curran Chair in Health Care of Older People. The appointment, based at Hornsby, will have a strong focus on research into staying fit and healthy into older age. This is a prestigious appointment and reflects the outstanding work of the RACS team and their firstclass reputation in aged-care. Operational Plan availableThe 2006-07 Operational Plan for Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Health Service is now available. We have included health statistics and planning information for the Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai local government areas, for the information of our community and our staff. The plan is presented under the seven strategic directions identified by NSW Health and is aligned with the Northern Sydney Central Coast Health operational plan. We held a forum to review the draft plan and received very useful input from the attendees, who included health consumers, Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai Council representatives and our staff. We have made a copy of the 2006-07 Operational Plan available to download. Accreditation SuccessHornsby Ku-ring-gai Health Service has been granted four year’s accreditation by the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards (ACHS). This is a great result, and the best outcome attainable, reflecting very positively on the efforts of all staff within the organisation. It also demonstrates a continuous commitment to improving the quality of care, service and safety offered to patients. Success at Quality AwardsOver the last 12 months HKHS staff members have been working hard on improving their quality of care. As well as fulfilling their existing roles, many have also been working on Quality Improvement projects, developing new and innovative ways to improve their service. These projects have seen HKHS achieve some fantastic results at two recent award ceremonies that recognise Quality Improvement. At the Northern Sydney Health (NSH) annual Quality Awards, HKHS received six awards, with one of our projects being declared the overall Northern Sydney winner. Hornsby also had three finalists in the prestigious NSW Health Baxter Awards, which had 50 entries from around NSW (see p.3 of the Summer HKH Health). It’s good to know that our work is ‘up there’ with the best in the state. In what has been a ‘quality-filled’ month, HKHS also recently underwent a full accreditation from the Australian Council on Health Care Standards (ACHS). The survey team gave praise to all parts of our organisation noting that HKHS had embraced “a real culture of continuous quality improvement.”
Northern Sydney Central Coast Health merger announcement
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Health Service, previously part of Northern Sydney Area Health Service, is now part of Northern Sydney Central Coast Health. Health Minister, Morris Iemma, recently announced changes to the NSW Health Administration, combining the 17 existing Area Health Services to create eight larger Area Health Services. This reform is aimed at addressing the challenge of increasing costs and demands on the health system, largely due to an ageing population and the introduction of new technologies and medicines. The changes will create a more streamlined administrative structure with savings of an estimated $100 million every year, which will go directly to patient care - this means more doctors, more nurses and more beds. Doctors, nurses, allied health workers and our community will have more of a say in how we deliver our health care with the formation of Area Health Advisory Councils. These Councils will advise the Area CEO direct and ensure that our clinicians and local communities are given a greater voice in health decision making.
Psychiatric Emergency Centre at HKHA brand new $1.5 million Psychiatric Emergency Centre has recently been approved as part of Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital’s new HOPE (Hornsby Obstetrics, Paediatrics & Emergency) building. Our media release from the 8th March 2005 has more details about this issue. Patient Companion program
With around one-third of HKH patients having no visitors during their stay, the hospital is trialing a new volunteer Patient Companion program to provide support and company for many of our elderly patients. Sylvia English, a retired registered nurse, is ‘absolutely loving’ her new role as a patient companion. “Patients don’t always like to worry the nurses because they see how busy they are - but they will often share what’s on their mind with a volunteer. As a patient companion I am able to do all the little but important things I didn’t have time for when I was nursing, which has been very fulfilling for me,” said Sylvia. You can read the full story in the Summer 2004 issue of HKH Health, look at the media release on this program. Are you a carer? Are you looking after an ageing friend or relative, or someone with an acute or chronic illness, mental health disorder or disability? Do you sometimes need a break from your responsibility of caring for someone? Looking after someone you care about can be rewarding, and whilst most carers would not have it any other way, at times it can be tiring and sometimes difficult. A new Carer’s Support Service has been established at the hospital to respond to the diverse needs of carers. Carer Support Facilitator Ruth McLauchlan, says that asking for support does not mean you cannot cope. “Actually, having some support will benefit the person you care for as well as yourself,” said Ruth. The service supports carers in providing the valuable care they give and also acts as an information resource on matters ranging from home help, financial entitlements and referrals. Gambling Team New Appointment Our Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Service has recently welcomed psychiatrist Dr Clive Allcock to its Gambling Counselling team. For every problem gambler, another five to ten people in the community are affected - friends, family and workmates. Problem gambling can be a destructive force, breaking down trust and creating financial difficulty. According to Dr Allcock, it is best that people admit to having a gambling problem before coming to the service, as they have to be motivated to change. The good news for problem gamblers, according to Dr Allcock, is that people who have a problem with gambling and want to make it work can make a change in their behaviour. You can read more of this article in the Summer 2004 issue of HKH Health. New member of Executive team 
We welcome to our Executive team Ms Kylie Ward, who recently joined the hospital as our new Director of Nursing Services. Kylie has an impressive record of achievement, joining us from Liverpool Health Service where she was Co-Director of the Division of Medicine and prior to that, at Blacktown, Mt Druitt Hospital as the Associate Director, Women’s and Children’s Health. She has significant experience in after-hours and campus management and has a clinical background in intensive care and aged care nursing. Kylie is keen to develop opportunities to further the professionalism of our nursing workforce and her vision is to see HKHS as a leader in health care reform to meet the current and future needs of our community. “One of the things that has impressed me since I started at Hornsby is the stable workforce and the commitment of staff to their community. Staff show a strong desire to continually strive for excellence which is most impressive. It is also reassuring that for a large metropolitan hospital, we have an atmosphere that is warm, friendly, personal and connected.” said Kylie. NSW Health Baxter Quality Awards We are proud to announce that Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Health Service has no less than three out of the five Northern Sydney Health finalists for these prestigious awards! The projects include implementing the Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) unit, improving the effectiveness of the Emergency Medical Unit and improving patient access, assessment and planning for the more than 20,000 emergency presentations we have each year. Winners will be announced at an official state ceremony in late October. Beds for babes
Another fantastic golf day was held recently by Hornsby Rotary, raising $5,000 for our Maternity Department. The donation will purchase a bilibed which is used to treat babies with jaundice. This donation means we have been able to purchase the very latest bilibed, where the light source comes from below, so that the baby’s eyes do not have to be covered for protection. The new model is also portable, so it can be placed beside a mother’s bed. "This is just another example of how donations can allow us to purchase the latest medical equipment so we can provide our patients with the very best care" said Carolyn Smith, Senior Nurse Manager, Obstetric, Child, Adolescent and Family Health Service. The Maternity staff and mums are absolutely thrilled at this donation. Thank you Hornsby Rotary! You can read the full story in the Winter 2004 issue of HKH Health. New hope for memory loss
Our Rehabilitation and Aged Care Service (RACS) was recently selected as one of only four hospitals in the world to trial the latest treatment for memory loss. Research Project Coordinator, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Roseanne Hogarth says Hornsby Hospital has a proud history in dementia research and she has nothing but praise for the volunteers and their carers who participate. “These people really do make a difference. It is their willingness to give their time to take part in the trials that makes it possible for us to do our research to help find a worthwhile treatment to stem the progression of dementia and memory loss,” said Roseanne. Roseanne says that spouses and carers play a crucial role in the research. They supervise the patient’s medication and their daily diary entries. This is essential to the integrity and accuracy of the research. One participant currently involved in the trials is Ronald Templeton, 67, a retired engineer, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last year. “One of the things I find most frustrating is my lack of confidence,” said Ronald, whose studies in biology and animal behaviour gave him an interest in the trials. Ronald and his family first noticed changes in their ‘absent-minded professor’ in 2001. By early 2003, Ronald and his wife Patsy realised there was ‘something more’. Blood tests and further testing confirmed the diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s in July last year. Whilst participating in the trials Ronald comes into the hospital on a monthly basis for a full check up. Director of RACS, Dr Sue Kurrle, says that the Templeton’s contribution is vital in furthering the understanding of memory loss and dementia. For further information, or if you are interested in participating in the dementia and memory loss trials at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, please call Roseanne Hogarth on 94779283. This story also appears in the Winter 2004 issue of HKH Health. Emergency help 
Emergency care for children at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital has received another boost recently with the appointment of clinical nurse consultant, Kate Lyle, a paediatric project nurse who will support the Emergency team with ongoing paediatric emergency education and training. This position, combined with the recent appointment of two Emergency paediatricians and two new resuscitation trolleys specifically designed for children, means that Hornsby’s EmergencyDepartment is well-equipped to provide quality emergency care to children. Kate has been working with ED nurse educator Sue Jackson and paediatric outreach education nurse, Debbie Andrews, to ensure that every member of the emergency team has undergone specific training to meet the needs of paediatric emergency cases. Emergency department nurses, doctors and ambulance staff have recently attended advanced paediatric training workshops, learning the skills necessary to offer advanced life support to infants and children and the confidence and competence to act in what is often a very stressful situation. “We have to make sure that first line management in all hospitals is equal so that parents can have confidence in their local hospital,” said Paediatric Education Nurse, Debbie Andrews. Debbie said that she had seen cases where a parent had struggled through traffic for an hour with a very sick child in the car to get to a children’s hospital. “It’s far more sensible to come to the closest hospital in these circumstances, where a sick child can receive the same emergency treatment they would at any other hospital. Once the child has been stabilised, if needed, they can then be safely transferred to another hospital that specialises in the treatment they require,” said Debbie. With around 6,000 children presenting to Hornsby’s Emergency Department every year, it is reassuring to know that staff in our ED are continually updating their skills and are well equipped to provide competent paediatric care. This story also appears in the Winter 2004 issue of HKH Health. From the desk of the GM
You can read the full version of this information in the Winter 2004 edition of HKH Health The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation with professionally qualified auditors who continually review and assess a hospital’s performance and processes. This ensures health care facilities are meeting ACHS standards before the granting of ACHS accreditation, their professional seal of approval. Accreditation from the ACHS is an on-going process and health care facilities continually have to comply with various ACHS standards to keep their accreditation. Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Health Service is currently accredited by the ACHS and will be undergoing a full organisational survey this October. ACHS auditors visited the hospital in February and noted that excellent progress was being made. Over the last 18 months we have invested considerable resources into our Quality and Safety Department to assist all departments in setting up strong support systems. This enables them to identify ways to improve their patient care and means they can constantly monitor the way they deliver their service. Basically, it is about looking at what we do, asking ourselves could we have done it better, and if so, how. This ‘how’ then becomes a ‘Quality Improvement Project’. As part of the Quality and Safety process, department heads regularly submit reports of their quality improvement projects to our Quality and Safety Executive. All HKHS departments have a folder that shows evidence of how they are improving their processes. Recently many departments were visited by ACHS auditors and had to provide this evidence to show how they were improving their systems and care. Feedback from the auditors was very positive, commending the way in which many HKHS departments are working to deliver the best possible service and health care for our community. EMU off to a flying start: from Autumn 2004 newsletter 
Nine months after the opening, the Emergency Medical Unit (EMU) at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital is now seeing around 200 patients a month. The new unit is a short stay ward that acconmmodates 11 patients for up to 48 hours and incorporates a transit lounge for patients awaiting transfer or discharge. EMU ward is taking the pressure off our Emergency Department, with the number of emergency patients waiting to be admitted to wards having almost halved since the EMU opening. Late last year the EMU appointed a new staff specialist, Dr Chee Fook Choong, a gastroenterologist and general physician who trained at both Westmead and Concord Hospitals. Dr Choong, a Hornsby resident, says he is enthusiastic about serving his local community and passionate about guiding the EMU to reach its full potential. "The new EMU has been very successful. It has had a positive impact on emergency services, staff morale and the flow of patients to hospital wards through the hospital," said Dr Choong. You can read the full story in the Autumn 2004 issue of HKH Health. Bloomin' marvellous! From Autumn 2004 newsletter 
Our Pink ladies have a new florist shop! The bright new shop provides a wonderful area for our volunteers to showcase their gifts, flowers, toiletries and craft. All profits from the shop go straight back to the hospital for the purchase of medical equipment and improved resources. The last two pieces of equipment purchased with these funds were a Navigator Sentinal Node Device that assists in the detection of cancer, and a Bi-Pap machine that helps patients in our Emergency Department who have breathing difficulties. The transformed shop is still at the same location- along the covered walkway near the Lumby building. However, you don't even have to visit the hospital to buy your flowers. Just give our Pink Ladies a call on 9477 9298 and they will be more than happy to deliver flowers or a gift for you. They can arrange a courier to deliver flowers outside the hospital, or delivery anywhere within the hospital is free. Relief from water 
A recent research paper published in the UK evaluated the effects of labouring in water for woment with painful early stage labour. They concluded that labouring in water under midwifery care may be an option for slow progress in labour, reducing the need for obstetric intervention, and offering an alternative pain management strategy. (Cluett, E.R. et al (2004) "Randomised controlled trial of labouring in water compared with standard of augmentation for management of dystocia in first stage of labour", BMJ; 328:314 (7 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.37963.606412.EE (published 26 January 2004), accessed online 5.3.04) Exciting research at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital is also showing that women in labour find relief from pain by sitting in spa baths. Carolyn Smith, Senior Nurse Manager of the Obstetric, Child, Adolescent and Family Health Service, has been evaluating the results of the women who laboured in water at HKH between march 2000 and September 2002. Of the women, 27% were having their first baby and 73% were having their second or subsequent baby. 76% did not require pain relief of any form, 7.6% required pethidine and the remainder used inhalation analgesia. "Those mums who laboured in water have expressed a high level of satisfaction with the management of their labour and birthing experience," said Carolyn. "Labouring in water is useful for reducing pain but there are other benefits for women including the increased privacy and sense of empowerment this creates." You can read the full story in the Autumn 2004 edition of HKH Health. Asquith Girls Visit: from Summer 2003 Newsletter 
Ten prefects from Asquith Girls High visited patients in our specialised rehabilitation ward recently. The girls chatted happily with the mainly older patients and presented them each with a lovely handmade card. Mrs Imrie, who has been in hospital for over a fortnight said "They were so bright and cheerful - it really brightened my day". Bush magic: Murals brighten the HKH operation experience: from Summer 2003 Newsletter 
Patients waiting for and recovering from operations at HKH are now able to enjoy two spectacular murals based on our local flora and fauna, thanks to some talented third year Fine Arts' students at the University of Western Sydney. The project was the brainchild of Operating Theatre nurse Marion Harris, and the idea was to brighten the long corridor that patients pass through on their way to Theatre and the paediatric recovery bay, where children and adolescents recover after an operation. The young artists and project coordinator, David Spillane, researched the project by venturing into the local bushland to see for themselves the natural beauty of the area and take photos of the species to ensure that they replicate them as authentically as possible. The final results are stunning. The murals, covered in washable perspex, are both very realistic and stand nearly two and a half metres long and more than a metre high. Operating theatre staff held a special afternoon tea to thank the artists for their efforts, which will be there for patients and staff to enjoy for years to come. In briefOur Junior Medical Officer (JMO) program was recently surveyed by a team from the Postgraduate Medical Council, who commented that HKHS runs one of the best programs in the state. The Post Graduate Medical Council is responsible for assessing the level of education, supervision and support provided by the hospital. The survey team commented very positively on the commitment of many of our consulting medical officers and their active involvement in training. ***** As a result of a generous donation by a local building company and the Starlight Foundation, young patients in the Child & Adolescent Ward have a new computer console/DVD player to while away the hours (when they are well enough) before they go home. While to most adults the 5’ high console looked very complex, the first lucky users, all of five years old, needed no instruction on how it all works! ***** |
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Seven remarkable volunteers were celebrated for their dedication and commitment to Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital in June 2007.
The seven ladies have accumulated a total of 160 years of voluntary service to the hospital.
Gordon Golf Club has been in the ‘swing’ of things recently holding a Pro-Am Golf Tournament that raised funds for
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital’s Emergency Department. The club raised over $17,000 which was used to purchase the latest in electronic
bladder scanner technology for the Emergency Department.
Congratulations to Sue Elder, a Clinical Nurse
Specialist in our Intensive Care Unit (ICU), who in
partnership with the Artic Heat company, spent over
two years designing and developing a new way to
cool patients down. Medical research shows that
cooling these patients down is beneficial in preserving
the brain after a cardiac arrest as a cool body requires
less oxygen. Ice is the standard cooling system around
the world however huge quantities are needed, ice
melts too quickly and can also cause problems with
electrical cables and other equipment surrounding
an ICU patient.
We recently launched our Clean Hands Saves Lives
campaign to help staff, patients and visitors
understand how easily infections can be spread and
how to prevent them. The impact of an antibiotic
resistant infection on a patient and their family can be
devastating and the simple act of hand washing is the
single most important practice for preventing infection.
Patients and visitors can help. We are asking visitors to
please wash your hands or use the special hand gel
available in every patient room before and after visiting.
You will also see staff wearing badges saying “It’s OK
to ask” encouraging you to ask staff members “Have
you washed your hands?”
Since 1956, over 70,000 babies have been born in the HKH Maternity Unit and mums have visited
over 30,000 antenatal clinics and classes. Celebrations were held on 15 and 16 September 2006.
In the evening 120 staff and community members celebrated with a dinner at Asquith Rugby League
Club to celebrate the unit’s 50 successful years and to say a final hoorah to the old building.
At 2pm on Saturday, staff members and families gathered for a little piece of history and had a
group photo taken outside the old ‘British Centre’.
If you’ve walked down Palmerston Road lately you will have seen that the new $23 million
two-storey Maternity, Pediatrics and Emergency building is progressing at a rapid pace, with
services expecting to re-locate in November 2006. You can keep up with the latest news about our
redevelopment projects on our 
As you can see from the aerial photo,
construction of the new $23 million Emergency,
Maternity and Paediatrics building is moving ahead.
Early building works have begun on the new Mental
Health Intensive Care Unit, which will be located on the
current Lowe Road car park site. And tenders have
now been called for the $1 million refurbishment of the
old Leighton Lodge building, which will co-locate our
Aged Care Services.