June 2020
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Malnutrition project receives a grant
The Dietetics team were successful in getting funding from Northern Health to complete a Malnutrition Project for three months, which is currently under way. Malnutrition can be as high as forty per cent in an acute hospital setting. Patients may be malnourished on admission or develop malnutrition while in hospital. Nadia Obeid, Senior Dietitian explained, “Part of this malnutrition project includes undertaking a malnutrition point prevalence study in which we are identifying how many of our patients in the acute beds at Northern Hospital Epping and Broadmeadows Hospital are malnourished”. Patients can become malnourished from a prolonged poor diet or…
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Northern Health goes Dry this July!
Why is getting involved in Dry July so important? Since 2008, Dry July has inspired more than 200,000 Aussies to go dry, raising $49 million for people affected by cancer. They have funded over 80 cancer organisations across Australia, including Northern Health, helping to purchase a scalp cooling machine and Blanket Warmer for Craigieburn Centre in 2019. This year, Northern Health is going Dry in July to raise funds to provide care and comfort for our cancer patients at Northern Hospital Epping and Craigieburn Centre. Kirsty’s Cancer Journey Kirsty’s cancer journey started at Northern Health in January this year when…
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Lisa Hui wants answers
Northern Health maternal fetal medicine specialist, Associate Professor Lisa Hui, has recently been awarded an investigator grant in the highly-competitive Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) clinician researchers initiative, as ‘the next generation of talented Australians having the capacity to make and progress great medical discoveries.’ Lisa completed her clinical training in obstetrics and gynaecology in Sydney and conducted her PhD research at the Mother Infant Research Institute in Boston. She has clinical appointments at both the Mercy Hospital for Women and Northern Hospital and is Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Melbourne. Lisa…
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World Cleaners Day
Today we celebrate the unsung heroes of our health service – our cleaners! Today is World Cleaners Day, and is an opportunity to recognise the important role our cleaners play at Northern Health, protecting both staff and public. It is no exaggeration to say that in these challenging times of COVID-19, our cleaners play an important role in keeping us safe and healthy, for which we are very grateful. As the Minister for Health, Jenny Mikakos said, “I want to give a big shout out to all the cleaners working across our public health services, in retail, public transport, schools,…
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A workplace culture based on equity, inclusion and diversity
Northern Health is committed to a workplace culture that fosters diversity and equality. To help support our vision of a healthier community, our staff and volunteers reflect the community that we serve, and are supported by a workplace which is inclusive and empowers everyone to contribute their best. “When we talk about diversity at Northern Health, we recognise and celebrate the many people who use and deliver our services. Their different characteristics, backgrounds, abilities, beliefs and needs create unique opportunities and challenges,” said Michelle Fenwick, Executive Director, People and Culture. “However, it is not enough to acknowledge and celebrate diversity.…
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Northern Health’s Volunteer Raffle
Northern Health’s Volunteer Raffle is on once again! Funds raised will go towards helping our most precious and vulnerable babies through the purchase of a special medication fridge for our Maternity and Special Care Units to store breast milk. Michelle Morrow, Nurse Unit Manager for Maternity, says, “Northern Health is committed to supporting women with achieving breastfeeding for their infants. Our dedicated staff assist following the birth of every baby at Northern Health, and in the event problems arise, our specialist lactation consultants are here to advise. The importance of expressed breast milk has been well researched and we encourage…
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Thrive launches today
Thrive – Staff Wellbeing, the new name for Northern Health’s wellbeing program launches today. Northern Health’s wellbeing program has been running for nearly three years, and over that period the OHS and Wellbeing team have been able to implement some great offerings for staff. “What we felt was that we really wanted to brand those offerings, and did a survey with staff around what they would like to call our wellbeing program – and Thrive was selected,” said Alison O’Sullivan, Wellbeing Coordinator. Thrive is a familiar, very positive word and is often used in positive psychology. It encourages people to…
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What the Hack? – Hack Weekend is coming
Update 2 July 2020: Due to the current COVID-19 developments, Northern Health’s Hack Weekend has been postponed. What the Hack? – Northern Health’s inaugural hack weekend is scheduled for 11-12 July 2020, and will be held both face-to-face at NCHER and virtually, via MS Teams. It will take place over two full days, 9 am-6 pm, with optional evening sessions. What the Hack? brings together Northern Health staff who have a problem to solve within their work area, and ‘techies’ of all descriptions, from students and gurus, app and software developers, data professionals, designers and other digital wizzes, to work…