February 2024
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Meet Ivy: Our little Leap Day baby at Northern Health
Meet Ivy, a special baby girl born on a day that comes once every four years. Expected to make her debut on 11 March, Ivy surprised everyone by gracing the world with her presence on 29 February 2024. Ivy’s parents, Sri and Prasantha, were overjoyed by her unexpected, but wonderful, arrival. Ivy’s mother Sri is already planning grand celebrations for Ivy every leap year, embracing nature-themed parties and a tradition of giving back. She envisions each birthday as an opportunity to spread happiness to those in need, making Ivy’s milestones truly unforgettable. “Ivy’s birthday on 29 February is very special…
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Harmonising Hearts for RedFeb’s Cardiac Cause
RedFeb is an annual event acknowledged by Heart Research Australia, that invites individuals to don the colour red in solidarity with loved ones impacted by heart disease. It serves as a beacon of hope, rallying communities to raise awareness for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various heart conditions, from coronary heart disease (CHD) to heart failure, valve issues and arrhythmias. Northern Health Heart Failure Nurse Practitioner, Vikki Hannah, says many people may not be aware of their risk factors for heart disease, as some risk-factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, have no symptoms. “It’s never too…
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Setting the standard for the way we do things at Northern Health
This week, Northern Health launched the ‘Internal Standards for Safe Patient Flow.’ These standards establish clear and unambiguous description of values and behaviours and support flow of patients, from arrival in the Emergency Department, to leaving hospital. They centre around the patient journey and process of care and help to confirm expectations and roles of staff across their journey.   Debra Bourne, Chief Operating Officer, officially launched these standards on Monday, 27 February 2024. “The Internal Standards for Safe Patient Flow set the tone for how we do things at Northern Health and will help guide our staff on how…
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Standard 5 – What you need to know
Each week in the lead up to Accreditation, Northern Health will focus on a different Standard. You will hear from the Chairs of each Standard Committee on what you need to know. This week we spoke to Lisa Cox, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, about Standard 5: Comprehensive Care. What is this standard about? Standard 5 is aimed at ensuring patients receive care that is based on their individual care needs and considers the whole person in that care. It also aims to ensure that each patient is assessed at the beginning and during their care for any risks of…
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Get to know: Dr Eric Daniel
#WeAreNorthern Meet Dr Eric Daniel, Colorectal Surgeon, Northern Health Q: What is your coffee order? A: Long macchiato. Q: Tell us about your role at Northern Health? A: I’m a Colorectal Surgeon which is a sub-speciality dealing with bowel cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic floor dysfunction and proctology. I finished medical school in 2006 and my post graduate training in 2017 and started as a consultant in 2018 at Northern Health. The Colorectal Unit is a part of the Division of General Surgery, and we work closely with the Gastroenterology Unit, stomal therapy, nursing staff and Allied Health.  It is…
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Shaping patient-centred care: The journey of Carol Burnett
Northern Health is committed to delivering patient-centred care. Partnering with consumers is central to ensuring that our patients and their carers are at the core of all the work we do. Standard 2, known as the Partnering with Consumers Standard, is about fostering a collaborative relationship between healthcare providers and those we serve. This means involving consumers in the planning, design, delivery, and evaluation of our services. It’s also about empowering patients to be active participants in their own care, giving them a say in decisions that affect them. Today, we’re excited to share the story of Carol Burnett. Carol…
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RAT style test could save the lives of thousands of newborn babies
A new test, similar to COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, could detect a common infection in expecting mothers within minutes, potentially saving the lives of 150,000 newborns around the world every year. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteria is carried by one in five pregnant women, and GBS infection can cause serious complications, leading to preterm births, stillbirths and neonatal deaths. The good news is the infection, once detected, is easily treatable with standard antibiotics. RMIT University is part of a consortium that has just won $3 million in funding in the latest Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) round for StrepSure®, a…
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Shining light on February: Ovarian Cancer Awareness month
February marks Ovarian Cancer Awareness month and is dedicated to raising awareness and providing support for those affected by ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumour that grows in one or both ovaries and is the ninth most common cancer in Australia. According to Cancer Council Australia, it is estimated that each year, about 1,720 Australians are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. While over 80 per cent of people diagnosed are over the age of 50, ovarian cancer can occur at any age and it can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages, as symptoms can often be non-specific…