October was International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, including Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day on 15 October – an annual day of remembrance for pregnancy loss and infant death, which includes miscarriage, stillbirth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), ectopic pregnancy, termination for medical reasons, and the death of a newborn.

With one in four pregnancies ending in loss, the purpose of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is to allow families the opportunity to pause, reflect and honour the life and loss of their pregnancy and baby. It is also a way to bring forth greater public awareness of pregnancy loss, infant death and its impacts and the importance of acknowledging it.

“The loss of a pregnancy and death of a baby can be a devastating for both the families and the health care professionals caring for them,” said Alia Sayegh, Social Worker.

“As health care professionals, the way we respond to a pregnancy loss or infant death can have long-term consequences for families experiencing the loss and can have major impacts on healing and recovery. Ensuring that women and families receive appropriate and compassionate care after a loss is crucial in fighting the stigma families, particularly women, face after pregnancy and or infant loss.”

“Together, we can bring more awareness to the importance of supporting these people in appropriate and meaningful ways.”

Northern Health’s Social Work department is currently undertaking a quality improvement project that hopes to address the needs of women and their families’ experiencing miscarriages, particularly within the ED space.

“This quality project includes a literature review of current best practice. It will also include a review of current procedures and guidelines already in place at Northern Health, to ensure they include information about the social and emotional experiences of patients,” Alia said.

“For example, some inclusions may be the need to tailor the care provided, honouring the woman’s choice, providing culturally and spiritually safe supports, acknowledging the meaning of the pregnancy/loss and focusing on use of sensitive language and approaches that foster a safe space, and linking women to appropriate community supports.”

“If you have experienced pregnancy loss or the death of a baby, you are not alone. Red Nose provides vital 24/7 support and services to thousands of Australian women every year who lose a baby to miscarriage, via termination for medical reasons, in early infancy or through stillbirth or SIDS.”

Anyone impacted by pregnancy loss can contact the RED Nose 24/7 Grief and Loss Support Line on 1300 308 307.

Staff are encouraged to consider a referral to their area Social Worker if their patient has experienced pregnancy loss. Social work has the knowledge, skillset and theoretical underpinnings to be able to complete trauma informed and holistic assessments and linkage to relevant community supports.

Social work is able to further explore and provide bereavement support, which can in turn minimise complicated grief. Psychosocial support is quintessential in the miscarriage space as it will allow provision of holistic, compassionate and tailored supports underpinned by compassion, empathy and sensitivity.

Social workers can be instrumental in this space given the emphasis on holistic care, understanding of the systems and environments around people, and provision of resources.

Featured image: Alia Sayegh, Social Worker and Sarah Wotherspoon, Social Work Senior Clinician 

The Busy Fingers Auxiliary, a dedicated volunteer group located in Northern Health’s Bundoora Centre, has been making a difference through their efforts to fundraise for our patients. Formed with the goal of establishing independent aged care services in Melbourne’s north, it has now grown into a well-known fixture in the community, raising money to support healthcare initiatives at Bundoora Centre.

Founded over five decades ago, Busy Fingers Auxiliary members work together to produce a range of handmade items, including knitted goods and blankets, which they sell at a shop front in Bundoora Centre. The proceeds go directly towards the funding of medical equipment, patient comfort items, and other critical resources that improve patient care at Bundoora Centre.

“Our members are passionate about giving back to the health centre that serves so many in our community,” said Natalie Carroll, Northern Health Volunteer Coordinator. “Every item they make and sell goes towards helping someone get the care they need.”

Northern Health’s Bundoora Centre has long been a key healthcare provider in the region, offering services such as aged care and mental health facilities. Thanks to the Busy Fingers Auxiliary, the facility has been able to enhance its offerings, investing in essential equipment like mobility aids and specialised beds, most recently donating $15,700 to purchase a portable hoist at the Percy Cleland Ward (PCW) at Bundoora Centre.

“The Busy Fingers Auxiliary is an inspiring example of community-driven support for healthcare,” said Natalie. “Their commitment and hard work have made a tangible difference in the quality of care we can offer.”

Busy fingers donate their time five days a week to run a shop out of Bundoora, generously contributing the funds to support the needs of our health service.

“It’s so wonderful to see the ongoing support of busy fingers and the volunteers who give countless hours of their time. They continually give back to our health service and the community, and their support is evident from the outcome of this generous donation,” says Natalie.

“They are extremely happy with this equipment that not only supports the patients at Bundoora Centre but helps the staff as well, and I couldn’t agree more. This is what they are all about.”

Thank you to Busy Fingers for this donation and for over 50 years of continued service to Northern Health. Your dedication inspires us all, and we are extremely grateful to you all.

(L-R) Norma McGrillen and Kerry Wall standing with the portable hoist they funded for PCW

#WeAreNorthern

Meet Sara Almoosawi, Lab Assistant Microbiology/Pathology.

Q: What is your coffee order?
A pretty simple one – a medium chai latte.

Q: What does a typical day look like as the Lab Assistant in Microbiology/Pathology?
A typical day starts off by starting up all the machines and performing their respective internal quality controls and maintenance, setting up each workstation for other staff that will come in later in the day, processing all the different types of samples that come to microbiology and getting them tested as soon as possible and somehow squeezing in lunch!

Q: What do you enjoy most about your role?
I enjoy the variety of what comes through to be tested, starting from the unknown and working through to the most clinically sound answer – or so we hope! And also, the team at Northern Pathology Victoria is by far the best.

Q: How do you like to relax after work?
I typically like to go to the gym after work or take a walk around a scenic lake, or meet up with a foodie friend and if its late-night Friday shopping, that’s where I’ll be!

Q: Do you have a bucket list item? Something you would love to do.
Does getting married count? All jokes aside going to Japan and seeing Mount Fuji would be incredible.

The Annual Scientific Meeting of the Royal Australian College of Radiologists (RANZCR) took place in Perth on October 17-19. At this meeting Dr Miranda Siemienowicz, Co-Director of Radiology  Training at Northern Health and Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Thoracic Radiology (ANZSTR), introduced the Australian National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) to the radiology community. This session was a highlight of the conference, which had over 1,300 attendees.

The NLCSP is Australia’s first new screening program since 2006 and aims to save 500 lives each year by detecting lung cancer early with low-dose chest CT scans. Dr Siemienowicz has been instrumental in advising the government and leading a working group of 62 radiologists from Australia and New Zealand to develop the necessary materials for the program. This is the largest working group ever supported by the College of Radiologists.

On 23 October, Dr Siemienowicz was in Canberra for the official endorsement of the lung nodule management protocol, created by her working group to guide lung cancer screening CT reports. This protocol is now backed by the Australian Government. The ANZSTR has also developed guidelines for performing low-dose CT scans, writing structured reports, managing incidental findings, using AI for scan interpretation, and creating educational materials to support workforce training. Much of this work was done for RANZCR under a contract with Cancer Australia.

Says Dr Siemienowicz, “Lung cancer screening remains an organised, funded service in only a small minority of countries around the globe. The commitment by the Australian Government to fund this program is a landmark for Australians and a major opportunity for radiology to support a profound impact on the public health of this nation.”

Featured image: Dr Miranda Siemienowicz. 

On Monday, 14 October, Northern Health held an innovative interdisciplinary workshop aimed at enhancing communication skills among healthcare professionals. The event was a collaboration between Northern Health and Deakin University’s Centre for Organisational Change in Person-Centred Healthcare (OCPH).

On the day, 17 participants from surgery, oncology, medicine, emergency, and mental health divisions engaged in interactive learning with facilitators from Deakin University, University of Southern Denmark, and Northern Health. The workshop was held at the Northern Centre for Health Education & Research (NCHER), and focused on advancing communication skills as a critical component of patient-centered care.

The program was co-led by communication and healthcare experts; Professor Peter Martin, Director of Deakin University’s OCPH, A/Professor Connie Timmermann, Deputy Director of the Centre for Research in Patient Communication (CFPK) at the University of Southern Denmark and James Watt, Team Leader and Clinical Nurse Consultant in the Palliative Care Consult Team at Northern Health.

James Watt’s longstanding association with OCPH, and his commitment to enhancing communication skills training at Northern Health, were instrumental in bringing the workshop to life.

“Communication skills development is a lifelong learning commitment. Few opportunities exist for health clinicians to refine and improve their skills in this area, and communication skill training is often overlooked in favour of practical skills,” said Mr Watt.

“We have greatly benefited from OCPH subsidising the majority of costs for this workshop, leveraging their experience in training thousands of clinicians across Victoria,” he added.

The workshop offered participants a unique opportunity to delve into the evidence-based frameworks that underpin effective communication. They practiced skills such as establishing a shared agenda in clinical consultations, recognising and responding to patient cues, and exploring patients’ goals, values, hopes, and fears. Participants also received valuable feedback on their communication approach, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the overall patient experience.

Professor Peter Martin commended the collaborative environment by saying, “It was a fantastic diverse group of participants who were very engaged and had a wealth of experience to contribute.”

“This interactive communication-skills workshop recognises the large role that the ‘language of communication’ plays in keeping our patients safe. The workshop, as well as being interactive, was purposely number limited to ensure tailored feedback could be given to participants. Of particular priority during the workshop was to develop enhanced confidence in recognising and responding to patient cues, as well as how to establish shared agendas with patients and families during consultations,” said Tony McGillion, Divisional Director, Education and Training.

This workshop is part of Northern Health’s ongoing efforts to help healthcare professionals improve their communication skills and enhance patient-centered care. By using these skills in everyday practice, healthcare teams can ensure that patients and their families feel heard, respected, and supported. As communication continues to be a priority in healthcare, Northern Health and OCPH are excited to collaborate further to help clinicians provide the best care possible.

Pictured in feature image (L-R): A/Professor Connie Timmerman, Professor Peter Martin, Melanie Bullock, Metastatic Breast Care Nurse, James Watt, Team Leader and Clinical Nurse Consultant, Rachel Coutts, Director Medical Education, Anastasia Sizemova, Registrar and Arjun Guduguntla, Urology Registrar. 

Northern Health is proud to support our community in growing their families through accessible public fertility care. In a service led by The Royal Women’s Hospital, Northern Health is committed to making fertility services more available to individuals and families who currently have limited access to private services.

One of these families is the Rowe family. Sarah and Matt Rowe had been trying for a baby for some time. All around them, their friends were having babies, and they were concerned with why it didn’t seem to be happening to them. While it appeared to come easy to others, they were really struggling and the disappointment was beginning to take its toll.

They were aware there were options, such as IVF, but these would be costly. And while they were prepared to pay for IVF, it would mean going without other things, restricting them and affecting their lifestyle.

The couple became aware of Victoria’s new Public Fertility Care through their GP. They obtained a referral and an appointment was made for them at Northern Health, their closest satellite service. There they met Jacque Dulson, a Registered Nurse with Northern Fertility Service.

“Patients who never thought having a family would be possible are now overjoyed that they are able to access this free fertility service. It means that the ability to pay is no longer a determining factor in whether or not you have a family,” Ms Dulson said.

From the outset, Sarah and Matt were at ease and very comfortable in the environment and with the information that had been provided to them. They felt welcomed and safe to ask any questions, and comforted by the knowledge that they would be supported at every step of the process.

“We really had no idea about the fertility process and we assumed we would go straight to IVF. Instead, we went through ovulation induction which was a different experience to what we thought we would have, but a successful one,” said Mrs Rowe.

The couple undertook nurse-led ovulation induction – a process where medication is used to stimulate and induce regular ovulation, allowing for more accurate timing of intercourse – which proved to be successful.

Their beautiful, healthy baby girl, Lola is Northern’ s first baby born due to intervention from the fertility service. The couple were overjoyed with Lola’s arrival, describing the experience as ‘surreal’.

Sarah, Matt and Lola paid a special visit to Northern Health’s Women’s Health Hub when Lola was just two weeks old to meet with Jacque and the medical team. The team at Northern were thrilled to meet Lola and experience first-hand the impact of their work and how it can change the lives of our local families.

“Having access to the service and being able to access it so close to home is huge for people and families in our situation,” said Mrs Rowe.

A new patient registration portal for the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) is helping to fast track patient care.

Affectionately known as ‘Reggie’, the portal launched in August 2024 and was developed and built internally by the Digital Health Team. The portal features a user-friendly interface that enhances the experience for patients and key stakeholders. It also includes a comprehensive dashboard for clerical staff to register patients into the iPM and FirstNet EMR systems.

‘Reggie’ has been created to match the workflows of VVED, and in turn, has saved staff time and enables a faster registration process. The software has also been built on the most recent cloud infrastructure, meaning upgrades and changes can happen with no down time an no effect on patient care. A stringent cybersecurity posture has been implemented, which helps to decrease the risk of third-party vendors.

The Development Team within the Digital Division was the primary team behind the build of the portal, with the ICT, VVED and Project Evaluation teams also assisting.

Anthony Gust, Executive Director, Digital Health, said having a primary development team within Northern Health positions the health service at the forefront of digital health.

“It’s an amazing innovation for Northern Health,” he said.

Nicholas Caruana, HIS Manager, Emergency Services, said the new portal has greatly enhanced data capture and validation, resulting in a more efficient registration process for both the patient and the clerical team.

“In its first 15 days, the portal assisted in the reduction of duplicate patient records by 10 per cent and increased Medicare number capture compliance from 73 per cent to 88 per cent,” he said.

In addition to providing increased efficiencies for staff and patients and improved cyber posture, the new portal has also helped to decrease costs.

“Having the in-house ability to develop other applications, we can also use the patient registration as a template for other services. The plan is to reuse the portal for Residential-In-Reach as well as Outpatients – build once and repurpose,” Anthony Gust said.

Since go-live, the new portal has demonstrated considerable effectiveness. The Digital Team has been proactive in addressing any issues or implementing changes that have arisen during the initial period. This adaptability has highlighted one of the primary benefits of transitioning the portal to in-house.

#WeAreNorthern

Meet Ella Critchley, Program Manager at the Advance Care Planning (ACP).

Q: Firstly, what is your coffee order?
A: Skinny latte, double shot.

Q: Tell us about your Northern Health journey?
A: I’ve been with Northern Health for just over a year now and am still getting familiar with the various campuses!
Recently-ish, I completed a Master of Gerontology which along with my experience as an educator, researcher and nurse, has provided a solid foundation for my role as Program Manager.

Q: What do you like most about your role?
A: The opportunity to work alongside incredibly knowledgeable, skilled and compassionate professionals. My position allows me to increase awareness of Advance Care Planning, both within Northern Health and the broader community alongside an incredible team. I appreciate the diversity and flexibility of the role. One day, I will present at an in-service, the next at local community event, and the next I could meet someone in their home to discuss the planning for future healthcare.

Q: What is your greatest achievement or favourite memory since working here?
A: Founding the Champion Special Interest Group is definitely up there! We meet monthly and share updates on Advance Care Planning across different areas and discuss ways to continue growing and improving our practices. The passion and drive of the group is admirable.

Q: How would you describe Northern Health in one sentence and why?
A: Northern Health provides a supportive environment that fosters both professional growth and meaningful impact.
Why? It’s the culture and the kindness that people show each and every day that makes it a pleasure to work here!

Q: Where is a favourite place you’ve travelled and why?
A: The unparalleled beauty of Italy, hands down! I adored the charming cobbled streets, the remarkable buildings, the rich history, the Renaissance art in Florence, and of course, the beautiful Churches! What’s not to love about enjoying fresh pasta alle Vongole (delish!) followed by a cherry cheesecake flavoured gelati in Venice (yum!)? A local favourite is the beauty of Daylesford. I often take my boys to the lake where we relax on a picnic rug, stare at the sky and make patterns out of the clouds – a perfect way to unwind!

Featured image: Ella Critchley in her office at the Bundoora Centre.